POL Men 1956

POL men were a special breed. One thing was for sure they were tough, Working in a POL depot was hard work, it was also very dirty. You can became a true POL man when you could accomplish a certain task, We had rows and rows of 50 gallon drums weighing from 250 pound to around 300 depending what type fuel was in them. They were stacked 3 high, On the second and third level they were rolled up a ramp (wood).

Now to be that true POL man you took the sides of the drum with your hands and with your legs also pushing you got the drum up the ramp by yourself,(I did it) plus grab the drum with one hand on the rim and give it a twist so it could be rolled on the ground.

How tough were these men. This did happen. One night one of our men wanted to get in the orderly room on the first floor. The CQ (Charge of quarters) would not let him in and locked the door (The soldier drunk??) So he took his fist punched a hole in the door, Oh he got in.

Then fights in the EM club. POL men were well known.

But then there was the black soldier Sp3 Blankenship. He was a soldier of many talents, play the piano a clerk ,but one day he approached a couple of us and said he had learned to hypnotize he needed a couple of men to experiment on/So he told us where to meet him downstairs in an a room with just tables and chairs. He explained what he was going to do and that he would not hurt us (needle etc). He went to each of us and gave us a task to do, the next thing I knew it was like walking in your sleep. I left the room walked upstairs into a room with soldiers, I said something then returned to the room downstairs. He did what he said he could do.

Then the break room incident that was 1956,,,it was getting cold so we were allowed to make a fire in the pot belly stove outside the POL area in a shack on a large concrete platform With huge fire extinguisher on it that could be rolled. So as usual they try to get a fire started one soldier got impatient got some fuel and put it on the fire. I was outside a noise a lot of smoke soldiers pounding on the back of the break room windows broken and the big laugh of the day the fire extinguisher did not work, But it turned out more smoke than fire. No more fuel used to get the fire hot.

I guess the best memory they have of me is when I would be on my motorcycle and the POL truck would go by and I would see the soldiers in the back.

To sum up we were dirty hard workers but our sleeping quarters were kept immaculately clean.

30 Caliber Carbine Firing Range 1956

In June the word passed around we would go on the firing range to fire our carbines. I had been in the company a couple of years and never saw my weapon. So on May 25, 1956 the 2 ½ ton truck was loaded with men from the platoon who left for the firing range. I was helping back at the caserne so I left in a jeep with the Sgt driving The Company Commander on his right and I was in back.

It was getting late in the afternoon, it was cloudy and some fog as we got close to the edge of the forest of the highway to go to firing range. We were on the main road and the Sgt says to me "Check the back and see if any cars are coming". (Big mistake), the window in the back of the jeep was plastic and not the clear type. I look in back, I said "All clear" The Sgt went to make a left turn; a large Citroen side swiped us. Amazing no damage to the jeep but the French car got some scratches. A Gendarme was nearby and all was resolved very quickly, No I did not get in trouble no one hurt except the French car (but I do not think they would ask me if anything is in back anymore)

In the bivouac are it was getting dark..the fun began some soldiers found helmets with Officer bars on them and went around as it got dark making believe they were officers, One group cut down a small tree which fell on a tent lucky no one inside. But we finally settled down. The next day we marched out to the firing range. We got a little instruction on the carbine then we fired all day. After dinner that night we got a short break and as it got dark we were all line up and started to March in the woods, Hour after hour we just kept on going.

Now it was around midnight. In the distance I hear the clanking of metal cups. We came into a big clearing in the woods and the cooks had coffee brewing in large cooking pots, The order was given "Get out you cups which was under you canteen, So as we passed Hot coffee and a donut but we kept on marching...I have never drank a cup of coffee that tasted that good. We did get to sleep before the sun came up.

On the 11th June Special orders number 25:
1.Following Officers and EM
Fontainebleau Sub Depot Det,(7864)
APO 11,US Army
Having fired Carbine Cal 30 Course "B" at Fontainebleau France 25th may 56 qualified as Indicated.
Sp3 Phillip Meyer RA 14 386233
My score 126 EXPERT (on a carbineThe highest score was made by a PFC Jack Jenkins a 138 followed by our Company Commander who made a 136

Rome 1956

Feb 1956

It was a vacation that near most did not happen,,With Jean Claude on my mind I did not know if I should leave at that point in time. I considered a few places but ended up keeping it simple. Go to Rome.

The 20th of Feb my leave was approved and sitting in the orderly room. I was due to leave on the 24th Feb.

On the night of the 23rd Feb I was upstairs in my room with a few other soldiers,..The 1st Sgt came in. He walked up to me and he was obviously very drunk. He had my leave paper in his hand. He said "so you want to no you don't want to go,,he went on a little more with words that I did not want it and tore up my leave papers into little pieces throwing them on the floor and leaving.

Sp4 Blankenship was nearby when it happenned. He said "Do you really want to on vacation ?" I said yes. He said "Don't worry give me a few minutes..He went downstairs to the orderly room..I waited and he came back up with new leave papers. Signed by the Lt.?

In town I had bought a new coat it was cold and a knapsack to carry my belongings for the vacation.

The main part of the trip started after I got to Paris. The train was due to leave at 11PM I watched the big clock in the train station and just as the hand of the clock hit 11 PM the train was moving out,,When we reached Switzerland my passport was checked,,by day light I saw the snow covered mountains and the beautiful lake I believe was called lake Major.

At the Italian border I got off and switch to an Italian train.

When it took off I went to the dinning car tray of cheese a really big meal. As it got later in the day a young man came in my apartment he was dressed very well and I got the impression as we talked that he was an actor. We talked about seeing the lights of Rome..He said "If you want to stay awake..drink this special coffee. As a lady passed by with the coffee he ordered two,It was in a very small container and very strong.

I saw the lights of Rome that night. I wasn't in Rome an hour and I witnessed my first accident with a car and a motorcycle. In Rome he showed me a hotel to stay at but it was very expensive,However I was given a pass "Anticamera Ponitifica" 7 Marzo 1956 so when I got in St. Peters I could see the Pope with other people,That was Pope Pius X11. Walking in St. Peter (where I went in) was a bronze Statue of St. Peter,,,The foot of the statue had start to wear it had been kissed so many times.

I found where the Pope was talking I could see him from a doorway,He spoke in many languages. Towards the end of his talk I saw two nuns take off..Something told me to follow them. The both got in between an altar I went on the other side a minute later the Pope was being carried by us. I looked up I was very close to him.

During the day I went down in the catacombs. There was a simple stone altar the a pathway not to wide,We were told not to leave the path,On the sides in the wall there were places carved out to whole the bones of the martyrs.

I got a bus ride that took us around to all the famous churches, then I was on my way to Naples.

Capri 1956

Naples/Capri

I wasn't in Naples a few minutes when I was approached by a man who ask me if I was selling cigarettes got a bad feeling. Then talking with some people they said why no go to Capri. They said when the boat arrived look for a man who had the name of his hotel on his cap. So I got in the boat and it did not take long to get to the Island,Sure enough waiting with others was a man with the name of a hotel on his cap. I went with him.

The hotel was at the highest point on the Island..I got a real nice room and out of it I could see the ocean and the mountain with the volcano which had snow on top of it..I talk a lot with the owner of the hotel watch TV which had broadcast from the Vatican..I took a ride on a cart pulled by a horse to tour the Island and even went to Mass. What made this Mass very unusual young people were going to Confession kneeling before the priest in front of the whole congregation and the second was the huge Hosts they used for Holy Communion.

My best time was in the dinning room. The food was sent up from a kitchen below by a
I guess they called a dumb waiter. The food was excellent,,but I kept asking when they would have a pizza. Sure enough one day these little pizzas were being served I waited for mine and here came this huge pizza which was served to me.

My week was up and I went to pay my bill,,then the surprise the owner said he enjoyed me so much my bill was paid except for the wine which was not that much,then it was on a train going back to France. In Paris I ate a meal at the train station then caught a train to Fontainebleau.

Oh the hotel I would stay in Paris The Escargo de or,,anyway translated "The Golden snail"

The Experiment

In 1956 when I went to Pierre’s house I would study my radio lessons from the NRI (National radio Institute). In his room, it was quiet and nobody bothered me.

While I was studying I got interested in Morse code, I did not have the device to send out the signal. Pierre suggested a store in Paris that sold radio equipment. I got myself a pass and I was off to Paris on my motorcycle, It was not that bad until I got to Paris then I got in heavy traffic but I got to the store safely and I bought a Morse code key device.

On the way back I stopped at a little café on the side of the road to eat, her waitress kept asking me what nationality was I. German, Dutch, she kept naming nationalities. Then I told her I was an American, she was very surprised.

Back on the road now I had to dodge trucks on the road, When I got to Fontainebleau the tail pipe came loose on my motorcycle now it was making this loud noise,,,Lucky I did not have far to go to Pierre’s house. Where I got it fixed.

Now I had the Morse code device and the next day I decided to experiment, I attached a long antenna and put it out his window I had it all set up so it work, I did not know much Morse code but I thought I would hit the key a few times just to experiment with it, So here I am hitting the key many times when Pierre comes running in the room, Phillip he says the signal was being picked up all over town, I should stop immediately.

In camp I had learned enough that I was able to fix a couple of radios. It was only when I got to studying about Television that I did not do well.

Prologue 54-67 - France

Military 54-57

I gave it thought,,before I write my story who was I?? Where did I fit in the military? What led up to one of the best years in my life. So, education I had graduated from "Wayne junior High 9th grade in New jersey, From there I had went to Cedar keys Florida with my foster parents but never went to school in Dec 49.....I joined the Army Dec 13 1950..I went to the Korean war,, and made PFC (Private first Class) I would stay a PFC for many years.Yes education did play a factor....What would help me is they made a new rank Specialist 4th,5th class.That would come later.....In the Army and other services you were known partly by your serial number,,Example mine was RA 14 385 23 another would star with US.....An RA meant you were regular Army in other words you joined the Army..A US before your number meant you had been drafted.

My relative mostly lived in New Jersey..My sisters Mary, Flora and my Brother Bill,,and My Mother,,,

That next time I joined the Army I would stay until retirement..because of my education I went from a good job to a worse job.

Elvis Presley. Nat King Cole, Doris day, Bob Hope,Bing Crosby,,,were the stars of the day,,,...
I smoked a little,,,Pipe, cigar and cigarette but still a little,,,You have to smoke a Dutch cigar and cigarette to appreciate a good tobacco.

Church when I got to France I went to the local french Church....I read some very good spiritual books,, by St.Augustine,,,Seven Story Mountain by the Trappist Thomas Merton..and the Bible,,,
Television took a long time to start in France,,,During a festival I saw one for a moment that they had set up but not until 1959 I actually saw a TV in a French mans home,,,,
Communist was the word of politics,,54 to 57 my three year vacation.....began..1956 one of those years like good wine gets better every year.

Christmas 1951 Kumwah North Korea

Dear Readers...How the prayer the roster of 5th RCT survived all these years...its   amazng...

                                                                               JMJ
Kumwah valley,North Korea
Christmas 1951,,,
"L"Co, 5th RCT 24th Div.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                 Christmas ,North Korea
 It wasn't to long after the Chinese had broadcast us to surrender on Christmas that we came off the hill. Now it was walking through deep snow,,and when we went down the hill we simply sat down an slid off the hill with our rifle barrels pointed backwards, When we got to the holes we had dug with the small tents over them there was at least a foot of snow around them,,The mess hall (tent) had fixed a good dinner.We sat in the snow and ate our meal,,A paper was passed around..On one the company roster as of Dec 1951,On one paper the Christmas menu..and on the back a prayer written by Lt James Lee our Company Commander
which read.....................................Give peace oh God give peace
     This day we celebrate the birth of HE who has blessed us with..notable successes thru out the year with little hurt to ourselves.Under the present circumstances we cannot treat this season with the joy and good cheer that tradionaly accompany it.Instead we must turn our joy into thanksgiving for His protection and our cheer into Hope for better things to come.For Lee's Miserables I pray for the best possible CHRISTMAS and a NEW YEAR in which Gods peace shall come to our land. 
                                                      JAMES M. LEE
                                              1st Lt. Commanding Officer
One little pine tree was decorated with tin foil from cigaret packs,,It was bitter cold..Then we had a visit from Cardinal Spellman. With Priests they set up a tent for Mass and other priest heard Confession went in a frozen rice paddies to a priest for confession..
The only other big thing in the valley was receiving our Combat Infantry Badge awards in a frozen rice paddies,
                                                                  Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

Abbey St.Martin

Dear readers..This is the story I like to tell..because it just does not go the way you think it would,,but this is how i made my first trip to a Monastery..lets see not yet 20...In the Church 10 years..4 bioarding school around 3 1/2 Army...Maybe that had something to do with it..Phillip

                                                                               JMJ
Monastery St.Martin
Liguge, France
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                         St.Martin 1953
 Around June of 1953 the Flochets suggested I go to a monastery make a retreat.It wasn't that far away and I could go there on a bicycle................No you would think I would have on my best clothes catch a bus or train (if possible) I go to the Monastery door.They know I am coming and three days of spiritual bliss;
Well that is not exactly the way it happened..
                                                                          The visit to the Monastery.....
   I got a three day pass and I had some civilian clothes.A shirt and trousers that was about it,I caught the bus to town and got my old bicycle from the Flochets.I had a little sack to put items in it .I bought a loave of bread,,some cheese,a can of sardines,and a bottle of red wine,,,With that stuffed in my little bag I started to bicycle toward the Monastery.I passed many farms and finally reached Poiter,Hot and tired I stopped and went into a Church.On the floor were picturs in the stones from the Roman days..After the visit I kept on bicycling and arrive at Liguge.The Monastery took up most of the village.I went around the Monastery and went down a road by a farm,I sat by a tree,,I took out my food, The sardines went (with a little wine) the bread and cheese with a little wine) then all that was left was the wine which I finished with the hot sun beating down on me.I got on my bicycle..but I kept going from side to side (I wonder why).There was a door on the wall of the Monastery.I knocked on it and a Monk ask what I wanted.I just said I wanted to stay a couple of days.He let me in no questions,I was given a small room with just a bed,,The bathroom was an out house.nearby.
In the morning a priest came to my door very early wake me up to serve Mass.I served with Rev Reni Ossart
for many years.My first duty learn prayers in french as well as latin which I knew,.After Mass a bowl of very strong coffee and milk ,Honey and bread,That was it but very good,..I went in the worship area when no one was there.After awhile I started to cry I just kept on crying..To this day I do not know why..I went to the town which was not very much at that time.A few houses and a cafe,When I went in the café I found they spoke French much differently.It was hard to under stand..In the back of the Monastery was a railroad track,,I do not remember a train coming by...One day I was in the worship area and the Monk was playing the organ..That was something to hear,,At meal time dinner and supper I ate with the monks..As you ate a Monk read from a spiritual book,,That is where I got my love for endives that the Monks served with the meals,,It was over quickly,,I was ready to leave and father Rani Acerate had to remind me that a little donation was nice before you left,Lucky I had some francs in my pocket.Over the years as I came back I would be with father Acerate.
The Monastery built around the year 700...then rebuilt,,I served at an altar where St.Martn performed a miracle,,,
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

The Flochets

Dear readers....Some memories of the Flochets..Have any of you ate a pigeon..not much meat but good..My eye getting better but need to wear something for five more weeks and eye drops..Phillip

                                                                           JMJ
The Flochets 1953
Chatelerault,France
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                       Fishing..
  
One of the first real family thing I did with the Flochets was to go fishing, The day came we walk to the river (seine),Which I estimate was in the middle of town.On one side of the river was the predominate Communist.The town was separated by a bridge,In the middle of the river was a small Island, across the river you could see a church on the left and houses,,We had simple poles with just string and a hook,,The family chose spots to fish.I found one close to the shore.I got a bite then another and I gave a tug.I shouted and they all came near me as I pulled in a big fish,As I remember it was the only one we caught,So the Flochets ate a big fish that night,,
                                                                     Movie
There was a lot of excitement the movie in town had "Fernadel" a famous comedian and actor.He was staring in "La petite monde de Don Camillo" (Roughly translated "the little world of father Camillo:
It was the story of a priest who battles it out with the Communist Mayor of a town" I went with Guy to see the movie.there was a very long line.This did not stop "Guy" who got down crawled in between peoples feet and some how got him self to te head of the line.Fernadel was a good actor and I saw other movies with him in it.
                                                                     Paris
Guys father said he had been writing to his relatives in Paris and I was invited to stay with them for a couple of days.I got a three day pass and took a train from town to Paris.The Flochet relative met me.It was a different Flochet.He was well educated.fairly rich,He took me to his apartment..The first thing he did was have his small daughters move to a different room and I got there room.It was a small apartment.The table we ate on was by a window,As I look to my right I could see the Eiffel tower.The next day he took me around Paris..The first place was a plain building and inside was a collection of all type dishes cups every type of dinner ware.We went to the Louvre..and other places in Paris..

                                                                    Guy accident
   One day I went to the Flochet house and they said that guy had hurt his arm (sprain? Broken)He had his arm in a cast..Why mention this because I was learning something about my self (20 years old).In as much as I wanted to share in good times I also wanted to be there when things went wrong.I was at camp..I was not family...So as such I was not able to participate whenj it happened..However when his Mother got sick I went with him and saw her at the hospital..
Next the Monastery......Phillip Meyer S/sgt ret

The Flochet's - France - 1953

The Flochet's 1953
Chatelerault, France

The Flochet's

As I got to know the Flochets it was Guy and Allen that I knew the best. Allen the oldest and Guy around 8 years old. The few times I got to town the bus would stop right next to there house..There I would meet the whole family. I ate dinner with them a couple of times. They were very simple meals, vegetables from there garden and a pigeon. While it was still cold they gave me wine that was heated up.

Allen was studying to be a fixer of watches. Guy as we went along was picking up all the information he could and eventually got a good job with the American military (years later).One day of the year May 1st was the big day for the Communist in town. So we could go to town if we went to the local American club. The bus driver knew where I wanted to get off and I went to the Flochets. When the bus returned I was ready to get back on. One day I was restricted to post..So I did not have a pass. What did you do? I went to the back of the bus and hid behind the last seat. The Guard would go down the seats but never check behind the last one. A lot of soldiers did this One day the Communist citizens had a parade..It was very peaceful.

A favorite memory. One day Guy went to a summer camp. I had a bicycle (and old one) but it worked. I got the directions and headed out to see him. The road going there went along a forest..At one point I saw the sign "La Rond du Chen"..The small road I went down had trees on both sides,Then just like that I was in the camp. In the middle of the forest a large circle in the Forest on the edge a couple of small houses,,,It was beautiful..As I drove around the circle I found a road and there was Guy with other teenagers..On the edge of the road the remains of an old church..They were playing a game with small hoops. They would throw it and the boy would put out his hand to let it go on his arm,,I only stayed a short time and I had to get back to camp. I got back on the road and I took another route. As I went down a small hill I found they had just put fresh tar on the road and I got some on my khaki uniform.

More Later....Phillip Meyer

532nd QM company France 53

Dear Readers,,not much to say about the post but Ill talk about the Flochets..Phillip

                                                                         JMJ
532nd QM Company
Jan 53 to Nov 53
Ingrandes France
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                   532nd QM Co,
..Life in a way was simple on this Army post..The main area was very muddy so it was difficult to even have a platoon formation. As It was we got up early ate breakfast then we walk down the boardwalk to  the warehouses to go to work, In these warehouses were all type can foods,,Huge bags coffee, Just behind each warehouse was the railroad tracks...The main job loading up the cars. They had fork lifts and we had french civilians who work to load the cars.As my French got better I could tell them the number of the car to load, but they did not like a 19 year old telling them what to do...Ill never forget as I went along learning the size of the cans,,A number 10 usually had juice in it..A number 303...each can had a number and you would associate what was in the can with the number..How could you tell the food was bad by the bulge on the top of the can then a whole box would be thrown away..One day I decided to drive a fork lift. I went through the huge door by the train cars but I put it up to high so when I backed up it hit the drain on the building. I lowered the lift and put it away.One day it rained and there was two places were water was coming out of the broken drain,,One day we had the "Red Ball express" on maneuver..it was a Beach to shore operation.
(Like world war 2)..Another day they said there would be a small USO show so we went out on the muddy field where they had a small wooden stage around a foot high near the main road,A big black car came and out came "Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis" they did a little show and they were on there way..
Like I said life was very simple..After work an Army bus made its one trip to town and its one trip back,,
In those days I was receiving letters from Virginia Grossi who lived in Providence Rhode Island,.....
Any time I had free time I went to town..It was a simple post..No movie a EM club I never went in once.The Chapel..a small PX...
Next story the Flochets..Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret..

The Flochets

Dear Readers,The Flochets were the first family I knew in France,,,Many years later Allen named his son after me (Phillip)

Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

                                                            JMJ
Ingrandes ,France
566th Quartermaster Co.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
Jan 53..Nov53
                                                             Ingrandes/566th QM Company
,,,,The first place I went to when I arrived in Chatellerault was to go to Ingrandes to the little Army post.
How little? just one short street, On the right side a chapel, the Orderly room 566th QM co. and barracks.the latrine and shower rooms.
The other side a small EM club Mess hall..Supply room,, a couple of other small buildings...On each side a boardwalk..The road was dirt and got very muddy..Down the road huge warehousers,,,and a railroad track that ran behind them,.....A short road led to the main road and the main gate was at the end of the road.So standing on the boardwalk on your left the main gate on your right further away the warehousers..
 I got a pass my first days there and went to town.The Army bus left from the main gate.The guard on duty would go up and down the bus and check our passes.In town it was the last day of the Christmas carnival.
You could smell the candy they sold as you went by,,at the end of the carnival were rides...I went on one of the rides and also tried to talk to some of the young people..Keep in mind I was 19 years old,,,Among the group of people I met the "Flochets"Allen the oldest and Guy his younger brother around 8?? I had to get back to the base for that magic hour of midnight.Guy seemed to know where I should go so he motion to follow him,Not far away the local Catholic Church.He took me there and I got the idea that was the bus stop.
As we waited a boy pass the Church and blessed himself..I never forgot that. Then Guy who was waiting with me motioned with his finger for me to bend down.I bent down to see what he wanted and he kissed me on the cheeks three times...and with that he left,,The bus came and I return to camp......
 The next day I had the day off and went to town early.It was not a long drive,I got off at the edge of town
and started walking.On the right I saw a store with a lot of books in it.I went in and got the owner to understand I wanted a English/French dictionary purchased a small dictionary and thats when I started to learn a little French..I went around asking people Ou ai (where is) until I found the Flochet house which was right at the end of town and one of the first stops for the Army bus..The Flochet house was surrounded a tall brick wall.In side on the right was a garden to the front his house on the bottom two floors were the Flochets on the top the head of the Communist party in Chatellerault..What a combination....So I met the Flochet family..The father a heavy smoker,,When I had a pass that would be my first stop..
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

Chatellerault France 53

Dear Readers....This story goes in many directions one my military dutys and how that went..and my trips to town....to visit the Flochets..Rond du Che,,,,,(Ill correct that name later).the Monastery,,to Paris....It was an interesting tour,.,,,,Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

                                                                             JMJ
Chatellerault,Seine et Marne France
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret Jan 1953
                                                                    The town Chatellerault,France
   In time I got to know the town very well.I wish I could have stayed longer,I give the French credit the way certain towns were built.Oh yes in time I became a lover of France and all that was french,,Not that I ever lost my love for the USA.But that was a time a special time in my life.,Chatellerault where do I start.If you knew where the church was then everything was built around it..Chatellerault was one of those perfect examples.In the middle of the town a park with a gazebo....in this park was held the carnivals and other celebrations..Standing in the middle of the park as you looked around.There was the Church,,a street  with stores and cafes.Across the street a movie theater.On the edge of town a bookstore,,The grocery stores the bakery. In the middle of town down a road the train station.It was one of those if you know where one thing is you know the rest..ahhh but this town was a little unusall a river cut through the other side of town.,On the other side of the bridge another church and all the rest,However this side of town was different.The side I was on was considered what we would call democrat on the other side was Communist..The communist leader lived in the top of my friends house with his son...Now the road leading out of one side of town went to Ingrandes where the Army camp was..How do I describe Ingrandes..How small 'blink you eye you passed the Village"..So this is where I spent around 11 months on my first tour,.....I would turn 20 years old,,the Korean war come to an end...and other things,,,
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.....

France 53

Dear Readers..Actually this started a very interesting time in my life..It is now I have to get in the garage and take out all the documents..I have for those four years plus...Oh the Rosary more on that later,,,Phillip

                                                                          JMJ
Fort Meade Md. 1952
2053rd Supply Co,,
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                 Overseas
 One night I said to myself I had not said the Rosary (a prayer) in a long time..That night among other things I started to thinking about going overseas again,,A lot of soldiers were going to Germany.So I put in to go to Europe...I had been state side 8 months aproxitmatly, Some of that spent in the hospital,,So In Dec I was given orders to go to Europe...On the 24th dec we were on a ship in New York harbor.It was a very windy day so much that the ship was being pushed from one side to the other. Starboard to port...but before the day was over we left the harbor and on Christmas day we were headed for a harbor in St.-John's Newfoundland..We went through an opening with ice on both sides then we were in a harbor with water calm no waves..Little houses all around in a circle,That is where we spent Christmas..for a couple of hours.
then it was back to the open sea.One day down in the compartments as we called them I was talking to a soldier laying on a bunk,.He told me about his niece in Rhode Island and gave me her address.He told me a little bit about her and I put the address away,Her Name was Virginia Grossi..........One day I was on the stern (back) of the ship where the heads were (bathroom).Not to far away a door that led to the back of the ship.I open the door and stepped on the deck,I was amazed,,In front of me a wall of water from a wave I looked up and it was difficult to see the top of the wave.then the ship went down and momentarily the propellers came out of the water,...As we got closer to Germany we were in a fog.I was on deck on the bow of the ship (front). On the starboard side I heard a ships horn the the horn from our ship as a ship got to close and near most hit us,...For a few seconds I could see the ship passing us by.On the ship as the days were passing by I got a little booklet on how to learn German.So I learned numbers how to greet people..I thought I was learning very well.Then we got to Bremerhaven...(spelling??) We got on buses and the first thing I observed was a building that had been bombed but never rebuilt,So we went to Zweibrucken where we were proccesed.and get our first beer after waiting in a very long line,Then the interview with the officer and he said'you are going to France" Here I had been learning German so now I would have to start all over again,
Then we got on a train that would take us to france.It was an old Army type.It was night as we traveled
the next day were in France,Where I caught a train to Chatellerault for my assignment in Ingrandes France.
Jan 1953......Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

Fort Meade Md. 52

Dear Readers,,,Very tired tonight,,,Interesting week at TCC Tues wear a sherrifs badge and bandanna,,,wed red white and blue day,,,thurs wear a shirt with TCC on it and today Hawaian theme I wore a shirt with palm trees ect and I got a plastic pineapple mug to drink out of plus that thing they put over your head??  next week back to regular clothing,,and friday is wear red for the troops in Iraq and afganistan...Phillip Meyer S/sgt ret

                                                                            JMJ
Fort Meade Md.
Army Hospital
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                 Hospital June /July 52
 My first days in the Army hospital were filled with days where first I was hot then I would get cold,
I was in a ward all filled with Malaria patients, One day a nurse made fun of me..Her remarks not very nice..But when she left it was she who was mocked by the patients....A period of the time in the hospital was spent getting rid of the worms had to take pills we nick name football and basketballs.They were big
and if you look closely they did resemble a football or a basketball.....At one point I was able to get out of bed and go to the hospital mess hall.I was in for a shock,As I passed a container of food I found my sense of smell was much stronger. I could not take the smell so I went outside the mess hall and ate on the steps
As time went on my sense of smell went back to normal,Now I was offered a job to show movies to patients.They put me in a class to learn how to operate the movie projector,.So a couple of times I showed movies also learn to play pinochle with other patients....Then when they thought I was better I went back to my company.I found items from my footlocker had been stolen while I was in the hospital,,
                                                                 2053rd Supply Co.
I got my first chance to go on pass.It turn out to be an adventure.There was three of us hitch hiking.A car came to a stop it look like it took a long time to stop.We got in the sun was going down,..As we took ff the driver a young man said he has problems with the brakes so "Please tell him a few blocks ahead of time where we wanted to get off..Then as he put on the lights the radio came on..when he played with the radio
the lights came on..The car made all type noises..We were driving in a nightmare,We reached town there was a street that seem empty we said stop here.A couple of blocks later the car stopped and we got out..
My next pass I called a relative of my Foster parents, The first ones I had.She sounded sweet on the phone.So all spruced up I went to her house.As she open the door her little dog bit me..And for her nothing came of my date,,
One night I thought I had not said the rosary in a long time..( A prayer),Once I started I thought about going over seas again so I put in my paper work,,,I would be going to Europe,,,
Phillip Meyer S/Sgt Ret..

Back from Korea 52

Dear Readers,as i hitch hike around to go places.The driver of a car looked at my Honored CIB and said your CIB and a dime will get you a cup of coffee..so much for CIBs (Combat Infantry Badge)...The stay in the hospital was interesting,,Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret..

                                                                                JJ
Gainesville/Cedar keys Florida
May 1952,,,Phillip Meyer S/sat ret
                                                                      May 52
After the dinner we were free to go home.I got paid and caught a train to Gainesville florida,,While I was in Korea they never sent me a letter or a card,...But I went back,,They lived in a trailer park,..When I arrived I slept on a couch.Then I went to Cedar keys to see the girl I liked,Her name :Joyce Frank" Her father lone  me a jacket so we could go on a date,What a disaster.She told me to get in a car the back seat..Up front two other boys as they drove around the Island she was kissing the boy in the front seat..When we got back to her house,I went back to Gainesville.Then my Foster Mother told mer she had spent all the money I had been sending home in an allotment,So all I had was what I had been paid,,I told my Foster father I was going to New Jersey,,The way I said it I think he knew I would never come back again..
In New jersey I got united with my sisters Mary and Flora..The first time I saw Nelson he was sitting at desk
with a book he was studying ,,Nelson took me fishing by a bridge..We were close to the bridge and I heard a car back fire,I near most fainted,The sound brought back memories..So I got united with my Mother ,sisters and brother.After a couple of days I reported to Fort Meade Maryland to the 2053rd Supply Company

                                                                     Fort Meade
   I was a PFC and I had been assigned to a warehouse where new soldiers came to get the cloths issued to them,,I worked in the shoe dept...Most of the time a soldier new the size of his shoe and the boots would fit him,,In the mean time on the company street I met soldiers from the 5th RCT coming back and they told me how lucky I was,,They had gone on a hill called "Heartbreak ridge" They said each day a American soldier was wounded or killed.it was a very bad place,All was going well when one night I had a strange nightmare
object in my dream were to big or to small,,A small string felt like a rope..nothing was the true size it was supposed to be,Then I reported for work.I started to feel sick.I lay down on a large bag of clothes.The Sat came by me and ask what was wrong.I told him how I felt ..Then he said//"get this soldier to the hospital he has malaria guess he must have seen it many times, The ambulance came and took me to the hospital.
After I had been checked the conclusion..I had Malaria,tapeworm,round worm,and hookworm all at the same time...I was sick,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Phillip Meyer S/sat ret.  

Last days Korea

Dear Readers..now its one of those what did I not write..but now I will be writing what i have never wrote before in my narratives

So I HOPE it will be interesting.........................Phillip Meyer S/sgt...I will be writing about Christmas 51 when I get in the garage..

                                                                            JMJ
Ok Bung Village,South Korea
"L" Co 5th Rct 24th Division
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                     Ok Bung Village
 This is the last place I stayed in Korea. I remember double timing on the road to the village the road very muddy.On the left an officer demonstrating how to fire a 2,3 rocket luncher he fired at an empty 50 gallon drum and hit it, Some soldiers complainer as my boot went down in the mud I was splashing some on them..
In back of our little hut was a large barb wire fence to keep the people from the village from getting in our area,A boy came to the fence looking for food.I had eaten my meal but I went back for seconds and gave him my mess kit telling him just clean it when he was finished.,He was happy but I was told not to do that again. The radio I brought back from Japan was used very little because I was assigned to an out post at the end of the road.There was a tent on the other side of a stream,We walked over a log to get to the tent.As time went on we pulled patrols on the hills near the tent.We would walk down the road to buy a "toddy" a small chocolate drink from the PX..a very small one..One day I was on guard in the tent,the rifle between my legs.In front of me an Army radio.I turned it on and went around the dial and I found "Armed forces radio Japan"The announcer said.."And now for a song from a new comer on the scene" Nat King Cole" who was Nat King Cole??and they played "They try to tell us were to young"In the mean time soldiers were getting drunk in the village and as they cross the log ice formed on it at night and they would slip off,,..back at the compound it was announced that Lt.James Lee our company commander was leaving.It was late at night but I remember soldiers crying
high and low rank..It was a sad night.Then one day I was told to guard a deserter (American).I put my bayonet in my M! Rifle and stood by him/If he escaped I would get his punishment so I was ready to shoot him.....One day I was on a long patrol and as we came down the hill to our camp there was a tiny shack
(for the radio man) I open the door and said."Has my name come in for rotation back to the states..(The new company commander wanted me to stay but I said no and he was not happy)The radioman said wait and the morse code continue.he said your name just came over the morse code.So I packed with items I had bought in the village,I had received one more letter from the medic I met on a train going to training..We got in a 3/4 ton truck and headed towards the train station.On top a hill we got a flat,,The driver could not find a jack to lift it,So we all got out of the truck found a log and we lifted the truck to change the tire.So we got to the train station and went to Puson then to Koje do Island where the Prisoners of war were kept As I walk by the compounds I came to an opening saw Lt.Lee He was sitting on a box.Ill never for get how he looked a 21 old man who looked 40,,,he was very tired,,Paper work finished to Puson and on a ship.My last memory we passed a Hospital ship there on the stern was a soldier from our company who had gotten wounded.,,,So two weeks later we were in Seattle Washington. As the bus drove us to a mess hall people line the streets.Then we went to a Mess hall for a delicious steak dinner..........Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

Ok Bung Village 51

Dear readers,,,,,I still have to get in the garage to find my papers for Christmas,,but I shall continue and finish the Korea,,story..then on to the good old US and A,,,Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret...Yes I did drink a few beers,,,

                                                                         JMJ
Village Ok Bung,South Korea?
"L" Co.5th RCT 24th Div,,
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                   April 51
   We arrived at the Village of Ok Bung just as the snows were starting to melt.Now we lived in little shacks but still not able to take showers,On our left the medics set up a little place across the little road
the Mess hall.A little PX our favorite drink called a "toddy" a chocolate drink..Our duty guard the tungsten ore and go on patrols to find any enemy infiltration...I went on RR (rest and recuperation) to Japan.The train took us to Puson.On the southern tip of Korea..as we waited to go we went to the service club and saw the soldiers who had performed in Fort Jackson SC.Then the joke they told ..Can you believe I remember it all these years,The Joke,,,,,,A soldier had a friend in the biology dept in college.So he sent him some tobacco from a Korean cigaret He just told his friend to analyze it..A couple of weeks later.he received the letter His friend said I hope you are safe and come home soon and Oh yes..Your cow is very healthy"I flew in my first airplane....We sat facing each other.We went to Osaka Japan..
.I drank milk first time in months...bought a radio which needed a special voltage regulator,,I went to the same bar saw a magic show the magician took out a small fishing pole let the hook fall in the audience and on it a small fish..Yes I had a few,,(many) beers,At the end I ran out of money and those cute Geisha girls
said we will buy you the beer and they did,,On the airplane back I was recovering,,,when we arrived in Korea we were told to take a fatigue jacket to keep us warm.I took one with Cpl stripes but I was back to PFC which I was when I reach the company..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,More later,,Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

Memories 51

Dear Readers,,Keep in mind I was 18 .not to long after boardng school....Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

                                                                           JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea 51
"L" Co.5th RCT 24th Div.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                   Memories 51
    One day we were going across a ridge line while some fighting was going on for another hill,,,We came into an opening where it seems there had been an artillery emplacement. I look to my front and there stacked up around 8 high were bodies on strechers.two stacks..I turned and said to the soldier.in back of me "Are these Chinese??"Ill never for get the way he said it.."Do Chinese soldiers wear boots"??,,,Then I looked closer they were wearing American boots......I did not have time to ponder what I was looking at ..Dead American soldiers............................................The wounded we would see being carried down the ridge line and give them a cigaret..Our Company Commander got wounded six times..A Sgt who had his armed wounded was with him one time and Lt,Lee said go to the medics..but the Sgt said No Ill stay with you....
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret....

The last Hill 52

Dear Readers..Getting near the end,,and remembering other incidents....Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

                                                                            JMJ
Kumwah/Kumson North Korea 52
"L' co. 5th RCT 24th Div
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                    The last Hill
 We stayed on the hill we had been on for Christmas for a long time.I witnessed something very unusall.
There was fog on top of the enemy hill and artillery was being fired on it,,Then if you can put it that way I saw sound.How can I put it..its what I saw.After the round exploded I saw rings in the fog from the shock waves.,,,,One time the big shells (ours) were hitting the hill to our front,it was :White Phosphorous" a big cloud of white smoke,,but it was the shock waves from the explosion that came across the hill and it was like being hit in the face.....................So one day we moved out.
                                                                  The last hill
   When we got to the top of the hill I looked down the ridge line there was a whole line of bunkers.But I was told with two other soldiers to go down the ridge line to be on an out post.We would be out as far as you could go.So down we went (in the snow),We found a small abandoned Chinese bunkers and.............a dead Chinese frozen in the snow,First problem the bunker very small, We took turns sleeping in it I kept my head at the entrance.The first night we built a fire inside and the smoke got to me I got sick and walk up to the bunkers as I got to the top I slipped in the ice and my carbine broke.So I got an M1 Rifle again.I slept in a bunker that had been abandoned,the next day I felt better and went down to the out post.Now the dead body was on our nerves.As we pulled guard we look down and there was this dead face staring at you.Out to our front was a ring of bodies which I examined would look at there teeth (if you could see them and guess how old they were.Plus down in the valley were the bodies of the Chinese killed at Christmas (across the valley was the previous hill we occupied) As for the Chinese body as I ate I would think..(as I looked on him,)What village did he come from,,did he have a family ect and I nickname him :The Mongolian" he was big.I look at his eyes it look like he was staring at the sky when he died.Finnaly we took out bayonets chop the ice around him gave a push and down the hill he went.I could hear the body hit trees and brush as it went down,Then the day came to leave the hill.I got to top of the ridge line I was the last squad to leave the hill.I heard soldiers saying "Watch out for the,,,,,,,,.I did not get the last word. I sat down and started to slide off the hill as we did in the winter I picked up speed and turn a corner and flew into space and went into many strands of como wire.Here I was tangled in wire and around 3 feet of space under me.As a soldier passed me they tugged to try and get me lose.When I hit the wires my helmet flew off and went down the hill.Our company commander had said he would court martial anyone who lost his helmet.A couple of tugs later I got lose and down in the dark I went down the path.When I reach the bottom of the hill my foot hit something..It was my helmet..So we went south to a village called "Ok bung"..........
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

Winter Valley 52

Dear Readers.....Tommorow the 2 Aug ,,the day we attacvked the "million dollar hill"...We had a few wounded but it wasnt until later that I heard about the men who had died on the other side of the hill..We had cover they did not..A black soldier threw a grenade in a chinese bunker that made it possible for the rest of that company to get up the hill......Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

                                                                        JMJ

Kumwah Valley North Korea
"L" Co. 5th RCT 24th Div
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                  The Valley winter 51
   We did spend some winter days in the valley even after Christmas (looking for some special papers on that)..Our small tents had been set up and the deep hole under them so the cold wind could pass on top..and not through our tents..The mess tent was close by...out in the rice paddies was the 555 Artillery or as it was called the "triple nickle" by now I was used to the shells being fired off.When we ate it was so cold the food would start to stick to the metal mess kit before we reach the end of the line. One night (Jan 52) I decided I wanted to sleep out side not in a hole.So I got my sleeping bag and put it next to the tent. I zippered the bag
and I could just see a little out of it,In the morning I noticed snow in front of my face.I zippered  the sleeping bag open and I was covered with snow that had fallen during the night....back in the hole again.Max off a hill was just a couple of days,,
                                                                      The Award
 It was a cold sunny day as we stood at attention in the frozen rice paddies.One by one were called up to receive the highest award an Infantry man can receive.(Note not a medal just an award).I received the
Combat Infantryman badge.....Only an Infantryman can receive it and he has to have been in combat.
It is one of the proudest award a soldier can receive,

                                                                      Note
Ten months in Korea.....one letter..........one shower,,,,(I was a lucky one).........Listen radio once..a bout three minutes
No haircut....
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

The Saddle

Dear Readers,,Apologies to those I have already sent this narrative

                                                                      JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea (1951)
"L" Co, 5th RCT 24th Div.
Phillip Meyer S/Sgt Ret.

                                                              The Saddle Autumn 1951
   It was still autumn and for some reason we were going off the hill being relieved by another company.
As we left our fox holes they were filled up by the new troops.It was a long walk down the ridge line and at one point the Sgt said "Take a break" I saw a boulder by the path about four feet high, I sat down with my back on the boulder looking up in the sky.Then I heard a noise I did not recognize going over my head.,,Then "Time stood still" That is the only way I can explain it.,,My mind saying "What is it?"It did not take long.We had stopped because a large saddle in the hill which meant we would go down then up a steep climb.So the sgt had thought it be better we were rested. The explosion came from the saddle.The Chinese were firing the big mortars at us. Not the small ones which made a whistling sound.The explosion sent pieces of rock flying.Then another explosion.One soldier and I got on our knees and started praying before another explosion hit,As I looked in the saddle  a mortar hit I saw small pine trees fall as the were hit by shrapnel.
We waited then he Sgt said "We have to move out" So he told us one by one we would run through the saddle. On the path above the saddle was a bunker with a soldier in it.Then we ran through the saddle.I bless myself as I got to the bottom,Later we had got far away from the saddle when we hear multiple explosions coming from the saddle area,.............If we had not stopped for a break,,,,,,,,,,,,,someone would have not made it...................Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret........

Nov 51 Kumwah North Korea

 

                                                                              JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea
"L" Co.5th RCT 24th Div.
Nov/Dec 1951
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                      Chinese Snipers
 It was during the time it had snowed a little, It was causing a problem on a part of the hill .Keep in mind
This path was right in line with the enemy positions.It took a long way before you were out of sight.So one day the Platoon Lt. Say to a couple of us that we were to dig steps on the ridge line to make it easier for soldiers to go back and forth,So the three of us got out our shovels and went to that part of the hill.We were
about to start digging when we heard the bullets fly by our heads.It made a buzzing sound.We shouted to the Lt. A sniper is shooting at us" He says "Keep on digging the steps"..In that moment I and the rest made a decision.We took our shovels put them back on our belt as we moved down the hill..The Lt tried one more time to tell us to stay there but we kept on walking back to our positions..We did not get punished for disobeying him,,,
On the other hand ,,I watch as a soldier would build a small fire on the side of the hill.Then he would tell us to get away from it and wait for a sniper to fire at it,,
                                                                 Thanksgiving
That bunker where the mortars fell all night.Thats where I was thanksgiving day,It was around noon and I was sitting on some sand bags,,A soldier stop by my bunker and he handed me a sandwich.A turkey sandwich,The cooks had baked bread and cooked turkey,I drank water with my sandwich,It was the most delicious meal I had eaten in a long time..
I heard later that a soldier volunteered to help bring up sandwiches but as he came out of his bunker a mortar came in and killed him,,...However I cannot verify this story ,,,,I heard it from a good source,,
Later we got off the hill and got a regular thanksgiving dinner..
                                                                    The Airplane
One time when we were off the hill.I was in on e of those  deep holes we dug.It was getting late when I heard an airplane flying over our positions.As I listened to it I sensed some thing was wrong.It just did not sound like on of ours.Soon the sound of the airplane was gone and I went to sleep.Thenext morning I found out that a Chinese airplane had flown over our positions but did not see us and hit the company in the next area. After that incident we carried along with us a 50 caliber machine gun..
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

MASH Hospital Nov 51`

Dear readers,,this is the story that is hard to write,,but its the truth,,One second pull the trigger,,a whole different story//phillip

                                                                           JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea
"L" Co. 5th RCT 24th Div.
S/sgt Ret...Nov 1951
                                                                     MASH Hospital
 When was it exactly somewhere in November,,We were off the hill. A small tent had been put up the side of the hill.Our platoon had been told to go in the tent probably to get some information from our platoon officer. I went in the opening and found a place to sit on the ground.There were many small rocks on the ground where we were sitting,Then a black soldier came in by the doorway to the tent.He picked up rocks and started to throw them at us.After awhile I thought I am getting out of here before I get hurt,I got up and started for the doorway.As I approached the Black man.Thats the last thing I remmeber.I woke up on a stretcher at the bottom of a hill,A medic said I am going to give you morphine and I worried about that,My face felt funny and it hurt,Then I was in an ambulance that took me to a Mash hospital,They put me on an operating table right away,It was obvious what the Black man had done.The Doctor apologized that all he had was a small 60 watt bulb above my head to operate on.The black man had crushed my nose..I was put in a tent with many wounded soldiers at the end near another tent,I found out by listening that that tent was for autopsies and they would find out what Chinese soldiers had been eating,,,(One of the use of that tent)
The medic in charge of me would tell me pull down my pajama,,he would slap my butt and give me a shot,
The slap helped.When I was able to get up I went outside and ate getting in line with other soldiers.Then the day to leave.I said how do I get back to the front lines.He said get out on the road and he pointed North.I got a ride on a truck and there was my company at the bottom of the hill.The day I arrived a truck was pulling a 105 Howzter cannon over the hill.The cannon flipped and some Korean soldiers went with it.From the top of the hill to where I was standing the bodies of Korean soldiers hit by the cannon as it rolled over lined the hill. Then we went on the front lines.I got to the top of the hill and crossing the ridge line,There was that black psalter took my M1 Rifle and loaded it,I took aim at him./He was not that far away in a fox hole.
To fire or not to fire at him,,Of course I did not,,,It took many years and surgery to forgive him.Years later in France surgery but it never got my nose correct........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret....

Nov 51..Grenade/Mortars

Dear Readers,,,,In basic trainning I hit a soldier on his helmet with a fake grenade when I had to throw it..The mortar attack unusall how many mortars and how long it lasted..Phillip meyer S/sgt Ret.

JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea                                 
"L" Co,5th RCT 24th Div.
Nov 1951 Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                        The Grenade
 As time went on we would change positions.Now a bunker another day a fox hole..One day I was assigned to this fox hole.The advantage was I could see all the way down the hill.I did not have trees to obstruct my view,Even the brush in front of the fox hole had been cut so we had a clear view to our front.One day a soldier came to our fox hole.He gave us two hand grenades each.Up to that point we did not have grenades.
I looked at them on the sand bag in front of our fox hole.I thought ,,Now if I had to throw one it would be a problem the pin in the position it was in would be hard to pull out.So before the sun set.I took each one of the grenades and fix the pin so it would come out very easy..Then it got dark and .I kept looking down in the valley.I put my rifle down and picked up a grenade with my right hand. My other hand close to the grenade,
Then down in the valley a white flare. That meant the enemy had tripped a flare,It was very bright and as it came down.I looked at my right hand and just before the flare went out I saw the pin on the grenade was missing..Somehow when my left hand got near the grenade and the flare going up I had pulled out the pin.
The maximum 2 seconds passed.My buddy was asleep in the fox hole.I had been squeezing the handle on the grenade.I looked to my front where the brush had been cut and threw it high and straight heard a sound as the grenade hit the ground and the explosion.The next thing I heard from another fox hole.was"Who threw that grenade"?? When morning came I put the pins back the way they were and gave my grenades to other soldiers...I do not have to say what would have happened if I had made one small mistake.
                                                                       The mortar attack
 This time I was in a bunker on the other side of the hill.What made it so unusall was instead of the hill going down on a slant this hill went out about 50 feet before it started to go down.So from our bunker we could not see down the hill.I got on guard as the sun went down..When I heard the familiar sound of a mortar but this time around four mortars were coming in all at once.I looked to my front as they exploded
in a straight line, A few minutes later more in the same area...They just kept coming in.My buddy got on guard and I told him about the mortars.I slept ,,on guard again,My buddy said they are still at it.Then more mortars came on us..The night passed with no let up on the mortars.It had snowed a little,When the sun came up I got out of my bunker and looked around .Everywhere I looked there were the holes made by the Mortars..In that very small area hundreds of mortars had fallen on us during the night.Anywhere from 5 to 600.The miracle no one got wounded....It seemed for us the mortars stayed just the right distance from our fox hole...
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                    

The sniper, the bunker

Dear readers.so many little incidents happenned on that hill..I am writing them not in order but as I rememeber them,,..Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

                                                                             JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea
"L" Co, 5th RCT 24th Div.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
 November 1951
                                                                   The Sniper
 So many things happened on that hill,,Maybe not as they happened but as I remember them.One day I was standing by a bunker close to that big boulder,An officer came with a couple other soldiers with a 50 cal machine gun,a large telescope,,He had the machine gun set up and put the telescope on it,Then he told us he was going to get one..(One = an enemy soldier).He aimed the 50 cal which had been fixed to fire on shot just one bullet in the chamber/,The officer kept looking through the telescope.Then he pulled the trigger and said "I got one"with that the machine gun was taken apart and his men took it down the hill.,The next day he came up again and repeated the process,,,When you think that from where we stood looking straight ahead we could actually see the Chinese soldiers going through the trenches thats how close we were.
                                                                 
                                                                   The Bunker
The bunker I slept in I found out had a tragic story,As I came out the opening on the right side of te bunker
there to my right was that huge boulder.Before we had occupied this bunker, the company before us on this listening post all of them were asleep,The Chinese climbed on top the big boulder no one fired at them.then they went in the bunkers and fox holes killing as they went.To the front a soldier saw the chinese on the boulders and knew something was happening then the fire fight began but it was to late for many of the soldiers. So I was sleeping in a bunker where soldiers had been killed..
                                                                       The Bunker 2
One day in that bunker with nothing happening I found a weapon I had never fired before.A shot gun..I do not remember the gauge but I put a couple of rounds in it and went to the end of the bunker and pointed it out at some brush and fired away just to get the feel of the weapon,,However that did not make much happen until one day.My buddy and I wanted to warm up some C-rations,So at the end of the bunker we built a small fire and started to heat up the rations,The smoke from the fire going out the bunker window,Soon we hear explosions near our bunker. We thought some soldier throwing a grenade,,So we shouted "Stop throwing the grenades" but the response was."The smoke from your fire is drawing mortar fire from the Chinese" So we quickly put out the fire and the mortar attack stopped...
More later Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

November hill 1951

 

                                                                       JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea
Nov 1951
"L" Co, 5th RCT 24th Div.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                             Wake up call
   On the other side of the valley where we had dug holes to live in during the winter was the enemy controlled hills.I don't remember exactly when but a day came we were going up the hill early in the morning had got about half way up the hill..When I felt (I truly felt) I just could not go on no more,
I could not get up.Then the best thing ever to happen to me happenned.The platoon Lt, came up behind
me and gave me a swift kick directly in the middle of my bottom,And he said get to the top of the hill.
Amazing in a couple of seconds I was awake full of energy and passing all the rest of the soldiers,Except for my bottom that hurt a little,.That was the best kick I ever got in my life..
                                                              Hill description
    Imagine a horse shoe That would have been the chinese.We were in the middle of the horse shoe,They had positions on our right and left and the front, I was on a listnnening post,That is we would go as far as we could with out making contact with the enemy,Our objective should we see them coming or come under attack was to let the rest of the company know what was going on or fall back and hold with the rest,It was a very strange position. When we reached as far as we could go there in the middle of the path was a huge boulder that separated our lines from the Cynoscion each side of the boulder were bunkers,...on the right of the boulders were sand bags around four high then the bunker on the right.On the left behind a small bunker was an extra long bunker. The fox holes and bunkers until the hill got a little higher.If you looked to the front of the boulder the ridge line got very narrow and anyone walking it would have to be very careful then
it widened by the Chinese positions, To our front we could see the Chinese positions and the trench that went across the hill.Looking carefully you could actually see them walking back an forth in the trench,That is how close we were. The hills to the left and righ were filled with trees and brush so it was hard to see anything on them,,We stayed on that hill a couple of months and many things happened.
                                                                   My new bayonet,
 So one day a soldier came around and said we were being issued new bayonets,The reason may have been we did not even have bayonets for our weapons,.There it was my new bayonet,It was beautiful,Leather handle,,,sharp blade brand spanking new, I had put it down on the sand bags to my front when I hear a mortar coming in.I dived for a bunker as an officer dived into it to,My hands were shaking and the officer says "Are you cold?" Ahh officers..No I knew how close this mortar had come. So I went outside to get my bayonet,It was not on the sand bag I looked and there it was the mortar had hit it my brand new bayonet had been destroyed, The leather cut by the shrapnel,,,But if I had stayed by the sand bags it would have hit me directly,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Hint just as we could see them they could see us,,,Phillip Meyer S/sgt.ret

The Moment

Kumwah/Kumson North Korea
"L" Co, 5th RCT 24th Div.
Oct 1951 Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret/

The Moment

We moved from hill to hill for awhile. One day I had an experience,,You know one of those moments. I was 18 years old.

We were coming down a path off a hill, I looked to my front and many soldiers were on the path along side the hill going to another front line area. The dirt was dry and they were kicking up dust.

Then I thought to myself,,I was watching history being made,..I knew this was a special moment...In that moment I had felt I knew why I was there..One moment I was a teenager that next moment I had grown up.

The Hero and my pal

Dear Readers. You have all heard that cliche about combat.."Dont make a friend, or dont get friendly with another soldier"..well it is true....just a few minutes with that radioman..and I have never forgotten him,,or that medic..It was sad when I heard later that he was never the same again,,The way they described his wounds,,,it was bad,,,,,Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

 

                                                                                 JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea
"L" Co 5thRCT 24th Div,,
Oct to Dec 1951
Phillip Meyer S/Sgt Ret.
                                                                Kumwah Valley 1951
..It was starting to get a little cold when we made our next move.,We settled down in a valley. To our front the enemy lines and we were at the base of a hill..Our first duty dig deep holes, When the snow and freezing weather came these holes before the earth got frozen would be our place when we came off the hill,.Yes we dug them very deep and wide,,Then we would put the tent over it,The rainy season was over,,In that time period a demonstration was put on by soldiers who had special dogs, I watched as a Sgt told one of our men to hide himself in one of the dried out rice paddies,He went a good distance and hid himself.Then the dog was released, The dog went right to the soldier who stood up and froze,But the dog did not attack,,
                                                   My pal and The Black Gentleman..warrior
 Ohh do I remember this. We were getting ready to go on the front lines but first some patrols would go out see what they could find...I saw the radioman on the other side of some sandbags.I went to him and said "Can you tell me how the radio works: He says I am getting ready to go on patrol but when I get back we can get together and I will show you:' He was about 20 year old and not very tall...So I said okay and he was getting his radio ready..Then I look to my left and there was a tall black soldier .he was a Medic.I walked over and he was talking about what they would do and other things,I was impressed the way he talked and acted. This soldier was refined he spoke like someone very educated,,,,Then he left with the radioman for the Patrol...........I never saw them again...The story goes that patrol was going over a ridge line when the Sgt told them to get off and in between the hill,They had got around a hundred feet from the top. They said they could hear the Chinese laughing. Then they were fired upon..Two new men that just came in the company got up to fire and were hit.The Radioman got hit in the arm then his leg badly wounded, The Sgt in panic not doing anything,,The Black medic took over taking the wounded radioman down the hill then the other wounded and getting the other men to follow him.All the while being fired at by the Chinese...The Black
soldier I learned later got the Silver Star..The radioman was never the same again,,,,I only met him once
but Ill never forget him,,,I learned he was still alive but he died before I could see him again.The Black soldier a true hero,,,and a gentleman.......Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

The hill Sept 51

Kumwah,North Korea
"L" Co, 5 RCT 24th Div
Sept 51, Phillip Meyer S/sgt.
The Hill Sept 51

Again we were on the move and we settled on this hill.What made it so different was that instead of being high on the ridge line I ended up where the hill started down.So the valley was not far away.At one point we took a break going down the hill and I found an abandoned enemy fox hole. He had left behind various pieces of his equipment also found ammo. I got an idea, I took the Chinese ammo and took off the end and lit a match to the powder inside, not bad so now I opened a few more and poured all the powder in one cartridge and lit the round.However this time when it reached the end the cap at the end exploded.That was enough.Now the Sgt said move out and he assigned us an area to make a bunker or a fox hole.My buddy and I look around and he says."Look its late lets just get a good night sleep",,So we just found a spot and slept all night long..The next day the Sgt comes by..:Where is your bunker??" How we ever got away with that one Ill never know,But before the day was over we made a good size bunker.A very large pine tree was our corner of the bunker the other side the opening to the bunker.So we settled down.

One day on the friendly side of the hill a soldier had a razor and he was shaving soldiers, So I am sitting there getting a shave when we had mortars come in and as they exploded he calmly kept shaving me.. They were hitting a different area.

Then one night "Danny Kaye" the comedian came and was putting on a show. Some of our men were allowed to go the next day some more would get a chance.

That night I was in my bunker and I heard the first round go over. This was a large shell..coming from artillery.Then another and another. My prayer was "Please Lord don't let them get lower"..Then one round hit the lower part of the tree to our bunker. There was a loud explosion and I went down and grabbed my buddy who was sleeping,I said :a round hit us" and I woke him up.and he says.."Did you get wounded?" I said No,,then he says Im going back to sleep and he did.

The next morning I looked at the tree,. A large part had been blown away. Then I found out that the artillery had hit the USO show and they were leaving.

So the nights passed.The soldiers in the next fox hole would throw small stones at our helmets if they thought we were falling asleep.

My last act before we left that hill.I found a Chinese hand grenade and put it to the front of our positions, With the string that came with it and made a bobby trap.

So we moved out again...