By GI Korea on December 25th, 2009 at 8:46 am

Merry Christmas 2009 from the ROK Drop

• The Sanity Inspector
  3:38 am on December 25th, 2009 1

  Merry Christmas to all who serve in Korea! Here's a bit of doggerel from the Korea War:

  T'was the night before Christmas

  and all thru the tent

  was the odor of diesel

  since the stovepipe was bent.

  The stockings were hung

  rather close to the fire

  in hopes that by morning

  they'd be somewhat drier.

  The squad was asleep

  bundled up in their sacks

  and dreaming of goodies

  like cookies and snacks,

  Like crispy fried chicken

  straight out of the South

  and a midwestern steak

  that would melt in your mouth.

  When out on the hill

  there arose such a clatter..

  a Commie machine gun

  had started to chatter,

  The Sgt. Grabowski

  appeared at the door

  "People", he yelled,

  "get your feet on the floor,

  Grab rifles and flares

  and bring me a BAR,

  you're climbing that hill

  but you ain't goin' far,

  Let everyman here

  take along a grenade,

  and when you get back

  don't expect a parade,

  I've had it to here

  with this damn nightly riot,

  So we're gonna make sure

  that tomorrow it's quiet".

  Then off we went hunting,

  Us seven through snow

  On a night where the wind

  made it twenty below.

  Now, Allen and Russell

  and Clyde McElroy

  had the priviledge of being

  our only decoy.

  They got some attention

  with the Hell they did raise

  I suppose I'll remember

  for the rest of my days,

  While Sutton and Smitty

  and Connor and me

  provided surprises

  that was ugly to see.

  It was over in minutes

  and when it was done

  there were four bloodly bodies

  and a busted up gun.

  Grabowski was waiting

  as 'ere we came in,

  and that tough weathered face

  had managed a grin,

  "People," he said,

  "I think you done good

  by striking a blow

  for our brotherhood,

  So, let everyman here

  get back in his sack,

  go back to his dreams,

  and forget the attack.

  It's now Christmas morning,

  so be of good cheer.

  Merry Xmas to all,

  May you live till next year!"

  –Bob Hammond, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Division, Korea,

  1950

• Greg
  9:19 am on December 25th, 2009 2

  Merry Christmas to everyone.

• gerry
  12:43 pm on December 25th, 2009 3

  Memo for record, the 57th artillery was trapped on the east side of the Chosen on November 25th 1950. (Read 'East of Chosen'). Those that made it out under 'task force Faith' were very few, unlike the Marines on the west side.

• gerry
  12:49 pm on December 25th, 2009 4

  A bit of research showed Bob Hammond to be only one of seven in his squad to live through the battle at Chosen. Below is part of another poem he wrote later in life.

  The battle long is over now,

  But fought each night anew.

  In dreams of those who can't forget,

  They're called, "The Chosin Few".

  So, let the veterans tell their stories,

  Let the legend live and grow.

  Let the Chosin be remembered,

  With the men of Alamo.

  With Bastogne and with Wake Island,

  And the Bunker Hill command.

  And where there's courageous men,

  To take a valiant stand.

  Once they fought to save a nation,

  They could not have offered more.

  Than the sacrifices made there,

  At the Chosin Reservoir.

  In the bitter Bloody battles,

  At the Chosin Reservoir.

RSS feed for comments on this post | TrackBack URI