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Nanda, thanks for the link to CU’s post. I’d missed it when first published. I’ll look at the video after I get home.
My father was an alumni of the “The Frozen Chosin”. He joined the Army in 1947 and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division and deployed to Japan as part of the occupation forces from 1948-1950. He had re-enlisted in early 1950 and considered himself to be a “lifer”, then on 25 Jun 1950, he found himself in a real war. He was front line Army Infantry and involved in every major battle from the breakout of the Pusan Perimeter, to the advance on the Yalu River. He was with the 3d Infantry Division when evacuated from Hungnam Port on 24 December 1950.
My father was awarded a Bronze and Silver Star, and Purple Heart with two oak leaves for his service. He passed away in 1975.
Thank you, @ronin, for introducing your father to us – for his service, and yours! HooWah, and Semper Fi!
Another great post, Nanda. When we need heroes, we hope we’ll always have them.
A salute to the oft forgotten men of RCT-31 who suffered almost 50% casualties.
I have no idea what that video was about. I guess it’s supposed to show how someone felt when the Chinese surprised them?
Sorry, @skyler . Maybe they were going for a “Radar O’Reilly” vibe? I’d welcome suggestions for something more informative, please/thank you? Appreciate the “votes of confidence” and the continuing conversation. :-)
Thanks everyone for all the “likes” of my input. I thought I would pass along another some what funny story about my dad when he was on occupational duties in Japan. As he told it, he should have rotated out of Japan after a one year duty assignment, but life in post-war Japan apparently was really good for U.S.G.I.s. So, he extended for another year, and then another. One day, a general barracks inspection was called, and as the company commander was performing the inspection, the old man noted that my father’s shower sandals were Japanese Getas:
The company commander then noted that my father’s Getas were well worn, to the point that the raised bottoms were almost worn away. The commander then look at my father and said, “you’ve been here too long private” and my father had his orders for Fort Polk LA. the next day, but the next day North Korea invaded the South, and my father was deployed to Pusan. The point of this parable is, always get out when the getting is good. And just to show you how funny things can turn out, the Army still shipped him to Fort Polk in 1953 after recovering from his wounds in Japan. Talk about adding insult to injury.
True enough, @ronin! They needed to award your father a Broken Heart medal for the sheer *indignity* of that assignment…Really! Thanks so much, again! :-)
My father was also army and at the Chosin. Maybe in the same unit
I dunno. My daughter (not quite 12) came by and asked what it was and I played it for her, thinking it would be educational. Her response was, “I don’t think the Chinese would be monster sized, Dad.” I guess we weren’t ready for the surrealism.
I’ve been to Fort Polk. It’s not a bad base for some reserve training. It has a nice rifle range. But I wouldn’t want to be stationed there. :)
I’ve been in many barracks where the showers don’t drain well. Standing above the water line looks like a great idea.
My first thoughts, as well, but perhaps the ‘graphic novel’ it’s based on dictated some of that…The Museum’s “immersive experience” film in the Korean War gallery is powerful; I’ll try and link it directly, instead, if I can…If not, is there something you’d recommend?
No, not really. I didn’t realize it was from a graphic novel. That explains it. It’s not that I didn’t like it, it’s just that it was something that required thinking about.
I was concerned that you thought it minimizing, or lacking in respect; the last thing I would’ve wanted. I’ll add some context above…Thanks for the feedback!
I kind of thought it was from a graphic comic book or something similar as well. There are some good Chosin Reservoir documentaries out there (just do a simple google search), I guess using the graphic novel technique will bring in a younger audience. My father said the best Hollywood film about the Korean War is Samuel Fuller’s “The Steel Helmet” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044072/
It was released to theaters while the war was still going on.
Thank you so much. Fascinating.