Great story. A friend, and I, also on our way across “the pond,’ in November 1967, could not find the hole in the fence either. Kin Village, and all of it’s willing honeys, was too much for us to resist. We climbed the fence. While I was half way over, the MPs arrived. I leaped, and my pants caught, and loudly ripped. I almost left the best part of me up on the barbed wire! We ducked out of sight and made our way to town. Our first stop was what appeared to be a nice little hotel. What a beautiful “house” it turned out to be. The Mamasan took one look at my torn pants and said, “You give, I fix , you go upstairs. You no need pants here.” When I happily came back down stairs a short time (no play on words) later, the old gal handed me my mended pants. They were as good as new, and so was I. My friend,and I spent the evening hopping a few bars, and then finished off at another nice “house’ before climbing back in to the confines of Camp Hanson. Had we been caught, what in the hell would they have done to us. Sent us to Vietnam?! First Recon Bn. was awaiting my arrival.
Navy Cross Citation
Maj Kurt Chew-Een Lee
1st Bn,7th Marines
In late 1950, then-1stLt. Kurt Chew-Een Lee was serving as the Machine-Gun Platoon commander for Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Korea. Immediately taking countermeasures when a numerically superior enemy fiercely attacked his platoon and overran its left flank, 1stLt. Lee boldly exposed himself to intense hostile automatic weapons, grenade and sniper small-arms fire to carry out reconnaissance, well in advance of his own lines, in order to re-deploy the machine-gun posts within the defensive perimeter. Momentarily forced back by extremely heavy opposition, he quickly reorganized his unit and, instructing his men to cover his approach, bravely moved up an enemy held slope in a deliberate attempt to draw fire and thereby disclose hostile troop positions. Despite serious wounds sustained as he pushed forward, 1stLt. Lee charged directly into the face of the enemy fire and, by his dauntless fighting spirit and resourcefulness, served to inspire other members of his platoon to heroic efforts in pressing a determined counterattack and driving the hostile forces from the sector. Lee is also a recipient of the Silver Star, two Purple Hearts and a Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V. (P/C The Smithsonian & New York Times)
The Foxhole
A trip down memory lane to honor & pay homage to two incredible, and i do mean “incredible” friends, Jimmy Crysal & Gary Wilkins, who saved the lives of those of us in 1st platoon, Hotel company. And paid the supreme sacrifice while doing so. They manned a listening post about 100 yards outside the perimeter.
Three Days
The C-130 flight from Okinawa to DaNang took seven hours. I had been in Okinawa at Camp Hanson for three days, getting shots for exotic sounding diseases. The plague, diphtheria, yellow fever, and a host of others, they were all strange to me, a 19-year-old kid from New Jersey. Frenchie, Ron, and I had drinks at the EM club the first night at Camp Hanson, since we weren’t allowed to go on Liberty into Kim Village, which was right outside the camp gates. We assumed it was because we were in transit and they didn’t want to lose track of us, or they were afraid we wouldn’t come back. So the second night at the club we met a guy who knew where there was a hole in the fence. He took me, and my friend, Frenchie, to find it and go into Kim Village from the back. On Liberty you were supposed to be in UDs (uniform of the day).
Boot Camp Story by Bill Ashworth
I was in Boot Camp at Parris Island in 1955 we started out in the wooden barracks 1st bat. The Sr DI came in and said we were moving the 3rd Bat we moved in Quonset huts then we went to the rifle range we had the M1s while we were at the range one of our JR DIs cured me of smoking we were in Quonset huts after lights out like I said one of our JR DIs caught a guy smoking and the DI his name was Sgt Hatchel he told us to get out scrub buckets he marched us to the head and told us to light up I told him sir I don’t smoke and he told me tough sh,t one of the guys gave me a cig. And we had to put the bucket over our heads and smoke the cig. And cured me from smoking.
Sgt Maj James E. Huger dies at 101
Educator and activist James E. Huger dies at 101
Longtime resident James E. Huger died Friday, October 14 at approximately 9:30 p.m. at Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, in the presence of family members. He was 101 years old.
According to his son Thomas Huger, James Huger had returned to Daytona Beach after evacuating to Atlanta as Hurricane Matthew approached the area. He was hospitalized soon after he got back, and died a few days after being admitted to Halifax.
K-Bay
Wow, brought back a lot of memories H&MS 13 K-Bay 56 Nov-58 Oct. In 58Oct Mag 13 shipped out to Atsugi,Japan. That’s another story. Thanks for reminding me of the mesquitos. And what we used for sun tan lotion. Sixty years ago but still remember some of the guys I served with but can’t remember what I had for dinner yesterday. Semper Fi 159xxxx
66th Chosin Few Reunion, San Diego, California
My husband and I attended our 1st Chosin Few Reunion as guests of my parents, Robert and Arlee Johnson of Mesa, Arizona. My father who is the AZ chapter President, displayed a wealth of pictures and articles on display boards. He and others were interviewed for the PBS program, American Experience which is scheduled to be aired Tuesday November 1st, 2016. To honor my father’s service in the Battle of the Chosin Resouvoir, as well as my parent’ts 65th wedding anniversary, I presented this king size quilt to them. The white squares represent the 50 degree below zero conditions that were fought in; the blue squares represent the night sky, and the red squares represent the Marines and the blood shed in that battle. I also embellished it with patches I located on the Sgt. Grit website. Also see the cake topper which is appropriately changed into a Marine uniform like the one my father wore when they were married October 20th, 1951. Thanks Sgt. Grit and Semper Fi! Sandra Byrd, Tacoma, WA.
The Chosen Frozen and the Chosin Reservoir
I just came from spending an hour visiting with one of the “Frozen Chosen” who was with Chesty at the Chosin Reservoir. This Marine was a Staff NCO, and both he and his wife knew the General personally. All Marines know about General Puller and many of the stories about him. Certainly one of the most remarkable, is about the Chosin Reservoir. If you’ve never heard of it, your knowledge of American History is sorely lacking. On 1, Nov. at 9:00 pm eastern time, PBS will be airing a special about the incredible history of the Chosin and the Frozen Chosen. Under incredible hardships and unbelievable odds, Chesty and Men of the First Marine Division accomplished the impossible. When Marines think of the Chosin, they remember the saying “the difficult we do immediately, the impossible may take a while”. If you enjoy the PBS presentation, you will want to search John Wayne for a presentation which he did about his relationship with Chesty. The Duke as well as John Ford recount their memories and experiences of and with Chesty. This man is the reason you have heard the saying that when Marines lay down to rest, their last thoughts are God Bless America, and good night Chesty wherever you are.
Marine Raider Obituary
Sgt. Grit,
The below link is the obituary of Nick I. Zobenica of the 4th Raider Battalion.
Nick’s honorable service in the Marines inspired two of his nephews to become Marine pilots:
R.M. ‘Zeb’ Zobenica, Capt. USMC (Ret)……F-4B pilot.
P.M. ‘Zorro’ Zobenica, Capt. USMCR……….CH-46 pilot.