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 (Left)Marines at Yudam-ni prior to starting the 35 mile trek
to Hagaru, Koto-ri, Hungnam. Equipment and supplies were torched to deny
the chinese any harvest. The casualties would be put on vehicles within
the convoy. Some of the wounded would suffer addition injuries due to
frostbite. KIA's would also be trucked out of the area.
 (Left) 5th & 7th Marines rear guard action as
attack is made to the rear. The convoy was formed and started it journey
toward Hagaru about 14 miles away. However Hagaru was also under siege and
we would have to fight our way back and into the vicinity of Hagaru and
joining up with the fighting forces there. Don't recall the exact number
of day, but I think we would get there about Dec 4 - 6th
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 (Left)Road
block...held up until air strike and hills are cleared. Many times along
the way the convoy would have to stop while the way would be cleared. The
chinese would be located along the road on the high ground and they would
have to be overcome so that the convoy could proceed. The Marines with the
much wanted air support would be equal to the task. Much of the time the
weather did not permit air support, but out Marine flyers were there
whenever it was possible to do so. Each day all of us would pray for good
weather.
 (Left)Another
road block along the way. Each time Marines in the convoy would huddle
together along the road waiting for the high ground to be taken. A lot of
thoughts went through their minds while in such position. Perhaps a little
shut eye or a snack on the C-ration candy, cocoa disks, crackers. Most of
the solid food would be frozen and difficult to thraw out without
burning.
 (On the right)Stalled again...Again troops are called upon to
clear the hills so convoy could pass. Hopes that this might be the last
road block, however we were never really sure what might lie beyond the
hills. We would eventually get to Hagaru and join the forces there. This
served to make us a lot stronger in numbers and
equipment.
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 (Left)Koto-ri, ~~~It seems to me that we would arrive here
around December 8th , but would have to wait until the
engineers must replace a bridge on the narrow mountain road so that the
convoy could pass. Again as we moved to the real, we would become stronger
after joining forces together. Also units of the Army had joined in the
convoy. The bride would erected after being air dropped. This quite a feat
under the cold and combat situation. My 21st birthday was
December 10, 1950 and it would come as we were breaking out on our way to
Hungnam.
 (Left)This bridge would need to be replaced in order to bring
out troops and equipment. This bridge had been blown up more than once.
And once again the engineers would be called upon to
perform
 (Right)Just as soon as the engineers had completed their
work, troops and equipment would be able to continue the
withdrawal
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 (On the left)Here the 35 mile trek ends..What a welcome site
this was as troops began the evacuation. On December 12,1950, our unit
would embark aboard the USS G.M. Randall at Hungnam, Korea and arrived at
Pusan, Korea on December 14, 1950.
 (On the left)Demolitions teams made sure nothing of value was
left..Goodbye to North Korea. The Marines brought out all of their wounded
and most of the dead. They also brought out much of their equipment. They
would return to South Korea, recuperate and fight many more battles before
the war would come to some kind of a conclusion.
And so ends one of the most
incredible actions of the Korean war. The war is not over at this time, it
will linger on for a while. But we can never take away from what has been
done here, and for the brave men who were part of this era. Some paid the
ultimate price, others paid a price that will always be a part of them and
of this great country, our USA. I would return to the states after another
six months in Korea. Korea is a part of my life now, and always will be.
But I know the experience there has played an important roll in my life. I
will no longer take things for granted, and I know that all the freedom we
share today is a result of such actions that have gone on before in all
wars. We can never repay, but we must remember what they have done.
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 Gene Dixon
back in the states July 1951. After being promoted to Staff Sergeant I
received orders for the Naval Communications Station, 3801 Nebraska
Avenue, Washington, DC where I was part of the Security Detachment.
Shortly afterward I would be re-assigned to Recruiters School at Parris
Island, SC and further assignment to San Mateo and Stockton, California
recruiting sub-stations. |
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(Left)Chosin Res...27-28 Nov 1950. The Chinese close the trap
on November 27th. The 5th Marines had spent
Thanksgiving Day on the east side of the Chosin Reservoir and had a "real
feast". The food was hot and great but had to be eaten quickly before it
cooled off and froze. I recall the long cold truck ride getting to the
west side and eventually Yudam-ni. Our convoy pulled in after dark and
shortly after unloading from the trucks, enemy fire was poured down upon
us from all directions. It didn't take us long to find our that we were
not wanted here. Apparently we were to go into attack the next day,
however when attempted we would soon find out that we were not going to go
forward. 
