[KS] Father in Korean War

[Jiyul Kim]

John,

Your father's two Purple Hearts mean that he was wounded in combat, twice.
The best potential source to track down the location of where your father
was wounded is the unit war diary, which is usually kept at the battalion
level (2nd Bn, 1st Rgt, 1st Div.). War diary may list casualty details and
circumstances. At the very least it will provide the exact location of your
father's unit when he was wounded. Since companies did not occupy a large
piece of land, it will be close enough to give you a location within a few
hundred meters.

Another possible source is a unit history, which can range widely from
official to a private personal project. I found this official history of
the 1st Marines which although not providing sufficient details for your
purpose, provides the operational context of what the regiment was doing:

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmchist/1967.txt

   In August 1952, action along the 1st Marine Division forward position was
more intense than in any previous period since the Marines arrived on the
Western Front.  The most persistent efforts of the enemy were centered around
Bunker and Siberia Hills in the sector of the 1st Marines.  After many heavy
fire-fights, Marines of the 1st helped take Bunker Hill. During its remaining
stay on the front, the regiment continued to resist enemy probes and
effectively held its position. (P. 23)


War diaries are at the National Archives, but it may be available online as
many veterans have dug out their unit diary and posted them on veterans
group web sites.

Other possible sources of information are veterans groups and the Marine
Corps History Office.The Korean War Veterans Association (
http://www.kwva.org/) is a very active organization. You may be able to ask
them to ask their membership for anyone who either knew or know of your
father's service in Korea. The Marine Corps takes its history very
seriously as attested by its magnificent national museum in Virginia. Its
History Office may be the single best source to get official information.
Their web site is
http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/SitePages/Home.aspx. Contact
information is here
http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Contact_Us.aspx

I am retired from the US Army with nearly 30 years and served in Korea for
total of 7 1/2 years. I am a historian.

Jiyul Kim
Oberlin College, Ohio




On Fri, Oct 30, 2015 at 7:59 AM, Kent Davy <kentdavy at gmail.com> wrote:

> John:
>
> Also take a look at this:
>
>
> http://www.koreanwar2.org/kwp2/usmckorea/PDF_Monographs/KoreanWar.Stalemate.pdf
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> "The purpose of today's training is to defeat yesterday's understanding."
>
>
> On Fri, Oct 30, 2015 at 6:49 PM, John Eperjesi <john.eperjesi at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Thanks Kent and Su-kyoung, and thank you Mike for the correction.
>> On Oct 30, 2015 6:45 PM, "Kent Allen Davy" <kentdavy at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> John-
>>>
>>> It looks like your father was in the center of the Marine-held sector of
>>> the Jamestown line - somewhere either side on the Changdan Road.
>>>
>>> http://www.koreanwar.org/html/korean_war_maps_results_navy.html?id=130
>>>
>>> Kent
>>>
>>> "The purpose of today's training is to defeat yesterday's understanding."
>>>
>>> Sent telepathically via Iphone using Jedi mind tricks.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> > On Oct 30, 2015, at 8:33 AM, John Eperjesi <john.eperjesi at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > Hi Folks,
>>> >
>>> > I posted this question a while back, but have more information now,
>>> perhaps someone could point me in the right direction:
>>> >
>>> > My father was injured in the Korean War in late August, early
>>> September 1952.  He was with the USMC, Korea "E" Company, 2nd Battalion,
>>> 1st Reg., 1st Division.
>>> >
>>> > Since I live in Seoul, I would like to find out where he was injured,
>>> or details of the battle. He received 2 Purple Hearts, because he was hit
>>> again while being carried off the battlefield.
>>> >
>>> > Thanks in advance,
>>> > John
>>>
>>>
>
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