Vote! Vote! Vote! - Korean War Veterans Association

Crossing the Line
By Rick Kennedy
In early April of 1951, the front line of
Korea was not well defined due to a
strong enemy offense after our success in
Operation Killer. Some of our allies could
not repress the enemy, and the entire front
line had to reverse its movement to prevent a
void in our front lines across the peninsula of
Korea. It was not known exactly where the
enemy was positioned, and Charlie
Company was sent through the front line of
the First Marine Division sector in hopes of
locating advanced segments of the Chinese
and North Korean armies.
Charlie Company looked sharp as we
crossed the line of the 7th Marine Regiment
on a company patrol of several days duration
in “No Man’s Land.” We had recently turned
in our parkas, shoe packs, and heavy sleeping
bags due to the return of warmer spring-like
weather. Our Marines had camouflaged helmet
covers, tan leggings, and green field
jackets. Our sleeping bags with blanket
inserts were rolled tight with our half tent,
and formed in a square U shape against our
knapsacks in a very thin roll. There was a
very confident bounce to our step as our
company formation proceeded north. We
were Charlie Company, the pride of the 5th
Marine Regiment—and we knew it.
We moved fast along the Korean countryside,
and stopped periodically for five minute
breaks. This was a forced march that lasted
most of the day. There were rolling hills on
our flanks, and fire team patrols covered the
high ground to prevent an ambush. This was
a grueling march, but all of our Marines were
in top shape after climbing mountains all
winter long, and this walk in the valley was
not torturous as the January march to
Chachong-dong.
As the day passed, it became obvious that
we were 15 to 20 miles ahead of our front
lines, and there was maybe nobody else
around except Charlie Company and the
entire Chinese and North Korean armies. We
seemed to be in a very vulnerable position.
There was a saying among the Marines of
Charlie Company that we would “go to hell
and back” for our great Company
Commander, Captain Jack R. Jones. I
thought he must be taking us up on our word
and had volunteered us for this seemingly
As the day passed, it became obvious that we were 15 to
20 miles ahead of our front lines, and there was maybe
nobody else around except Charlie Company and the
entire Chinese and North Korean armies.
very dangerous mission.
We finally arrived at our final destination
about dusk. It was a hill about 600 feet in elevation
that seemed to be sitting all by itself in
the valley with good vision on all sides. We
promptly dug our fox holes, making a
perimeter around the crest of the hill. The situation
had all the earmarks of Custer’s last
stand.
We would certainly be in deep trouble if
we were attacked by a regiment or a division
of enemy troops. The only escape route
appeared to be a very deep fox hole. One
thing for certain: Charlie Company would
fight to the last man. Being a prisoner of war
was not an option for Charlie Company.
I remember waking up the first morning
after a watch throughout the night. It was
almost like spring, with small green sprouts
of fern growing near my fox hole. The
weather was sunny and clear for miles, with
no sign of the enemy. Squad patrols were
sent out each day in different directions from
our command post, but without enemy contact.
On the third day one of our platoon sergeants
placed a bright colored banner in the
center of the valley, and one of our planes
made a food and ammunition drop. If the
enemy had not known of our whereabouts
before, they surely did now.
The next day I was sent to get water. I tied
nine canteens to a small branch and proceeded
to a clear stream at the bottom of the hill.
I filled the canteens in a wide part of the
stream near a small house hidden in the trees.
As I knelt along the bank with my M-1 rifle
across my knee, a beautiful young Korean
lady appeared, accompanied by an old Papa
San. They were both dressed in the customary
long white garments, and the man wore
the native tall hat.
They kept their eyes focused on me as I
filled the canteens, and I never took my eyes
off them. Fifty seven years have passed since
that day, and often I think about this beautiful
lady and wonder of her whereabouts.
On the fourth day we were told to saddle
up and move out. We buried our debris and
leveled our fox holes, and nobody could tell
we had lived here. Soon we left this distant
outpost and marched back across our lines.
No loss of life, and nothing happened of consequence
during this operation.
This was a silent combat zone experience,
free of artillery and machine gun fire, but full
of anticipated danger with severe life-threatening
potential. The experience gave this
rifle company a renewed feeling of self-sustaining
confidence, and a very important
training ground that prepared us for the more
perilous things that were to follow for
Charlie Company.
John Rick Kennedy, (386) 761-0912,
rkennedy5thmar@aol.com
No Purple Hearts For PTSD, Pentagon Rules
The Army Times reported in its 5 January 2009 issue that the Purple Heart will not be
awarded to service members suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. That decision
was confirmed by the Pentagon.
The decision was made on 3 November 2008, but it was not made public until recently.
The decision is not final, according to a Defense Department spokesperson. As she told
the reporter, “Advancements in medical science may support future re-evaluation.”
To read the entire article, go to:
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/01/military_purpleheart_ptsd_010609w/
15
The Graybeards
March – April 2009