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...

Three short narratives

Dear Readers  Just a couplwe of short (very short) narratives..,,Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret...

                                                                          JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea
"L" co.5th RCT 24th Div.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt
                                                                   The priest on the Hill
   In those first couple of months on the hill. Something unusual ,One day the sgt said there was a priest down the ridge line.So a couple of took off.Soon we came to a clearing and there was our Chaplain.
He said I do not have time for Confessions.So he gave us a general absolution, Then he gave Holy Communion to each of us...And that was it he was on his way down the hill to help other troops,

                                                                       Special patrol
This patrol happened as we were moving to new positions,We were passing across a hill and officers were looking through special telescopes on enemy positions,,As we kept going we came to end of a ridge line ,As we got close to that point we were told that spot was being fired on by a sniper.So the sgt said move real fast.We all ran past that spot..Then the patrol..I mean it was a very ordinary patrol..but then we came to a ridge line..overlooking a big valley,Then it all changed,I followed the Sgt. And look down the hill.On the right a tunnel and Chinese tanks..When the Sgt,saw that he gave the order to go back to our positions immeatdly If we had been spotted those  tanks would have been firing on us..

                                                                       Lost,,,,,,,
Again we were moving out to a new position, We came to a spot on top of the hill and stopped. 1st Platoon moved out,,,Second platoon moved out the sun was going down..By the time third platoon moved out I had gone through stuff I was carrying and seeing how light I could make what I was carrying. When third platoon moved out.It started to rain.It was rainng hard so the 4th Platoon (My platoon) started down the hill in the rain and dark,The Sgt said go to the left we moved off the ridge line I slipped in the mud and my rifle strap broke..Then the Sgt said those famous words."We are lost"We got back up on the path and headed down the hill.When we reach the bottom the Sgt said make a circle I ended up sitting on the side of the hill.
The rain was pouring down and underneath me a stream of water was flowing.At one point we saw each side firing tracers from a machine gun fire on a hill, On the left the Chinese position and on the right the American,,So the night and the morning passed the rain poring down on us..As I sat there somehow I fell asleep.,In the morning the rain stopped.We look to our front there were the two hills that had fired on each other,We started walking and we had to go across a flooded stream walking towards the American position.
As we went up the hill a Sgt met us,,we kept slipping in the mud.By the time we got our position we were muddy wet..How I ever fell asleep in that rain,,It was one of the hardest nights I ever had,,but then came the snow,,,.........................Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

Third attack 51

Dear Readers (Hi Geo)..Ohh the dead eneny.. many many..Its amazing Ill never forget taking the better C-ration .Oh the other soldier got something to eat,Today as a more mature Christian,,I would have given him everything,,,Amazing burned bodies,,I nearnost got killed but Ill never forget being selfish,,,Well at least I have never forgot  ....One day I am going to eat a can of corn beef hash and make up for it... Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret                                                                   JMJ
Kumwah North Korea
Sept 51 "L' Co 5th RCT 24th Div
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                  Sept Memories
   When we left the hill we attacked in Sept...It was go to one hill stay a day an move to another,Sio various memories.Number one. We were told to stop and get in any empty fox holes or bunkers for the night. I look down where I was standing and there was a bunker. I was very care full going down to that bunker,So I pulled guard as the sun went down.It was late when we went down. I woke up look down.Oh good grief I look down.I was looking rearmost straight down. How they made that bunker ill never know.I was very happy to move out..Then we were going over a hill.Some Officers were looking through special telescope to check out what the enemy was doing I got a chance for a quick look,Then as we approached the end of the hill we were told.A sniper is shooting in this area,Move quick as you as you pass this spot. I moved very quick...Then one day we went on a patrol;..It was all normal until we reached this spot. I looked down the hill..there were Chinese tanks at the bottom,,The Sgt said lets get out of here quick..and we did..again I avoided a bad situation.....but then...
                                                                Third attack on a hill
It was not like we were told it just happened.. I was going down a trench.There was Lt.Lee our company commander was the last one.
In the trench.When I saw him he pointed for me to get out of the trench. I went out fast on the ridge line.A few feet away I looked down.There was a dead Chinese.I will spare you what happened to him.I was thirsty but after seeing that body I was not thirsty any more.(Many years have passed but every time I get a shot or think I am in pain I think of him and my pain is minor).It was not a pretty sight.Then I kept going and there was the rest of the squad.I hear the bullets going over our head,.the Sgt said those famous words."If you can hear them they are already [passed you by" so we went down the hill.When we reach the bottom I saw a quad Fifty on a truck go by. (4 fifty cal on back of a 3/4 ton truck,,) I would find out later why..I looked up at that hill the artillery had strip the hill clean of evreything.When I got to the top I was told to check the tunnels under the hill/Oh was I lucky.I got in the tunnels but did not find any enemy but I could see our troops coming up the hill as I came to the end of the tunnel.Then I watched with some other soldiers,Down in the valley a tank had been hit and could not move,Off to the left a small shack and trees.Then the quad fifty caliber came around .It stop by the tank and started firing four 50 cal, machine guns.Gone went the small house the trees all was left was a puff of smoke,Ohh before that we watched as the tank fired.No sound then one two three four and we heard the sound of the gun firing.Then we moved out down the ridge line,as I turn the corner ,,there were Chinese hit by Naplam.A whole line of them still burning looked at one body the flames coming from his mouth the flames in and out as if he were breathing flames,.But quickly the Sgt said start firing in the valley the enemy is escaping so I took my M1 and fired at a small road that was between the hills where te Chinese were going across..While we fired a big recoilless weapon was being fired..I kept going to the end of the hill,As we stood there three of us an American marine jet
fired at us.The bullets hit just in front of us, About three feet in front.We had not put out a panel saying we had taken the hill that's how quick we took it.Then the jet came around again it fired rockets but this time they went in the valley,He got the message in time,One soldier said his rifle got hit when the jet fired at us.I got a hold of binoculars. I looked and there was the Chinese going up the hill.i reported it,,Im sure they knew what was happeningThe hill was taken so we passed out rations.One box was shared.I was the second to choose.Even to this day I regret what I did.. It was corn beef hash or something else.I took the better one so the black soldier got the worst C-ration,,forgive me,,Phillip Meyer S/sgt ret

My longest day

Dear readers.(Hi Geo") as you can see I did not do very much in the fight for that hill,,40 men wounded..some very bad..but it is a day ill never forget..Ill never forget the fear on those dead Chinese..........Months later I would have a body that I would think "what was his village ect.I even had a name for him..( a good one)  Phillip Meyer s/sgt ret

                                                                              JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea
Sept 1951 "L" Co, 5th RCT 24th Div
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                My longest Day
 To start I do not claim to have been in a big battle ect, But this was my day..I had been talking with some Korean soldiers and they gave me the name "Ol ne Mi" The sad face boy..Then we started down the hill.I was carrying a M1 Rifle and plenty of ammnution. We were about half way down the hill when I hear soldiers shouting.I knew the attack was staring on the hill to our front,When I got down to the bottom of the hill I looked on the ground and there were Chinese rifles.Some of the enemy just dropped them . I bent down picked up one and looked at the rifle. On the stock was the communist symbol.. When I look to the left an officer was trying to get his men to go up the long trench that went straight up the hill. I looked to my right on the side of the hill.I saw a wounded soldier coming down the hill then a couple others,I started to count
5 ,,15,,,20 30 35 Oh there was my platoon Sgt with his arm in bandages, Men with various wounds,Then I counted 40 and stopped counting..One soldier passed on while we were waiting what had happened to one soldier..Every time he tried to move a mortar came in and he would dive for cover.Finnaly he broke down and kept saying "got to get in the trench" "got to get in the trench'...but then came my turn and the officer pointed for me to go up that trench.When I got to the top I found all the trees in that area blown away,I look to my left a dead Chinese in a bunker. A soldier cried out to me come on over eat while you have a chance,   
I looked and they were sitting by a bunker that had been hit by artillery sat in front of them,As I ate my ration I look down and saw a sneaker in the dirt,I said. "I wonder if that sneaker would fit me"..well I took the sneaker and pulled on it.as I pulled up there was a leg.I followed the leg to the rest of the body in another
bunker that had been blown up,Nobody said anything,then the rest of the platoon made it to the top, Now not to far the trench went through woods not hit by artillery.When we reach that point and I look down the trench was full of dead Chinese,I said to the Sgt,There are bodies in the trench..he said keep moving and I did. I walked on bodies for awhile then the Sgt said get out of the trench, I look down and looked at a line of bodies.I saw the fear on there faces,,...............I was carrying a machine gun barrel since I was in the machine gun squad,At one point a marine jet strafing went by on my right.He was very close.I looked and for a second I saw the pilot.He was that close.The Sgt in front of me said?
"If you hear one come in get rid of that barrel" (a mortar) No sooner than he walked away I heard the familiar whistling sound.This was coming at me.I threw the barrel and look to my right and started to fall,As I went down I could see the mortar and I falling at the same rate of speed,I hit the trench my head in the dirt and the
mortar exploded on my right,,All I remember I was in a daze for awhile then we continued down the trench the enemy being pushed off the hill. I was now at the end of the hill and the Sgt said to hold that area.I look down and saw something burning.I took my shovel and put dirt on it then my blanket.I slept on that spot all night when off guard..In the morning carouse I took my shovel and made a big swing to see what was there.. I had been sleeping on a dead body all night,What a smell when I hit the body,Soldiers came and in a few minutes a five foot pile of dirt was on the body.After that I took out my C-rations and ate it was spaghetti,,for breakfast,Down the ridge line they found a Chinese hiding in a bunker,He took off running down the hill and they never got him,,,So ended my longest day..
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret,                                                         


  

The hill the radio call Sept 51

Dear readers (Hi Geo) If any memory haunts me.To a point of course would be tha radio call..That soldier and his platoon was in bad shape,,I cant see how any of them made it,,The next operation I call my longest day.It was one of the worse for our company..but we succeded in our objective,,

Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

                                                                      JMJ
Kumwah/Kumson North Korea
Sept 1951 :L: Co 5th RCT 24th Div.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt ret.
                                                                Special Moment
 After the rest area..The trucks took us to another hill.Then we new the reason lt,Lee had us climbing the highest hill.The one we would occupy was a high one .The highest we would ever stay on, Immediately we got to work changing fox holes into bunkers. We put everything we could find to make the roof of the bunker strong...So a day or two passed then one day and officer came on the hill and said."Look how dirty this men are why are they shaved ect"" When he left we said to each other .We want our water for drinking forget using it to keep clean,,,,Then one day the problem with the leaflets.Our platoon officer called us together and showed us some leaflets the Chinese had left by the hill..Im not sure while the occupied it and when they left
they also left surrender leaflets. He warned us that he did not want any of us even to pick them up for souvenirs. But then that day......................
                                                                The radio call
 I was out of my bunker looking at the hills to my front. The radioman came by my bunker when a call came in.As the soldier talked I could hear explosions in the back ground and Gun fire,He said they were running out of ammuntyion.Men wounded..We need help..As he talked and told of his situation the attack was going on..How long could they hold out??? It was one of those moments I felt so helpless.He kept asking for help and then........the radio went silent.......Somewhere on a hill far away soldiers were dying the soldier on the radio dead to??? To this day Ill never forget his plea for help....

                                                                     My new name
The day came for us to attack the hill to our front.Ill never forget that tree that survived on the highest point of the hill.We were getting ready to go off the hill.There on the right  were some Korean soldiers took out the cigarets since I did not smoke and gave it to them, One Korean soldier said.:We give you a name"
Your name "ol ne mi" thats the way it was pronounced. I said what does "Ol ne mi" mean.....and the soldier said It means "Sad face boy"........................So before an attack I was called "The sad face boy"I would soon be 18 years old......
The attack next story...Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

Final days rest area North Korea 51

 

                                                                          JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea
Aug 51,,5th RCT 24th Div.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                   Rest Area
 After climbing the hills a few interesting things happened. On the lighter side one night a soldier cried out
"Your Mother wears combat boots" down the line a soldier pick that up and shouted another funny and so the night went.From far off hills you could hear the message being passed on..The interesting part about this incident it was put in the newspaper "the Stars and stripes_,Once a soldier got hold of small portable record player and for a few minutes we heard Korean music..
As A part of keeping us in shape we were called down by the road and here was this small tank,,What were we to do..Lay in the middle of the road and the tank would carefully go over you,,The reason if we ever came under attack by tank we knew there was a away to survive.Any way my turn came..It made a lot of noise as it passed over,Then the tanker invited us to get on top and ride a little with him,When you ride outside a tank you have to hold on real tight...
We were checking out the area when a soldier said "This is what happened here and he told this story (Joke) the Chinese found a recoilless weapon.A couple of soldier were in back when they fire it and got killed from the backblast,So the Chinese soldier says as they load it up.Let turn it around and fire it..They told it better than me.
The next was more seriouse.  We were in the woods and some soldiers found a dead Chinese soldier.He had been hit by napalm. Think a triangle that was his body.It just twisted the body.I give the men my respect.They buried the body.....
The soldiers that performed at Fort Jackson in the club came and gave us a show.That truck was loaded with soldiers to go see it,and on that same road we found an empty fuel tank dropped by a jet,A soldier started to draw a soldier in a fox hole looking up at a pretty girl..Eventually   "L" Co 5 RCT was put on it.Some where in Hawaii they have that tank surrounded by a fence.Just a few short days so many things happened.The last night they dug this huge hole not deep but wide a fire was lit an in it went everything they did not to bring up to the front lines.Letters ect.I never received letters so I had nothing to throw in the fire,
Early next morning we ate breakfast.The trucks came to bring us back to the front lines,The Sgt said to me. "Burn that garbage in that abandoned fox hole." So I tried to light the trash,,would not light..Ahh I know I got gasoline and poured some on it ..In went a match..no flame so I got a piece of paper (time had passed it was a hot day).I put the burning piece of paper down by the hole.It never got there because.The min or explosion hit my face just a few small burns,I let out a yell,,Then it was to the truck to go to a new position,,Amazing how much can happen in a week,,,
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

The High Hill

Kumwah North Korea
Aug 1951 5th RCT 24th Div
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
"The Hill"

After leaving that village it did not take us long to get our objective.We did eat breakfast and in the mean time we looked at the "Hill" we were going to climb.No not a hill a mini mountain.It was very high.Early that morning we started to climb the "Hill" How different was that hill early in the climb we were holding hands as we went around a part of the "Hill" so nobody would fall...Then we reached a point were it had a lot of boulders. Now we had to be careful not to fall in between the boulders.

We found water coming out of the hill and wild grapes,very high up..The climb continued and the sun was going down,Now we were very close to the top. That is when I realized how high we had climbed.I look down and I was looking at a layer of clouds.

We had just about reached the highest point (so we thought) it was getting dark and some soldiers started a fire to keep warm. Then I heard "Grenade in the fire" a soldier had bent over and one of his grenades had fallen in the fire, In just a quick couple of seconds another soldier put his hand in the fire and pulled out the grenade,If he had not done that there wasn't any place we could go so he saved a lot of lives.I could see a path going higher up the "hill" but the Sgt said to bed down for the night.

When the sun came up here came Lt,James Lee our company commander who had really got to the top of that hill,He was very angry. One of those rare times and only time I saw him angry,As he passed us by he point up,and said "I wanted you all to get to the top of the hill you still had a long way to go." Then he said no food when you get off the hill,,So we went down the hill got on the trucks and went back to our "rest" area.

The next day he had us in formation and he pointed to another hill and said "We are going to climb that one and I know you all are going to make it.Again we started to climb and when I got to the top there was Lt,Lee sitting on a boulder and he was greeting each soldier just as he greeted me,..This time he was pleased,,So why climb a high hill..well we found out later,,Yes he had a reason, a good reason.

On that next hill one of those sad moments,that you never can forget.

Rest Area Part One

Kumwah, North Korea
July 1951 ..5th Rct 24th div
Phillip Meyer S.sgt ret,

USO Show

Im back to the first hill we occupied..and the many patrols we went on..It was some where in the middle of July we had just come off a patrol going over the barb wire fence with the mines and we were told we could go off the hill and see a USO show,Again we walk of the hill and a truck took us down the road.There were a lot of soldiers waiting to see the show,On a small stage was Jack Benny and two other actors,.Its amazing he would come this close to enemy lines. So we enjoyed the show that did not last that long and went back to the front lines..

Rear Area Aug 1951

After the seven day patrol we got a break,For a couple of days, Trucks took us to this area and we set up our tents At the bottom of the hill was the Mess tent.then just short of the woods were our tents,Two things I remember about living in the small tents.One down the middle we dug a small ditch so when it rained a stream of water would go down the middle..The second at night we wanted a little light, We did no have flashlights or candles so what do you do,? Simple you take an empty c-ration can and put a little gasoline in it. You light it and well not much light but it gave some.

In those first couple of days some one got an idea.Lets raid the mess hall.So I went crawling down the hill on my stomach.(We did not have to go far).The cans of food were passed to each of us and back to our tents,Cans of peaches ect ahh, The next day were called into formation. The order there will be no more raiding of the mess tent,.we complied.

About the same day we went in formation out on the road and there was Lt.James Lee the officer I had put 2 boxes of ammo on his shoulders while going on the front lines. This was his introduction to us,Along the line in his speech he said "I wont make you do anything I would not do" and he did it very well whatever he did (After that speech he got wounded six times).

We were in a rear area but for a reason..Not just to rest but get in shape,,We were going to climb a very high hill.The next day we got in trucks and went down the road at one point we stopped by a village,When we got out of the trucks for a break. The children all came out so we took out candy that we had. There was a line of sand bags the children on the other side, I took a Hershey bar and was bringing it down when some children grab for it,before I could open my fingers the candy was gone except a small piece still in my fingers,Then we got back on the trucks and headed toward the hill we would climb.

More next time.

Seven day Patrol North Korea

Dear Readers..In one part of the story I toned it down..You can read in between the lines..Tell the complete truth it would not sound nice..Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

                                                                            JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea
Aug 1951, 5th RCT 24th Div,
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                               Seven day patrol
    We arrived in an area where basically the village had been destroyed.We set up our tents on a small hill near the village,..Our mission patrol a large area,It sounded simple enough but that's not what happened.
As we passed through a quiet little village with there small houses,The ones with straw on top.One soldier
had made a small torch and threw it on the roof, Then another,Any house we came to was burned down.
Oh we went on long patrols with out seeing a house.In one spot where we stopped in front of me a typical Korean house.How peaceful that area looked,,,,Then three things happened..The first I was on the other side of the area we were camping in,There was this house which the roof had caved in,Why?? I took out a
book of matches and set the building on fire,,,,,The next day all that was left were ashes..
The next we had come back from a patrol and we were at the bottom of the hill and we heard a shot,One of the men in our squad shouted "Count your men"..You hear a shot you see if some one was hit,,We went up the hill and soldiers were around the body of a dead black soldier, What had happened? In a tent just a few feet away a Cpl gave a private his .45 Pistol to clean. The private unfamiliar with a .45 and he pulled the trigger pointing away from him.In the tent by them a black soldier was playing cards.The bullet hit him in the side and never came out.He was killed instantly....I never found out what happened to the Private and Cpl who were at fault..
The last day of the patrol we were in a village not burned down yet.The Sgt said to me and another soldier "Go in the house and bring out the people" So I walk in the house there is an old man women children.
And feeling very stupid I pointed my rifle and motion for them to leave the house..Now we had the whole village lined up on a road,A group of children went separately going over a wide stream,,But here I was with my rifle making people leave there homes...I heard a young women cry and look in back of me a soldier was
trying to,,,touch her..that made it even worse...
So why that patrol..why burn down a village,,,later I was told. One they wanted this village stripped so if the enemy did come they would not find anything.The second explanation was that ammunition ect was hidden in that village,,No matter what I heard the whole operation did not make sense...I have pictures of the many children being taken away,,,..............................Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

Kumwah valley North Korea 51 go for water

Dear Readers..I was very thirsty that day,,Yes I think you will go very far to get a drink of water...Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

                                                                           JMJ
Kumwah/Kumson North Korea
Aug 1951 "L:" Co 5th RCT 24th Div
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                   "For a drink of water"
   After the attack on the "Million dollar hill" we never seem to stay in the same place long.We were traveling north however.,It was still warm in August,..One day we were climbing one of the many hills.
We were on the top of the hill I had run out of water in my canteen and I was very thirsty.On the top of the hill I look down in the valley.The sun shining on a very large stream of water. Not to far from the bottom of the hill. I said to myself I just got to get some of that water.Our platoon officer was just coming by and I said.,,Pleading?? "Can I go of the hill and get some water?"It must have been the way I said it To this day I am surprised on what he said,,Simply.."Go".Now when all the soldiers realized I was going for water they started to give me there canteens,. Then I started down the hill ..No not walking I was running as fast as I could, The soldiers I passed must of thought I was crazy.Who knew what I would meet in the valley.When I got to the bottom of the hill I look to my right and there was this huge stream of water. I ran into the valley and jumped in the water,I open the canteens and started to fill them up Plus getting myself a drink of water,By the time the other soldiers caught up with me I had there canteens filled.When they all had there filled canteens.One soldier came to me and said.Pointing at a hill at the end of the valley..The Chinese have a machine gun
up there..Why I was not fired upon..I think because we were to far away to be fired on,,but I was lucky that day..All for a drink of water......Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

aug 2nd 51

 

                                                                      JMJ
Million Dollar Hill
Aug 2nd 1951
Kumwah North Korea
"L" Co. 5th RCT 24th Div,
                                                            Attack on Million Dollar Hill
   At the end of July we made one more patrol which turn out to be a ambush patrol..We found a path late at night and covered all sides of the path.Any person passing would meet a soldier..That night when we return to our fox holes the platoon officers says we are on alert so nobody would get any sleep.it was a rough night,
                                                               August 1st 1951
 We were told to fill up our fox holes.I had found a North Korean bayonet and threw it in the fox hole..One less thing to carry,Early in the morning of the 2st August after filling our fox holes we came off the hill we knew we were going to attack the hill.An officer was in a tiny tent and paying soldiers with what we called
"Funny money:" Military money.Why?? I went to get paid.I knew what was going to happen in the next few hours,As I approach the officer my hands were shaking so bad I could not sign my name, So he "red line me" meaning I had not been paid,,Then they put us in trucks and they drove us to the bottom of the million dollar hill.At the bottom were these huge light shining up the hill.We started up the hill which was very high.As the sun came up we were reaching the top.At one point I looked to my left.and I saw a long line of bunkers, (Enemy bunkers).When we stopped I hid myself in some brush.On my left some radiomen stopped.I listened as they called in artillery.The first rounds fell short.Then I heard them say raise the artillery. I watched as a round went straight into the enemy bunker with a puff of smoke coming out,Then we continued up the hill.Our mission believe it or not. "To draw enemy fire on us" so that another company going up the hill would get less fired upon.On the ridge line a Sgt went out blowing a whistle and shouting.When he came back we were told to fire at the enemy positions.Everybody was down and here I was standing firing my M! Rifle.Thje Sgt saying get down Meyer get down..Then from in back of me a Sgt said to me .We need help taking a wounded man off the hill.He took me and another soldier.there was a black man lying on the ground.They put him in a strecher,And we proceeded to take him down the hill..His only words :Water I want water"...At one point we took as break and put him down.Now the troops were drawing fire..We saw another wounded soldier come off the hill.As they put him down near us I ask. What happen to you" as he did not look that bad. He said look at my foot.he moved it a little and we saw that a
bullet had gone through one side of his foot to the other.How did that happen..He said I did what I was taught to do.I hid behind a rock but I spread my feet and caught a bullet.He said (Ill never forget) "You wont see me again" and we didnt.So up the hill.It rained the firefights went on all night,
The sad news even tho we drew fire on ourselves a squad of soldiers got killed by machine gun coming up the other side of the hill.A black man threw a grenade which destroyed the machine gun bunker...So the rest of the company had a better chance to get up the hill.
Phillip Meyer S./sgt Ret

Special patrol 51

Dear Readers..This was one of my better days of the Korean war,,Phillip

                                                                              JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea 1951
"L" Co.5th RCT 24th Div.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt ret.
                                                                      Special patrol
 There were two patrols that became special in there own particular way..The first one when we came back
we were told we could go off the hill to see a USO show. When we got off the hill a truck took us to another area. We saw Jack Benny and he had a couple of other show people with him.I was lucky to get to sit up front.Jack benny had two other men with him.The show did not last long but we all enjoyed it.then it was back to the front lines.
                                                                         Second special patrol
The next patrol we went on it had rained very hard,,So when we went down the hill we slipped a lot in the mud. The day was sunny as we went on this patrol..We had covered the area we were supposed to go through but on the way back we went through a village that had been burned down.I was passing the burned hut.when I hear some one say. We found some people...I kept on going down the path until I came in a clearing.On my right on the side of the hill was a small shack,Hidden by brush and trees,.I went up by the shack which had an opening in front kind of like a fruit stand.A couple of soldiers were standing there.I looked over the counter and there were three children a Girl and two boys.One soldier was speaking in korean and telling us what the girl was saying.One there parents had been taken or killed by the Chinese.
And they had not eaten any food for over a week.. I saw the radio man in the clearing he was looking at a map on the ground. I said to him lets take the children up the hill.,That kind of made him angry.No we would not do that..I could not accept that,,Then an idea occurred to me..I said..Why don't you call headquarters and see what they say,,To my surprise he got on the radio and he said the magic words..
We have found Civilians in the valley" (he did not give age or sex).Headquarters said "Bring them in for questioning" Now the radioman looked at me and said "Okay you are going to carry one of them up the hill.
So I got the oldest boy who wasn't that tall or heavy.He was about 8 years old. I put him on my shoulders
and we started up the hill.Everytime I slipped in the mud his hands got tight around my neck Part of the way up the hill we stopped for a braccia put the boy by a tree and looked in my pocket I  had this candy I had not eaten that had orange ,lemon ECT flavors square pieces of candy.I gave it to him,It did not take long for him to eat it,,Then back on the trail.I could hear the radioman talking.We would meet a Korean man at the barb wire fence who would take the children.One by one we handed them over,As I handed the boy over the fence I was passing him in the mined area.No room for a mistakes the civilian took them to an orphanage.
That night in my fox hole I felt better that if something did happen.The children were safe,,,
Phillip Meyer S/sgt ret

Patroling Kumwah Korea 51

Kumwah,North Korea 1951
"L" Co.5th RCT 24th Division

Patrols June/July 51

During the end of June and all July we went on many patrols. All these patrols came down to the hill to our front.Which we would attack one day. The Sgt, would go down the ridge line and pick out men to go on the patrol. I got my chance, I would go with 16 clips of ammo. My M1 rifle and canteen filled with water.

The patrol would consist of around 9 men (a squad). Down the ridge line we made a right turn and went down a path.Not to far down the path was a barb wire fence. Which we had to cross over. Two problems, the barbs that cut our clothing and boots. The next thing we had to be careful was on each side of the path that went through the fence were mines.Big mines.

As you crossed over you did not want to go to far left or right just straight over.,Once over it did not take to long to get to the valley. Why do I remember my first patrol.? It was a reconnaissance patrol just to gather information. Well we were walking through the valley and I looked to my right.I saw a man (soldier) on the enemy side going up the hill. I had a clip in my rifle ready to fire.I took my rifle look through the site and was ready to fire.The Sgt saw me and push my rifle down and motion for me to not fire.We did not want to draw enemy fire.We continued until we came to a Korean house that had been hit by artillery.The patrol stopped and the Sgt was searching the area around the small house. Then we returned to the path and went back up the hill.,,Some patrols lasted a long time.

Getting Clean

One day we came back from a patrol.As usual our clothes were getting cut by the barb wire. But hat day we were lucky. The Sgt said all of us who had been on that patrol could go off the hill.By following his directions we would find an out post in the woods. They had water and we could take a shower.So off the hill we went and It was hard to find this very small shack,Hidden in the woods. They let us take showers and gave us clean clothes. That would be the last time I would get clean in months.

We were dressed and ready to go when one of men said we had to get back to the front lines. The soldiers in charge of the water point said/get these men something to eat.They fixed the best meal we would have for a long time. We were walking back through the woods and the soldier in front sees a squirrel . Going toward a tree,He starts firing at it with his rifle, No he never was able to hit it..Then back to the front lines...When you laid down in the fox hole sometime the roots of the tree were next to you face.Hit the side of the fox hole with your head the dirt would fall on you.

On one patrol we took a different route.However the men on the ridge line did not know a patrol was in the valley,,We hear machine gun firing and it was at us,,We were being fired at by our own men.We hugged the side of the hill and the radioman was able to get to someone and they stopped firing.

"L" Co. 5th RCT 1951

Korea war 1951
"L" Co, 5th RCT 24th Division

The next time the truck stopped it was down a small road with dried out rice paddies on the right side and a wooded area on the left. When I got out of the truck .I was now a member of the 5th RCT and I was in "L" Company the 4th platoon..I went across a mound of dirt to a bivouac area. A couple of soldiers were sitting on the ground,,The first thing the Sgt ask me was "Okay what weapon do you want" and I had a choice, the machine gun,a BAR (Browning automatic rifle) or a plain old M1 rifle. I chose a rifle which I already had, However I was assigned to a machine gun squad..That night I pulled guard on the wooded side of the road.We had mosquito nets to put over our helmets but I could not see very well with the net so I would pull it up and got bit by mosquitos.It would be the only time I got bit by mosquitos which would cause a big problem much later.

The next day after breakfast the Sgt was looking for volunteers to fire the 2.3 rocket launcher volunteered and we met a the end of the road where it ended at the bottom of a hill.There were three of us who volunteered, There was one 2.3 Rocket luncher..The Sgt took the first soldier and gave him instructions then a round was put in the rocket luncher .The soldier squeezed the trigger it did not fire.A small wire connection was checked it fired. Next soldier another round put in. Again problems making it fire and when it did there was rust on the round that blew out the back,Now it was my turn.I was supposed to fire high at the hill but as I looked through the scope it was aimed somewhere at the bottom of the hill and I thought its not going to fire......So I pulled the trigger and it fired immediatly. The round landed at the bottom of the hill.

The next day some big General came and our company put on a show of fire power, Soldiers carrying 81 MM mortars up the hill, I fired a carbine with other soldiers. I put it on automatic and after firing a clip or two the wooden cover was smoking it got that hot,.after the General left we bivouacked near a hill in the valley, I was in my tent writing one of those rare letters I ever wrote,.When the artillery started to fire which was not far away the ground shook,Some soldiers who were called "Ridge runners" made special patrols before we would go on the front lines.We were in Kumwah,North Korea.

The next day we would go on the front lines.

Front Lines, North Korea 1951

North Korea May 1951
5th RCT :L" Co, 4th Platoon 3rd Squad

Front Lines
After the demonstration for some top generals it was time to go on the front lines.Since I was in the machine squad I was assigned to carry machine gun ammo,two boxes..It was heavy..I had it over my right shoulder with straps to hold the boxes.About half way up the hill I was getting tired.what to do..I looked in front of me and there was this soldier,tall looked strong..With out thinking I got close to him took my ammo threw it on his shoulders then said "Will you help me" He turned around and then I saw the Lt. Bars.and he was my company commander..The surprise he said "sure Ill help you"

So we continued up the hill. When we got to the top .We kept on going for awhile then we stopped and we were told to chose a place to make our fox holes..The machine gun men got quickly making a special bunker.We were next to the machine gun and my buddy and I dug a fox hole. That night guard 1 hour on one hour off all night.During the night the machine gunners heard sounds and would fire in that direction.The morning came and just below the new machine gun bunker was an old North Korean bunker and a soldier came out of it. The soldier was a medic who had thought that would be a good place to sleep but no one knew he was in there so every time he moved the machine gunner would fire but he was safe as long as he stayed in the bunker,That night he slept on the other side of the hill,,

That day the artillery was firing on enemy position and a White Phosphorus fell short on our area,Lucky just far enough not to hurt but as the white smoke came across the hill the machine gun bunker was fill of men...In those first couple of day the mess people were able to bring hot food up in containers but a problem not enough mess kits to eat out off..What to do..Simple.The first men got the mess kits.When they finish eating on the ridge line they put them in a box.Next group took the dirty mess kit hit it on a tree and ate and so on/You finish eating knock the old food out and pass on the mess kit,We only got a couple of meals that way then we got C-rations ..

The next thing I learned the hard way was how to sleep. I was sleeping on the ridge line not far from my fox hole when I got off guard.One night I felt some one kicking me and saying ;Is he dead?" Then they told me.I was sleeping with my mouth wide open and a soldier saw dozens of flies going in my mouth.So he presumed I was dead.From that day on I covered my mouth with whatever I could find when I was sleeping.

Our first casualty, no not the enemy but a horrible way to die. A soldier had a very large flare and as the story goes he put it in his fox hole then for some reason sat on it and it and the flare went up and he was killed immediately. My memory my fox hole was near the ridge line and they carried his body pass my fox hole.

The next man to die.We were put on alert were we being infiltrated, a soldier had gone in front of his fox hole to go to the bathroom his buddy woke up not realizing it and shot him,..We had a lot to learn.

On The Way Up to North Korea -1951

Korea 1951
5 RCT "L" Co.

Moving North

After a day at the abandoned factory we went a little north and came to an area once occupied by American soldiers. There was a row of small house with two floors, they were very small houses. We got there late so our squad got the top floor. We slept on the floor. While were getting ready the Sergeant.left and went to a nearby village. He came back upstairs with bottle he said had beer in it, then he told us to watch.he said as he poured a little on the floor that when he put a match to it if it turn red it was impure but if the color was blue you could drink it. The beer did burn. He drank it.

The next day after breakfast our exercise was climbing a nearby hill for exercise. It was a very rocky hill.

Again we proceeded north and stop by the side of the road and set up our pup tents. It was early and near by was a stream and a small waterfall. The Sergeant got an idea, why not, so we all strip down naked and jumped in the water. Nice clean water and cool. The stream was wide and I had not swam in a long time. So I tried swimming across. I barely made it. The swimming lessons in boarding school saved me. So I passed the waterfall put on my clothes and went back to the bivouac area .

One soldier said to follow him up the hill which I did with a couple of other soldiers. I was not ready for what we found. In front a dead enemy soldier and all down the ridge line many more dead enemy soldiers there body bloating. One soldier took a stick and pushed it in the body then we went down the hill. That night I was put on guard and the Sergeant told me the other soldier in the tent would pull guard after I was finished.

That night I walk the area and when I got to the tent I woke the soldier up for guard and went to sleep. The next morning I found out he never pulled his guard. He was in serious trouble and punished by digging what they called a 6 x 6 hole. He could have been shot.

That night after I got off guard I had a nightmare of dead soldiers head rolling down the hill.
That next day we got on trucks and again move north we were passing by Seoul. As we went down the road we saw a bridge. A soldier took a grenade and as we passed over it he threw it in the water. Everybody was in good spirits.

To our front we saw Army ambulances coming down the road as they passed us by we could see some of the wounded .Many ambulances passed us by and we all got quiet. It was a wake up call. Then we passed by Seoul on the outside of the city. There was smoke coming from some of the buildings. All along were proceeding north.On our next stop I would be assigned to my combat unit,

Korea 1951

5th Rct 24th Div,
Kumwah,North Korea..

Front Lines Kumwah.North Korea

As time went on our focus was on this very high hill to our front. Almost daily this hill was strafed by our airplanes.We would judge whether the pilot was married or not married, if he was not married the airplane would fly real low and near most touch the tree tops. The married pilot flew high above the tree line, also the artillery that hit that hill, soon it was given a name .We called it "The million dollar hill" the idea was that all the shells, all the strafing added up to a million dollars. In the History books and to this day that hill is referred to as "the Million Dollar Hill"
The Ghost

What would you call it? As we look down the ridge line there was another company.That had a particular problem that we all heard about later,..This is what happenned. Each night they would hear something moving around to there front. They would fire there rifles. The next day the same sounds but no matter how many rounds fired the mysterious sounds continued. Now the soldiers were getting worried, what was this mysterious thing that could not be killed. Finally the Sgt ask for volunteers the next time they heard the sounds they would go after it. So that night they heard the sounds and went after it, and caught a pig that was coming up the hill to find food.
Lesson Learned

One day my fox hole buddy says lets dig our fox hole down by the barb wire, this was in the early days when we got on the line. So we took our shovels and dug a hole close to the barb wire that the enemy would have to go over to get to us.

It look good all we would have to do would be to fire straight ahead at the barb wire. We neatly put the grenades, clips of ammo on the sand bags. We were ready. However to our left was the machine gun emplacement high above us and to our right two soldiers with rifle above us.But it was quiet a couple of days. Then came the night. I was sleeping on the ridge line. When my buddy had finished his guard duty he would come get me,then he would sleep on the ridge line. One night he came up to wake me up, all of a sudden there were red flares going up and other colored flares. The left flank was firing there weapons, then our men started to fire. I wanted to get to our fox hole but as we looked down. We could see the machine gun tracers going over our fox hole, our fox hole was now in the line of fire. So we split and stayed on the ridge line.I had ammo in my rifle and my ammo belt. So I started to fire to our front, I kept pulling my trigger then it stopped, my rifle had jammed. I looked around and I saw a soldier pulling commo wire for a telephone, I told him my rifle jammed so he said he would help, he got along side me and fired his weapon until it all got quiet again.

The next morning I did two things. We dug a new fox hole near the ridge line and I took my rifle apart got out the bad round clean my weapon. A couple of nights later I used it again and I fired off eight rounds with out a problem.

Fort Story, VA - May 21st 1966

In December 1965 we arrived at Fort Story, Clare,Dominic around two years old and Michael around a year and a half old.We stayed at the guest house near the old light house. Our trailer came down from New Jersey and we settled on 17th street in a trailer park. Each day I drove from 17th Street to Fort story. I was in the 344th LARC company,my job was in the Motor Pool with trucks and supply, However Vietnam,,,,I was leading the regular life of any soldier when we got our orders to go to Vietnam.This was at the end of May.We would be restricted to post at a certain point in time. I was packed and ready to go (Sorry we did not see combat but we did our duty and did it well).We lost our first soldier before leaving.) 21 May 1966,,that fateful day. We ate breakfast and went back to the barracks. I was sitting on my bunk and talking with the soldier next to me.His name PFC Hunt. He was telling me about his girl friend who worked at the “Paper box” a restaurant on the beach (Pacific ave) near 17th St. He said she was french, I said I spoke a little French I could help him.I swoon realized I was making a Buddy I could have when we got to Vietnam. We kept on talking then the 1St Sgt told us to put on our swimming gear. We would go to the beach and get some exercise swimming. We took our gear with us and we marched down to the beach.On the beach we put our gear down and went in swimming.(we were around 40 or more men just one platoon.) We were enjoying ourselves when the Sgt said “Everybody out of the water” One soldier had been pulled out by a rip tide. Who was it?? We all went by our gear and one spot was missing, PFC Hunt. I remember looking out into the water he was out there some where. We returned to the barracks. That night his body washed up on the shore by the NCO club.(NCO=Non Commissioned officers club)It was a sad night for me.I felt I had lost a friend even tho I knew him such a short time.

Later we found out he had made out an insurance policy for $10,000 the day before he died.I will not judge what he may have done or saw an opportunity to do. At the end of May I was restricted to post we were ready to leave.I had arranged to be picked up by the fence at the end of the trailer park .

Early that morning my buddies pick me up and we went to Fort Story. That night I called Clare from a telephone near the old PX at the back of the barracks. I would not see her for a year.We packed our gear and the next day we were headed on the long trip to Vietnam, again we would lose one more soldier(In Vietnam).

Next our trip to Vietnam and our first few days.

Fort Devens, MA - Dec 1960

On the first December my leave had not started yet.In the morning we went out in the forest and set up a tent.It was very cold. After dinner I went to Finance and got $193.20 travel pay..Then I pulled charge of quarters at the Motor Pool...(Some one need a jeep or truck I was there to see it signed out properly).

For dinner I walk to the Mess hall but a soldier drove me back,At the motor pool I studied mathematics and wrote letters.After midnight still writing letters.Then I got relieved went back to the barracks and slept until noon time

I ate dinner at the "Crossroads" snack bar and later I wash my field jacket and fatigue in a Laundromat in Ayer,Mass.At the Service club I called a Miss Carmel Randozzi (more later on that)The next day cleaning my M1 rifle and work as CQ in the motor pool studying Mathematics lessons.,On the 4th Dec the usual work day bu then I was packing my duffel bag to get ready to leave,,The 5th Dec was my last day with the 232nd Combat engineers.

I spent the day going back and forth doing all the paper work that was needed to clear post..I went to Ayer the town nearby and had dinner Mixed Fish,clams,shrimp,scallops,Then I bought ticket to Hartford,Conn. I called Miss Carmel Randozzi..after three calls got her and will see her tomorrow..I got on the bus at midnight,The Bus driver could not let me off in Hartford so I had to walk across a long bridge and walk a dozen blocks before I found a place to sleep at a YMCA..I went to the greyhound bus station and got my bags.I caught a bus to Putman Rd. to Burns school.To see a Miss Carmel Putman a 3rd grade school teacher. I stayed around the school until she got off and went to her house, then we went across the street to eat dinner I had three Manhattans and Veal cutlets, spaghetti,salad, port wine and black coffee. We just talked.
I write if she is that cold I'm headed for warmer climate"

Her father drove me to the YMCA..On the 7th Dec I called my sisters husband :Louis" come I say to New York to pick me up..and he says "no I wont", so it was a couple of days of walking around and sleeping at the YMCA,.Talk about a nothing affair that was it,,Don't ask me why..I went to see her..On the 8th Dec it was catch a bus to New Jersey.

North Korea - December 24th 1951

I was on a listening post with "L" Co 5th Regimental Combat team, It started snowing long before midnight. By midnight the snow was very deep. All of a sudden I hear Christmas music coming from the Chinese side. Who was playing the music. I started to think of home (What home??) and I also notice the music sounded different. Then, after a few minutes the music stopped and a voice said "This is the Chinese Communist Army and we invite you to surrender" Then he talked about a hot meal and read letters from prisoners of war and how well they were being treated. I heard a voice come from the fox hole next to me which said. "Pass the word get the artillery" so I passed the word to the next fox hole.

A couple of minutes later the artillery came down on the hills in front of us. (The word was passed on to a radioman)The around midnight they said a man got wounded and I was selected to carry him part of the way off the hill. The snow was so deepwe were dragging him in the snow. I went back to my fox hole and at around 2 am it started again the music and asking us to surrender. This time the artillery came without passing the word, now in all that in between Lt.Lee our company commander and a Sgt down from us caught the Chinese trying to infiltrate us. The Sgt threw grenades and killed a few.Plus Lt.Lee with his rifle.

Yong Dong Po, South Korea -1951

Inchon Korea 1951
After we left the landing craft we walked across a field and I saw a small building.What made it so unusall was that it was full of holes made by shells. There well holes of all sizes.Then we continued walking a truck took us to an abandoned factory.there was barb wire in one area. The sun was going down when we got inside on the bottom floor. The first thing I was told to do was "grab a piece of cement", in other words no bed, no tent, just sleep on the concrete floor,which I did.

During the night some soldiers went on patrols. The more seasoned soldiers. The next day were still at the factory. Years later I would find out that town was Yong Dong Po.(as close as I can get to the spelling but that is the way it is pronounced). But it was that night at the dinner meal, We were able to get cooked meals and we used our mess kits to put the food in..Outside
the factory on one side was a row of trash cans that we put what we did not eat in them. I had scraped my mess kit clean in a garbage can and going back in the factory when I heard voices and people walking I hid myself by the doorway and looked..The people were coming from the village.They went to the garbage cans. I saw one man pull out a piece of meat. Other putting there hands in the carbage cans pulling out what they could find. Ill never forget that scene. It was my first lesson in what war can do.

Aboard Ship - Yokohama, Japan - May 1951

Japan

We had been at sea for at least 14 days then around the 15th day I came up on deck and the First thing I saw was Mt.Fujiwama. I saw it just for a short time when fog covered it.The harbor was a little dirty with item floating in the water.We got our duffle bags ready and waited in the stairwells.

As soon as we got off the ship were lined up to get shots. No Joke the shot was called the "Japanese B".What I remember I watched as the soldier in front of me got his shot. But when the medic pulled out the needle it was still in his arm. Then it was my turn and all went well.

The next thing we were put on a train..We were told not to put our hands out the window because the train car passed very close to the bridges ect..The train cars were very small not very wide. The building we passed seem dull how can I explain, no color to them. They brought us to a small Army post and by a patch painted on a smoke stack it was the 1st Cavalry. We would not stay very long. We ate dinner and were restricted to the Army post.

The next day we were issued brand new M1 Rifles all the stuff it had been wrapped had to be cleaned away.The whole rifle taken apart and cleanned. We were taken to a rifle range and we fired a clip of ammo at targets that were not very far away. When we got back the Sgt said go thru your duffle bags get an extra set of under wear and socks he said you wont need the rest,What we took we put in a knapsack. As the sun set and it was dark they took us to the docks and we got on a different ship a smaller one. This ship had been hit by Japanese airplanes during World War Two so in the dark of the night we left. The idea very few people would know were on our way, it would take a couple of days to get tp Korea.

Our first knowledge that we were in the waters of Korea some one thought they had spotted a mine in the water. Then we arrived at Inchon. The first problem was the 30 foot tides.One time you could see for a mile or more water then some time later the same place would be a mud flat. So we boarded a LST a landing craft and it went in at the right time and brought us to shore.

My tour in Korea had begun.

Trip to Korea - 1951

On way to Korea

Basic training was over and now I had a little money in my pocket.I look sharp wearing my uniform had my orders and the date to report to California. I went back to the trailer park in Gainesville to sleep on a couch,take a shower across the road. My Foster parents in a way could of cared less if I had come home.

I would have more fun on an Army post, I went to Cedar Keys but nothing there. I found out quickly I was living better in the Army than where I was, so I bought my tickets for my trip to California had to go to Jacksonville, Where I got on a train.That train ride started my seven plus days trip across the United States.

I enjoyed every minute watching the scenery and eating good in the dinning car. When we reached Texas it took us three days to across the top of Texas, On the train I met a sailor we after talking we agreed to write each other, he would become a medic with a Marine unit and later in the Korean war win the Silver Star when a squad of Chinese came at him while he was working on some wounded. He threw grenades, fired his weapon and killed all the Chinese. It was one of the best trips I ever took across the United States. When we arrived in California on the seventh day. It took one more to get to our destination.

I reported in and showed the Sgt my orders. Then he said that I had reported in three days early. He also told me about others that were deserters. Our barracks was near one of those canals famous in California and we warned not to go near them.

It was a changing point in my life. I had started to think differently growing up? I knew I was completely on my own now, even my taste in music I went from Western cowboy type music to Doris day, Bing Crosby and Pop music. The first song that got my going was ? "The world is waiting for a sunrise" Les Paul and Mary Ford. While I was at the camp they had typewriters that work by putting a dime in and it work for so many minutes. I wrote letters but I never received a letter from my foster parents. We pulled details but soon we were packing up and brought to the docks. That troop ship was so big a two stacker the bow of the ship was way past the dock, a two stacker is a big ship. The ship was the General Johnson.

The last thing I saw was the Golden gate bridge.

A couple of days out we hit a typhoon and I got very sick and put on guard. The officer took me to an upper deck on the port side. He open the door and there was a soldier sick lying on the deck. He told me if I got sick I should get on the deck to.

The wind was blowing very strong. On that trip there is a couple of days I do not remember I was that sick.

Later when I felt better rumors went around that the Chinese had a special weapon. The ship would move in such a way all the trays flew off the dinning room table. We would be at sea over two weeks going to Japan.

Fort Jackson SC - End of Basic Training 1951

Some of training went into advance basic so it latest a little longer. For example we went out for firing 60mm mortar. What we did was just a demonstration but it did prove to be an interesting morning.When one round was fired it fell short. Very short but no one got hurt,,We went in the room where tear gas was let in and were told not to put on our mask, as soon as it got to us we were let out,The idea to let us experience what would happen with out a protective mask on,,there other demonstrations but then came the day we would be physically put to test, We would go on a 20 mile force march with full pack on our backs. Now do not think we walk at a regular pace we were pushed. We started early lucky the weather was good. It was an extra rough day.What I remember is when we finally did get back to the barracks got up stairs and I stopped and fell asleep standing up. I woke up after briefly sleeping and got to my bunk.

The Obstacle Course.

There was one last thing we had to do to pass Basic training. It was called the obstacle course.It made everything we had done so far pale in comparison. The idea to give you a feel what it would be like in real combat.If you did not make this you did not pass basic.I had long gotten over my fear of noise but this would really put me to the test if all I hear was true. As we got close to the Obstacle course The sgt told us to take off our watches ,,and he held on to them,.It was night time when we arrived by the course.It was a huge oblong pit. All we had to do was crawl the length of the pit, but as we crawled real bullets from a machine gun would be firing over our heads and as we crawled TNT would be exploded to simulate shells falling. We got down low as the machine gun started firing and crawled over the sand bags in to the pit. How high were those bullets? They could have never been high enough. As I crawled in the dirt down the middle of the pit small explosions from TNT went off this continued until we got to the end, then we crawled out and the firing stopped. The Sgt gave us back our watches. We had passed basic.

Sent Overseas

We had a special ceremony for graduation.In all that time in basic I never received one letter and of course no one at the graduation, I had been in the barracks a couple of days. One day I came back and everybody was gone shipped out, I went with another group. Then I went to Florida before I would go over seas. I would stay with my Foster parents for a few days, I would be going to Korea.

Fort Jackson SC - January 1951

Basic Training 1951
The first thing we were taught as recruits was to stand at attention,right face, left face about face, then marching, left right. I did very well except when we were standing at attention we were told we could not move for any reason. Well I found a reason, as I was standing at attention a bee started to buzz around me. Without thing I took my hand and tried to brush it away, big mistake. The Sergeant saw me and I spent the rest of the day washing stoves. I learned when at attention that is what it meant.

In the mean time the mess hall offered me some adventures, one for example when I went to breakfast I would eat get out of the Mess hall and get in line again so I would eat breakfast twice, many a meal I ate twice, however that was nothing to what happened to me one day. We sat at tables that would be equivalent to a picnic tables, I was sitting at the first table on the left side of the mess hall up by the serving line. I will not forget. As I ate my noon meal I noticed a bottle of ketchup which had been put in a glass jar, I tried to pry off the top. It was on tight. So I banged it on the table, the top came off. I put the ketchup on my food. Now in those days I ate my food fast. Down went that food but this time as I gulped down my food I felt a pain on the sides of my throat. I was taken to the hospital immediately had swallowed a piece of glass that lodged in the side of my throat just bore it would have gone down,when I hit the bottle to loosen up the top I broke a piece of glass. The Doctor advised me to eat more slowly. I did.

One day I was walking down the company street I was going to go on sick call because my neck hurt me. The officer saw me,he ask me what was wrong, I told him He said move you head left and right, I did, he sent me back to duty.

One does not forget K.P duty or Kitchen Police. It was very early in the morning you would arrive at the Mess hall and the work began. One duty was to go out and fill the bucket with coal for the fire, it was a hard days work. The Mess hall was immaculate clean before we left. When the coal fire was burning out side soot would fall so you had to be careful not to get it on your uniform.

My first pay we went to a place in Fort Jackson called "Tank Hill" . There was PX there and I bought my first cleaning equipment, razor blade a razor, soap, etc and a watch plus had money left over.

Our place for entertainment was the Snack bar and the Service club. In those days I liked listening to Western music, Hank Williams, Gean Autrey, The Sons of The Pioneers. The snack bar floor was wood.

Soon the basic would get find me doing things I thought I could never do..

Gainesville FL - 1950

Gainesville Florida

Before I get to Gainesville one more thing about Cedar keys. It was the last of the medicine men. The word got around and we would go to a field and a stage was set up. The Medicine man would come out and give a talk on his medicine that would cure this and that. Our reward he would show a movie. So we would show up the couple of nights he was there to see a free movie.

The trailer park there was much larger and near a highway.John my Foster parent got a job as a mechanic Helen got a job in a Mental hospital nearby I took care of my half-sister Sarah and made dinner every night, that's how I learn to cook. One big day they had a contest for animals and I took the bird in a cage and cleaned it real good we got a ribbon for the best in birds. To make a long story short one day Helen decided I should be on my own (I was not yet 17).

So with no clothes and little money I started walking and hitch hiking. I hitch hiked from Gainesville to St.Augustine Fl. I remember walking along lonely road in the swamps and forest.Getting a ride now and then. In St.Augustine I got a room it was clean and I had abed to sleep in.I got a job washing dishes at a restaurant.

Now I was eating good and making a little money. Around my 17th birthday a hurricane hit. I walk to the bridge and felt the strong wind blowing.many boats were being sunk and part of the dock went floating down the middle of the street. A Church was across the street but I never went in. I visited the Fort near by, it was nice.

Then the day came at the place I was staying. The land lord had raised my rent and I could not afford it. What to do. I went to the park and was sleeping on a bench (Like a homeless person) which I was. A Police Officer came by and ask me what I was doing. I explained that I did not have that much money to rent a place. So he took me to a cheapy. Now I watch cock roaches crawl up, the wall. I had enough. I hitch hiked back to Gainesville.

On my way back a trucker gave me a small container with oysters to eat. Ill never forget that. Back in Gainesville I look for jobs. Sign of the times.

I got on a bus and was going to the back, the Bus driver said I could not do that I had to sit in front. Because only the black people sat in the back plus black people only drank from a certain fountain and used certain bathrooms. Up North it was not that way

Pirates Cove Trailer Park, Cedar Keys FL. - 1950

Pre Army Days 1950

I walked down the path by the trailer park you could see the ocean and a small dock. There were some young people playing there. Joyce was the first I met and I liked her immediately found out her father owned the trailer park. We talked about fishing and we decided to go fishing together. My Foster parent father gave me one of his poles. The only difference between the two were the color of the rods,this one was blue, so that day Joyce and I went fishing.

On the island were a series of small bridges. At the first one we stopped at she went to put her line in the water instead the hook hit my head and stuck in my head. We walk back to the trailer park Joyce following me real close with her pole and her line in my head.Her father took the hook out of my head. John my foster parent for the next couple of months tried fishing to support the family but it was destined not to work. In the mean time I did a lot of fishing and we ate a lot of Yellow tails as they were called of the big dock in town. Joyce in the mean time was more interested in the local boys. I tried once talking with her but some things I said got back to my foster mother. We had oyster bakes, a college student who did research made us Shrimp Gumbo. I went with him out to the little Islands where he collected sea horses with a net.

Some times I would get a tourist and tell him I knew the best fishing spots and go out with them.
It was easy enough for them to catch fish. One caught a small shark and he gave me some to eat it was good, I went out with a local fisher man who put out a net to catch fish. One night he was so drunk he threw in the anchor with out the line attached to it. Then another time I went out on a larger boat for deep sea fishing and caught grouper red and black grouper, (Black taste better). I was doing well catching fish but I got sea sick so I never went out with them again. One day I saw a small boat on the shore with a oar in it.Why not I got in and started out to sea,,big mistake a strong wing blowing out to sea and so I went not able to get back to shore.
I rowed and rowed towards another Island and lucky got to it. I took off my shirt and waved it, A boat stopped and pulled me back to shore. On another day the main dock caught fire and my foster parent John was on it.he had to jump in the water but got to shore.

On one of the bridges I was fishing with my foster parent Helen, I caught a five pound cat fish . We ate it the next day.

Then one day we moved to Gainesville to another trailer park.

A new phase in my life had begun.

Wayne, NJ 1949 - Pre-Army Days

In June of 49 I graduated from the 9th grade from Wayne jr.High.....I had my one friend Bobby Calabrese who lived a street away up the hill from where we lived....I was supposed to go back and take 9th grade all over again,,,In that time period my Foster parents planned to move to Florida.

One thing happened after the other, the small farm was sold $4000 for 10 acres prime land. They bought a trailer. A day or two before we left Bobby and another boy had there eyes on houses being built down the road.,,they wanted me to go with them to take something but I did not go. The next day a Police Officer came to our house. Some equipment had been stolen from the houses being built. "Did we know anything?" I knew but I did not say anything. Im glad I did not go that night.

Soon we were in a trailer going to Florida. We had a problem getting on a ferry,(Virginia),Grandpa Burton came along with Helen and John Burton and Sarah my half sister. Along the road going to cedar keys John spotted a turtle on the road. He stopped got the turtle real quick. We ate it that night. The big change in living the trailer had a bathroom in side, However no shower. I slept on a couch, there was only one bed.

In other words other people to slept where they could. The Trailer park we stayed at was called "Pirates cove" it was very small with around a half dozen trailers and small ones at that..Not to far from our trailer was a path that led to the beach. The name of the person who owned the park was a Mr.Frank. When I went to the beach I saw some young teens playing.One of those girls was Joyce Frank.

Boarding School - NJ - 1948

Patterson NJ 1942 - Pre-Boarding School

The Burtons

After my brother and I left the family who accused my brother of stealing a ring. we went back home for a short time. Those few short days I had been touching plants that caused me to get Poison shomack all over my body. My Mother brought me to a family that lived out in the country. Helen Burton took care of me and nursed me back to health getting rid of the poison shomack. I slept on a couch for a long time. My brother and sisters visited but eventually I was the only one to stay with the Burtons. Helen Burtons husband John Burton was a mechanic.

Again I was living basically I was happy with.I loved the country I was fed good and had a clean bedroom. However again they never gave me a hug or a kiss, but all in all I was treated well.

They lived in a small bungalow the forest in the back. On one side of the house was a chicken coop with chickens hens and roosters and a lone duck that wondered about off to the right of the chicken coop was an out house then a spot where the Burtons left there trash which had many egg shells plus countless cans. On the other side of the house they had a very nice garden.Where they grew a variety of vegetables. Helen also grew flowers her favorite was a plant called a "bleeding heart"

My first job was to go to the chicken coop and find eggs that the chicken had laid. I found one egg and of course I put it in the wrong place my back pocket and the egg got crushed, however that was overlooked and I learned how to bring the eggs in to the house.

Patterson, NJ 1933-1940

My earliest memories of my child hood were being baby-sat. They had me out in the hallway My Mother and father were going out somewhere. Before they left they gave the baby sitter a chocolate bar for me. It was a hot summer day so when the baby sitter gave it to me I put the soft sticky bar all over my face. When my parents came home and saw me they thought it was very funny.

In that same time frame my Father got in the sign business and printing stuff. One day I was in the workshop he had a miniature press for me and a

Toy ice truck. To play with I remember sitting on the floor and playing with the truck and press in those days you put ice in the Ice Box as they called it. The trick was to be there when the ice truck came when the iceman brought the ice in we would try in get little bit of ice off the floor of the truck.

Another real early memory I walked into a candy store and all I had was a penny in the display window was small bags of candy.” How much was it?

One penny and when the man gave it to me he said that some bags had a prize in it. I remember being in Kindergarten and playing with blocks.

It’s amazing how far back I cab go. We had a wood stove to keep us warm

So when I came home from school one day when I had wet my pants (and I don’t mean falling in the snow) I went straight to the stove to dry out.

It was in those good days that my father held me for the first time I could remember He would hold me only one more time. We lived on a corner

One day he picked me up put me on his shoulders and we went around the corner. There was a full moon that night and we just stood there looking at the moon. Its in that same place that one day I came home and somebody was sitting in a chair who had obviously drank to much by the sound of his voice.

One day there was a bad fire that destroyed a factory why I remember is that people were sitting on the sidewalks it was a very sad day. A Happier day was when the Catholic Italians had a street party. Each end of the street was blocked off carnival rides and by the sidewalks they sold different items. There were big tubs of water that I guess was meant to throw a coin and land in something. In the Church we went in and they showed a movie about some saint. The neighborhoods in those days were a mixture of Italian, polish; German.We still had not owned a radio or telephone that was still for those that had money.

My Mother brought us to the Baptist Church for bible classes; My Uncle was a deacon at that Church. First Hymn I ever learned “Jesus loves me yes I know for the bible tells me so” My Mother was always kind to the poor. I was going home with her when we stopped and said “Bill” my brother was at a party and how people liked him. Funny how I never forgot that incident.