This is the 20th of December 2009 and not looking back but 59 years ago this now 76 year old Marine was 18 and in the company of many Marines illegally recalled up over night by then President Truman. And though they the recallees had been out of the Corps since 45 and or so and working not as Marines and as the war with Japan had been one of hot and sweltery and on island rocks. But this date in Korea with the poorest of equipment no foot wear, no cold weather outer wear, and long johns that had been on for weeks, frozen hands and frost bitten feet, k-rations and c rations. If one were lucky a canteen cup of coffee made from drum from a make shift galley of sorts, and Mr Harry Truman, the leader of the free world, who hated our beloved Corps. But there were no groaning, for there were to our delight ample of targets to fire at if the m1 would fire and the ice could be melted on the light machine guns.

Us of the north such as I from WVa could be heard “wow what a pile of snow”, but those rebels of Miss, Louisana and such were heard to be calling out “what the h&ll is this white stuff”. The bodies of the dead stacked like cord wood had no worries and the Gks, be they North Koreans or Chinese, did not mind it at all for they were protecting their home land from such as we. The song “audi dong” could be heard from far and wide, for they had loud speakers to broadcast such. And also such niceties as to say your wife and or your sweet heart is all warm and nice tonight with your best friend.

Yes many of us survived and some such as I stated for twenty or even more to get even. And now when to the VA we do go for our frozen hands and feet problems, and are told by a middle eastern doctor whose country our brothers are now fighting to preserve say to us why you b!tch about your frozen hands and feet Marine doggie or such, for you were not drafted into the Korean conflict you enlisted to go and fight. So b!tch no more, take two aspirins and come back no more. Yes the politicians provide money for flower beds and such at our VA hospitals, but the care we need takes two to five years for some bureaucrat somewhere in between his coffee and cigarettes to stamp need more evidence.

Here in my area there are still 10 of us Frozen Chosin and would we do it all over bet your sweet azs, for we did as our brothers of the big wars do. Did it to our best and now that we are more than lame and bed ridden and the nurse says take your pill honey and you will not mind your missing feet and hands. We say to each and every man woman in the middle east: Be well, aim well, and return in tact as much as possible.

With a most sincere Semper Fi
Nile White, Oral Herrod, Jack Lawson, Angelo Anakaskasis, Russel Romano, George Heitz, Hillis Howel and the rest of the WVa Chosin Few
God Bless Mele Kalikimaki and Semper Fi

Courtesy of Sgt. Grit Marine Specialties

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