Once, I had asked him how many gooks did he kill? He looked at me as if ready to beat the tar outta me and growled, Don't you ask me that again. Message received. It was later that I learned that dad was regularly haunted by the faces of those he had killed in hand to hand.
I made the same mistake with my dad when we were sitting at the table after he got home from his first VN tour. Mom kicked my shin so hard I limped for a week.
We'll blame it on the Fat Electrician. He posted it that way, I just copied and pasted. I'd have corrected it if I noticed it, though. My bad. I'll do it now, thanks.
I've seen it written -in, -en, -on. Most often the latter. A book, Leatherneck In Korea, has the latter. Maps, hoo boy, the spellings are all over the place.
There is a book about Fox Company at Tocktong pass, holding it open for the regiment. Captain Ray Davis was awarded the CMH for his companies stand there. "The Last Stand of Fox Company" I highly recommend it.
In a subsequent interview, the CO of F/2/7, Captain William Barber said that a factor in his Marines holding out for 5 days was that despite being beyond exhaustion, they secured their frozen perimeter as they set in on the hill at Toktong Pass. Secure your perimeter. That hill became known as Fox Hill.
Marines of F/2/7 were relieved by 1st Battalion 7th Marines commanded by Lt. Col. Ray Davis. Spearheading a force of 500 Marines, a platoon led by Lt. Chew-Een Lee guided the relief force. Operating with only a general order and a compass, Lt. Lee successfully led his platoon on a nighttime single-file forced march under freezing, near blizzard conditions while frequently engaging Chinese forces. As side comment, that march is a tribute to the TBS Land Navigation Course. In the runup to the Chosin Reservoir campaign, Lt. Lee was awarded the Navy Cross for action during which he was wounded. Not having recovered from wounds suffered in that engagement, Lt. Lee and another Marine left hospital to rejoin their Battalion. In relieving Fox Hill, Lt. Lee performed his duties with the ongoing effects of previous gunshot wounds to the leg and a broken arm. For action in relieving F/2/7, Lt. Lee was awarded the Silver Star. He was wounded a second time following relief of F/2/7. His brother Chew-Mon Lee, a U.S. Army officer, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for action elsewhere in Korea on 30 November 1950.
Brighteyes. Ha my last comment, they were incredible men came up as anonymous. I just went in to, comment as, and tried to change it back to brighteyes. We shall see if that worked.
It didn't work, but no worries - you weren't insulting, you added to the conversation as usual and you gave changing it a shot. I appreciate all your comments.
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Dad was there. Age 17. Suffered the effects of frostbite for the next sixty-one years.
ReplyDeleteOnce, I had asked him how many gooks did he kill? He looked at me as if ready to beat the tar outta me and growled, Don't you ask me that again. Message received.
ReplyDeleteIt was later that I learned that dad was regularly haunted by the faces of those he had killed in hand to hand.
I made the same mistake with my dad when we were sitting at the table after he got home from his first VN tour. Mom kicked my shin so hard I limped for a week.
DeleteMinor quibble: "Chosin" not "Chosen"
ReplyDeleteWe'll blame it on the Fat Electrician. He posted it that way, I just copied and pasted. I'd have corrected it if I noticed it, though. My bad.
DeleteI'll do it now, thanks.
I've seen it written -in, -en, -on. Most often the latter. A book, Leatherneck In Korea, has the latter.
DeleteMaps, hoo boy, the spellings are all over the place.
There is a book about Fox Company at Tocktong pass, holding it open for the regiment. Captain Ray Davis was awarded the CMH for his companies stand there.
ReplyDelete"The Last Stand of Fox Company" I highly recommend it.
Mighty good read
DeleteIn a subsequent interview, the CO of F/2/7, Captain William Barber said that a factor in his Marines holding out for 5 days was that despite being beyond exhaustion, they secured their frozen perimeter as they set in on the hill at Toktong Pass. Secure your perimeter. That hill became known as Fox Hill.
DeleteMarines of F/2/7 were relieved by 1st Battalion 7th Marines commanded by Lt. Col. Ray Davis. Spearheading a force of 500 Marines, a platoon led by Lt. Chew-Een Lee guided the relief force. Operating with only a general order and a compass, Lt. Lee successfully led his platoon on a nighttime single-file forced march under freezing, near blizzard conditions while frequently engaging Chinese forces. As side comment, that march is a tribute to the TBS Land Navigation Course.
In the runup to the Chosin Reservoir campaign, Lt. Lee was awarded the Navy Cross for action during which he was wounded. Not having recovered from wounds suffered in that engagement, Lt. Lee and another Marine left hospital to rejoin their Battalion. In relieving Fox Hill, Lt. Lee performed his duties with the ongoing effects of previous gunshot wounds to the leg and a broken arm. For action in relieving F/2/7, Lt. Lee was awarded the Silver Star. He was wounded a second time following relief of F/2/7.
His brother Chew-Mon Lee, a U.S. Army officer, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for action elsewhere in Korea on 30 November 1950.
Knew a survivor as well hands and feet were terrible. The man’s determination was a force of nature
ReplyDeleteThey were incredible men.
ReplyDeleteBrighteyes. Ha my last comment, they were incredible men came up as anonymous. I just went in to, comment as, and tried to change it back to brighteyes. We shall see if that worked.
DeleteIt didn't work, but no worries - you weren't insulting, you added to the conversation as usual and you gave changing it a shot. I appreciate all your comments.
Delete