The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1951-05-17
Local Couples Son
Describes Action
lin Korean War

Action in Korea was deScrib-
ed in recent letters by Pfc.
Rhonald D. IverSon, to his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rhonald
Iverson of Hardin.
IverSon, "a member of the
Third battalion, First Marines,
which recently received a COM
m%endation from a Marine COM
mandant, has been in Korea
about six weeks. He enlisted in
the Marine Corps in October,
1850.
Excerpts from recent letters
from the Marine follow:
well, we finally got a break.
We had to soon, or I think I
would have gone nuts. / hope
and pray this war will end
soon. I have had all I want.
"I1l try to give you an idea
of the past week.
Monday we moved out to
an assembly point and the 3rd
battalion jumped off and head
ed for Hill 902. We had to beat
the Chinks there. Our batta1-
ion was to hold them. off until
they could organize a defense
line behind us.
Monday night they gave us
hell, ymortars and all. The
EChinkS never fight in the day,
only at night. BY morning
there were Is men left in the
third platoon. Ordinarily there
are about 40.
1--WE started down the ridge
line to our lines about five
miles away, but were slowed
down, because we had to carry
our own dead The Chinks
trapped us three times during
that day and night. We man
aged to fight our way out, only
to be strafed by one of our own
planes.
HE wounded three and we
had to stop and pack them
with the ChinkS about 300
yards behind. Our platoon had
the rear guard action, so we
close and opened up with ev-
erything we had. 1t was a mess
and they almost cut us off
from the main body. But we
made it all right.
Since then we have been
fighting a Withholding action
and were finally picked up by
trucks and brought back here
in reserve"
Under date of May 4, Pfc.
Iverson wrote as follows, in
part:
"Today the third battalion
got a letter from Co. McCallist-
er, commandant of the first
Marine regiment, stating that
in the highest tradition of the
USMC, it is evident that if it
had not been for the courage
and aggressiveness of the men
10 fthe third battalion in seiz-
ing and holding Hill 902, the
whole first Marine division
would have been in danger of
being annihilated.'
From what the fellows say
who have been here since In
chon, that sort of thing is not
uncommon for the third. They
are a hot to GO bunch.
Continuing his description of
service in Korea, Pfc. Iverson
added:
"I tell you it's hell though.
| You don't get any sleep, you
learn a new kind of fear. We
hike until our. feet are raw.
Yesterday and last night we
hiked out % miles, up and
down.
mo one can tell just how we
feel, but I know I've aged 10
years in that week, and we have
only started.
"While we were in reserve,
guys used to wake up at night
screaming and you think they
are nuts, until the night comes
when they have to calm you
down when you wake up
screaming. Maybe will get
used to it. I don't know.
"The country is getting nice
and green and is really pretty
when you get down to it. But
you never have time to see it.
"Please send the boots. There
isn't any PIX here. All we have
is what we are issued. When
we are on the line we live like
animals, sleeping an hour or
two at night, living in foXholeS.
Today was the first time ] have
washed in a week. But I think
I'll make it.
when I do get home I will
see things much different. I
know I'll never be the same as
before"
BIRTHS !.
DOH