WWII Unknown Stories

This is what I remember. If it helps good, if not its some thing different

July 8,1945 I arrived at Leyte Island, July 25,1945 arrived at Panay Island.

Japan surrendered August14, 1945.

Sept. 8 or 15, 1945 we arrived at Inchon, Korea and took a train to Taegu, Korea.

We were the first Americans the Korean ever saw. I am guessing that we were

Only about 20 men, don’t hold me to that. We marched into the Japanese compound

Past the Japanese guard and stopped in front of a 2-story building we were to use

As our barrack’s. Being in the first squad we marched to each guard post ,the Japanese soldier fell in the rear of our column and one of our men took over the guard post.

I took guard of the ammo dump and it was raining very hard.. The Japanese soldiers

were very cordial and bowed to each of us as we replaced them. When we back from guard duty the Japanese were gone.. The following night we were just getting in bed

When the C.O. came in and told our squad to make a full field pack (with rations),get

Our rifles and ammunition, because of some trouble in town. We packed up

( 13 in our squad) and was taken to the city hall. We just got there and was standing

at the gate, when up from three directions came three Japanese soldiers running at us.

To us it looked like the whole Japanese army was coming at us. Those rifles of ours

Really got loaded quick and ready. The Japanese just came up to surrender to us

Americans. They were afraid of the Korean Police. We were to guard some important

Criminal and political papers. My guard post was two vaults and it was pitch black.

Here comes the kicker!! We were the regular army troops ,but the only ones there so

We were given M.P. Helmets, M.P. Arm Bands and 45 caliber revolvers and we worked

with the Korean Police. We set up our radios in police stations to talk to our jeep.

There was a city block of houses, built side by side, no back door, and facing the courtyard. Only one way to get in and we were there to keep G.I.s out from this whorehouse District with American guard at the entrance.

I don’t know how they would get in but a Korean madam would come out

Saying American, American and we would have to go in and check each room and

kick out any American soldier we found..

4 of us were put at a out-post many miles from town at bottom of some mountains. Every morning a jeep with a hot stove would come and make us hot breakfast, the rest

of day k-rations or one time 2 of us took our rifles a and got a few ducks. We were guarding a large barn. One day we looked in the barn and it was full of rice bowls.

Many miles away another 4-man post was guarding parachutes

The Korean toilets were oblong holes in floor and they had Honey dippers who would

Take away the human waste and spread it on their food gardens, every thing grew twice

As large as ours. We were not aloud to eat any thing that came from the ground.

We did not destroy any arms; I assumed the Japanese took them home with them.

There was a room that had a few things we could have, I brought back a sword.

We did turn in our rifles and they were dunked in some preservative gook

I left Korea Feb. 26,1946 and dis-charged March 20,1946

When I was at Taegu we (GIs ) had no problems with Koreans people and

Knew nothing about political problems, we just wanted to go back to the states.

I was in 40th division, 185 infantry, company E, 1st platoon, 1st squad

I have a few pictures of farmers , Korean Police, and our M.P.s

If you need them

Thank you Sir--these stories bring back good memories of my fathers Korean War stories.

I can get many such as these from my roommate who alse served in Korea.

For example:

One time--he and a R.O.K. Marine friend of his had somehow acquired a wheelbarrow full of Whiskey. Of course--Sarge--was in his usual state--of being drunk as a skunk. Sarge and his ROK friend stole(borrowed) a wheelbarrow--so that they could have an easier way to move all their Whiskey.

They passed a ROK Checkpoint and the ROK guard blurted out-- H A L T!!! whats is your business here (Not the exact words but--the general meaning of what was said) Sarge said something in Korean (I cannot spell the words but) the English translation of what he said was; "We have cigarrettes." and the ROK guard said: "PASS."

Sometime later--they again were challenged by another ROK Marine checkpoint with: H A L T!!! what is your business? And again Sarge said in Korean: "We have cigarrettes." and the ROK Guard said: "PASS."

((The reason for so many checkpoints was that Sarge and his ROK friend were heading for the DMZ))

Finally Sarge and his ROK friend made it to the DMZ--and actually crossed over the boundary lines--and they buried all the bootleg Whiskey in North Korea!

I askes Sarge why they would want to run the risk of going into North Korea? and he simply said: "He didn't want to run the risk of G.I's or ROK Marines finding their stash of Whiskey--so they figured that they could bury it on North Korean soil.

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

When we had to kick a G.I. out of the whore-house he told me he had enough points and was going home tomorrow. A month later I seen him in the chow line. I never turned any one in anyway

My friend--ex-platoon Sergeant Sgt Vahaly, used to date a Korean Gal. He woke up the next morning and discovered his uniform had been stolen--except his boots and his shorts.

In freezing weather--he had to run back to his billits to get another uniform. Theres more to it than that but he says it's confidential.

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.