part0029

The Wire Man: I served in the 1st Tank Bn. I am not sure but I think the 26th through the 30th were my first days in Korea. I was a wireman (MOS 2511) with the rank of sgt. I was made wire chief. My second day there I went up to the regimental CP of the 5th regiment. I had a high-school friend, Jack Kiley, serving in Charlie Co, 1st Bn. 5th. I was trying to get a crash course in what my responsibilities were to be. Our regimental hdq. was south of the Imjin river. We had to cross at Xray Bridge, or further west on Freedom Gate Bridge. We picked up our lines from the division on the north side of the bridge. We were responsible for them up to our reserve company. Our call sign was “weasel,” and we called this location, “weasel switch.” We were then responsible to maintain two lines to each of the tank companies on line. We also ran lines to each of the line companies our tanks were supporting. The tanks were not very mobile, and they were dug into tank slots. They were used like direct-support artillery. They could be bore sighted and fire a flat trajectory at designated targets. We ran wire to some of the bunkers so the crews had communications and could leave the tanks to sleep and eat, etc. You are well aware most of the fighting was after dark. The 5th Regimental Hdq was very near weasel switch, and I tried to find my buddy. I was informed that he had been hit the day before, and Jack was hurt quite badly, but survived. I have contacted him about your project. He doesn’t have a computer, but he has a family member that does. I think he is exactly the kind of man you would like to talk with. He had just got back to the MLR from outpost 101 when it was overrun. He was part of a party sent back out to assist those who were overrun. I think some were buried in bunkers. He was hit and evacuated. Time and events are a blur.

I was there when the 25th (Lightning Div) relieved our line troops. The 11th Marines and our tank battalion were also supposed to be relieved, but we never left the line. One regiment with the 25th was made up of Turks. We had a horrible communication problem. Not very much time went by, and our regiments were back. The 25th took quite a hit. We suffered heavy casualties taking all the outposts back. There were two other hills in front of us, Berlin & East Berlin. Enough is enough. I will try to get Jack in touch with you,