Evening star., 1953-05-12
Continued From First Page.)

could tell hit on tnoSe cnOW DOxeS you
could the shiny tin flying through the air. That was
the food going to eat for the next few days.
At o'clock in the morning, our CO got orders to with
draw completely He told to take of with the first platoon
going the mountain and help the wounded At
that time had two casualties.
The platoon I with the second platoon of the
company Instead of going of the mountain to the left as
knew should went off to the right knew the area
pretty well because had been patrols.
On the way I left behind had blisters
feet and pretty well out tired and hadn't had any
sleep The mountain steep that we had to tie our
sleeping bags between two trees and get In them
Warns His Leader of Wrong Road
could hear Chnks blowing buges all through the
mountain and headed So ran to
catch with the rest of the platoon and told the leader
the wrong road. He said we weren't and told
him would into hornets nest if we kept
on We walked about 5000 yards and he decided it was the
wrong approach to our rendezvous point
turned and started back. What had happened
that these troops Chnese had formed sort OF horseshoe
and the platoon with almost surrounded When
turned and started out of the part of the horseshoe they
opened up on us.
That's when got wounded Thirty minutes before day
light.
marching along the foot of the column
single le 1t 10 IL feet between and the fellow
in front and there were several behind six eight
A Shadow Speaks to Him in Chinese 81.
first shadow raise up in the dark and he said
something to in Chinese. carrying at port
and ready to fire at any time finger the trigger
All had to do was to slip the safety catch off,
think the first burst missed because had dropped the
my rifle and let the first burst only got
round off he opened with his second series and hit
think hit him in the shoulder upper part of the
body. Anyhow he walked off.
had my bayonet my rifle When to catch
myself and keep from hitting face the rocks threw
the butt of rifle into the ground and tried to protect
face
had been hit once in the leg and knee and twice the
groin approximately hour lay there bleeding in the
cold the path Then another Chink When
him turned head. didn't know whether he was
going shoot what and didn't want to see him raise
his rifle.
He didn't say word And all I could do hope and
pray that he would leave alone thinking dead Just
make sure he fired and hit in the stomach When he
did tried to breathe lightly he wouldn't think was alive
I playing dead and guess nearer dead than
thought at the time.
Meanwhile the rest of the platoon had gone year
later sergeant platoon told they knew had
been shot but gave me up for dead
Water in Conteen is Frozen Solid
It was awful cold The creek frozen over,
all little tricke of water in the middle But had on
heavy clothing and pack had wool gloves on alSo The
my frozen solid Maybe the cold helped
check my bleeding.
Nobody came to help me. For about three hours lay
and the Chnks had dispersed Knowing
the did decided had chance to get to the bat
talon aid station, which was approximately half mile
Every in awhile the Chinks kept going and coming
yards away. But whenever could, dragged
myself along fodder shock in field about 40 yards
from where I fell.
made three or four different attempts to leave the
shock couldn't walk-had to push along in more or
practically paralyZed.
Every time I'd get little ways the sweat would
and everything went black in faint. Finally
many ChnkS coming and going in the area
decided to crawl back in and wait until had better
chance Well, that night there many Chinks coming
and going-hundreds of then-near where was. Could
hear footsteps and hear them talking in whispers
They didn't suspect anybody was there and was left
alone
At the time in much misery didn't try to
use my st-aid kit just about gone In fact
did then whether the Chnks had taken the kit
They kicked and took my ammunition, watch and rifle
they left canteen belt cigarette lighter and the
kit.
Next morning tried to take off again but when got
out into the many Chinks went back and
grabbed myself cigarette and lighted up.
had two bars of candy and ate some of that 1t
didn't particularly bother with stomach wounds be-
relieve the sort of doubled up and felt better
way found later from official examinations after
my release that the stomach wound didn't harm inestnes
at ALL
NopoI,n Bombs Drop Close to Corn Shock
Allied planes machine -gunned the valley that day. Our
planes dropping napam bombs close that could feel
the the fire And rockets hitting near enough
to spatter dirt all around.
This the morning of the 28th After tried TO get
away the first time said to myself: Would 1t be better to
lie there and die take chance just crawling out into the
open them either finish off or take me in and
give me aid?
crawled out into the open beside path couple OF
Chnks came along When they me- both raised their
pointing at They had their oayones on me ana
punched in the ribs
Then l opened up my clothes to show them had been
wounded bleeding They went through my pockets
cigarette lighter But they didn't notice ring
birthstone set with two diamonds my wife had given
They mumbled something in Chinese which remember
hut at that time I