Hill 119 Boulder City
Marine Corps Messages posted to this BBS:
| Entry Name |
Last Message |
|
DINO MOLER |
September 16, 2024
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CRADY ROYER |
September 28, 2022
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JOHN HENSON |
May 27, 2020
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WESLEY PERKINS |
May 25, 2020
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REBECCA PIERCE |
February 26, 2019
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JOHN BURKE |
June 10, 2018
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|
MICHAEL MCNEIL |
December 9, 2017
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MICHAEL MCNEIL |
December 9, 2017
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PAUL STINE |
October 30, 2017
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WARREN THOMPSON |
February 4, 2017
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TOM VAN GORDER |
January 24, 2017
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SHEILA COATS |
July 28, 2016
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WILLIAM GRIFFIN |
January 27, 2016
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|
BRAD HOUSHOUR |
December 29, 2015
|
|
TONY MINCHEW |
August 15, 2015
|
|
FRANK CICCONE |
August 6, 2013
|
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BOB (DOC) WICKMAN |
June 24, 2013
|
| Entry: 9763 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
DINO MOLER wrote on September 16, 2024
Lima OH
Comments:
My dad, Kenneth Claude Moler, called him Angel.
I think was wounded July 23, 1953. He was part of the G Company, 1st Marine
Division
Looking for any info.
| Entry: 9692 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
CRADY ROYER wrote on September 28, 2022
Topeka KS
Comments:
Seeking any information regarding PFC Bill D Royer H/3/7 Marines died of wounds
07/25/1953 Boulder City area. Thank you
| Entry: 9611 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
JOHN HENSON wrote on May 27, 2020
willits CA
Comments:
You Tube now has the video running the dmz part one from the history
channel. watch it to see some of what was going on around hill 119 the last
days b4 the truce.
| Entry: 9608 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
WESLEY PERKINS wrote on May 25, 2020
Fort Worth TX
Comments:
Daddy was there . He said the enemy artillery exploding sounded like pop
corn being popped . As best as I could find out and from what daddy said out
of 15 marines in his group at Boulder City two marines survived after two days
. Daddy said he was transferred after the battle . A book I have says roughly
78 tons of ordinance was used by our side in a 1 square mile area in two days
of the Berlin (next door) , that doesn't count what the Chinese used. I think
this is the one he called a Chinese human wave attack. The book says it was a
regiment attacking . Father Brian Perkins senior died August 4 , 2019
private first class
| Entry: 9503 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
REBECCA PIERCE wrote on February 26, 2019
Lake Hopatcong NJ
Comments:
My Dad John Pierce was in the 1st Marines 7th division. He was there. I'm
recording some of his stories. I hope someone here recognizes his name. John
aka Jackie Pierce is from southern NJ. Blackwood/Camden NJ...
He was a radio man...only 18 years old at the time.
He tells stories about men having to urinate in 'coolers' to keep the systems
from melting.
| Entry: 9428 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
JOHN BURKE wrote on June 10, 2018
Buda TX
Comments:
Item Company 3/1 a group of Marines that remained with me ever since.
The saying a few good men applies here.
Many thanks to those who helped those who could not.
Fight em with ITEM and show George-How
Semper Fi
| Entry: 9393 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
MICHAEL MCNEIL wrote on December 9, 2017
Crossroads Texas
Comments:
http://www.koreanwar2.org/kwp2/usmc/042/M042_CD18_SAR_COMMA
ND_DIARY_JULY_1953.pdf
| Entry: 9392 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
MICHAEL MCNEIL wrote on December 9, 2017
Crossraods Texas
Comments:
This is the story as told to me by my step-Father (who
has been my Father since I was 9 years old).
Brigadier General Albert E. Brewster, Jr.
USMC(Ret.),...recalls the following:
I joined the 1st Bn, 1st Regt as the 81 mm Mortar Platoon
leader while the Regiment was the Division reserve unit.
Then in the closing days of war we moved up to defending
Hill 119 (this is in meters so that is about 390 feet) in
an area just north of the Im Jim River that the Marines
(for some reason) called the two bends Marylyns Jugs -
see attached map. All this action took place just to the
north of the left jug on the map and was the Chinese
effort to push the proposed DMZ south across the river
(making it easier for them if the war started again). I
am going to snail mail you a copy of the Bn Special
Action report of this engagement (cant get digital copy
for some reason). My comment to add to that full report:
All hell had broken loose and the Div CG
released the reserve (1st Marine Regt) to support hill
119 action. My Bn CO, his infantry Company COs plus the
Weapons Company CO and myself as the Mortar Plt CO went
up to make a reconnaissance visit of area in case we
were ordered up there. The thoughts at that time was that
we would replace in position a Bn on the line if
required. As such my 8 mortar tubes would simply be taken
over by the unit we replaced and we would continue to use
those already in position. When I got orders to move to
the line I still thought this would be the process, but
the motor transport was very late and when we got to hill
119 it was under heavy attack and I was told to look for
a site and build a new position and get into action
ASAP. I went back down the reverse slope and picked a
spot that I thought we could get ammo up to from the
valley below and the guys started digging. In short order
they had a small 4 person Fire Control bunker for me and
shallow pits for the eight 81mm mortar tubes we had, and
in less than 2 hours we had wire lines to my two forward
observer fire callers in the trenches on the Hill and
were taking orders to enter the battle. You can read the
details in the report Ill send- but needless to say that
for 72 hours straight we pretty much were firing in
support of the defense. No one slept or really ate- and
body functions were not always on call for that period.
The position proved to be ideal, as all the artillery
fire either hit the top of the hill or missed us and
exploded in the valley below. We only got small arms fire
when the Chinese overran the Marines at the top of the
hill (happened twice) and we were firing short charges
that came down on our own lines to force them off the top
of the hill. Both my FOs were wounded but stayed in
action for the whole 72 hours. When it ended the pile of
empty 81mm ammo boxes at the bottom of hill was amazing.
I have no idea how many rounds we fired but it was one
hell of a lot.
As you will read in the report- once the
fighting stopped we then had the job of picking up the
bodies that had been killed in the fighting and many who
had been there for 2 days or so in 90 degree heat.
Something you never forget. We also had to- in accordance
with the Cease fire tear down all fortifications and
move back at least 1,000 meters to a point past the
southern edge of the Demilitarized Zone (still the DMZ
today). My Bn moved to a new site on the side of a hill
overlooking a rice paddy and of course it decided to rain
for days as we tried to set up a new camp. Once that was
sort of accomplished we them started digging new
defensive battle positions on the south edge of the DMZ
in case the war started again. The heat was so bad that
we got up at 1 AM, walked miles to the new positions to
be there by 2 AM and dug away till 11:30- when we trudged
back to camp for a meal, and supposedly the balance of
the daylight hours off. One afternoon my guys decided to
play some basketball about 3:30 PM and I got a call from
the Bn CO wanted to know didnt I have something
constructive for them to do? - so we did some close order
drilling just to keep him happy. (He retired as a MajGen
years later.) As we settled in to this routine we also
got a late afternoon ride in open 6x6 trucks to a shower
point (once a week) for showers and clean clothes. All
you kept were your boots- everything else went into dirty
bag and you got something near your size when you
surrender a towel they provided. By the time you got back
to base you were covered with dust from the road- unless
it was raining! After about a month of this I heard the
Regiment Weapons Company was looking for a 4.2 inch
Mortar Platoon CO and snuck over and applied. When the Bn
CO called me to his tent to give me the orders he asked
How the hell did this happen? To which I replied- I
have no idea Colonel! In the Weapons Company, as 4.2
Mortar Plat CO, I had my own jeep and would stop back by
the Bn and pick up my 2nd Lt friends and take them to the
shower point twice a week!
| Entry: 9373 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
PAUL STINE wrote on October 30, 2017
Newark Delaware
Comments:
We,came as last replacements,to 1st Mar DIV, 13000 of us in
convoy headed for Korea, 28 das,typhoons at sea, chokin' and
spittin',stuffed full assault in APAs cruised even coast
China as threat to their mainland, When calm enough, we were
up and down landing nets into the assault craft (Peter
boats), our landing craft cruised in circles, then assembled,
into a force unit, headed for the objective... it's called
All Boats Away..go hit that beach! Emotions ran high,but go
into almost depression, when called back,and climb back up
those nets onto ship. Thing was, we were never told mission,
location,nor where we were..simply told what we were to do.
We all figured we were landing Korea but convoy diverted
toward Japan. We had NCOs who had survived the Chosen
Resourvior My Plt.Sgt,had lost all,but trigger finger and
thumb on his right hand, yet in Rifle Co. because he could
still pull a trigger.stayed with us in the fight. Yup, we had
some mean s.o.bs who were ready to fight. After Korea'53, the
Fleet Marine Landing Force, was to be contained, in Japan.
We did the China thing, evacted ROC loyal forces off the
Tachen Islands,all the way to Formosa. I mean 17,000 troops
and equipment. MIG-15s came at us, but were turned away..as
we had planes in the sky from USS Kersearge. We,Marines,on
APA, had not a round to fire, as all ammo was held
distribution for landing purpose only All this, a bit
insignifcant to Boulder City. Lots,had to do though with
those last fights for hills and turf to establish property
line;we were headed to help, viz. the 38th. Believe,me,as
fmr,Marine,though late in being there,you have my utmost
respect, on how you held,Boulder City, Hill 119. I'd like to
think,that I would have conducted myself in the manner you
did. Wish we'd have arrived sooner for the outcome. Id like
to think,too, I'd have had the courage to have been right
there with ya' Yup, combat's a changer, but that Hill 119 was
something else. I hope we always remember. As long is mention
of Hill 119,my Marine ears will go up, and I'll tell'em of
the courage that occurred there. Semper~Fi. Paul
| Entry: 9304 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
WARREN THOMPSON wrote on February 4, 2017
GAINESVILLE VIRGINIA
Comments:
I WAS THERE ON THAT EVENING AND IT WAS VERY BAD , LOST A LOT
OF BUDDIES. I WAS A HEAVY MACHINE GUNNER WITH WPNS. CO. 1ST
BATT. 7TH MARINES . REMEMBER IT AS IF IT WAS YESTERDAY.
| Entry: 9303 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
TOM VAN GORDER wrote on January 24, 2017
Great Falls VA
Comments:
My Father, Second Lieutenant Larry van Gorder, was
seriously wounded on Hill 119, Boulder City on July 24,
1953. Thankfully, he fully recovered from his wounds to
live a full and prosperous life dedicated to his family.
He was my best friend in life and is now in heaven waiting
for the rest of our family to join him.
I miss you Dad.
| Entry: 9257 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
SHEILA COATS wrote on July 28, 2016
Vancouver Washington
Comments:
My uncle was killed in action on 7/25/53. He was a Marine
in Company G, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine, 1st Marine
Division. He was died the day before his birthday. I have
his flag and I will not let his memory fade.
| Entry: 9226 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
WILLIAM GRIFFIN wrote on January 27, 2016
Macedonia Iowa
Comments:
My Uncle died in this battle. He was
only 18. Pfc Walter Lowell Griffin.
I Company, 3rd battalion, 1st
Marines, 1st Marines division. July
24, 1953.
| Entry: 9220 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
BRAD HOUSHOUR wrote on December 29, 2015
San Diego CA
Comments:
My great uncle George Debaun was killed on hill 119 on 25 July 1953. I
would like to find out more about him if anyone from 3/1 knew him.
Semper Fi -
| Entry: 9188 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
TONY MINCHEW wrote on August 15, 2015
Houston Texas
Comments:
PFC Claburn L. Minchew Sept.18, 1950 Hill 123 (UD 1052)
PFC Claburn Minchew Nov. 29, 1950 (Hagaru)
2nd Sqd PFC Claburn Minchew 652651/0311 (11/50 & 12/50)
(WIA 11/29/50) (Evac to Japan Hosp. and dropped 12/5/50)
My dad (Pfc/Lcpl Claburn Lee Minchew) served in Korea and was wounded
2 times. The one time I know of is when he and his Lt. were in a fox hole. A
NK came over a hill with a molitov cocktail raised to throw. My dad said
that
the Lt. yelled for dad to get out of the hole and palmed his .45 and shot
him
right between the eyes. The NK let go of the molitov as he fell and the Lt
was killed.
Dad, lay in the snow on his left side until the Marines came back for a
count.
Dad said he heard someone say this one is dead, this one is dead, no wait
he moved. When they rolled him over they found his entire left side was
riddled with shrapnel.
If I had a nickle for every time I saw him scratch the back of his head on
the
left side just back of his ear...
He was wounded one other time but apparently it was not as dramatic. =
As far as I know he never took any disability. He drove trucks his whole
life.
Tony
Sent from my iPhone
| Entry: 9002 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
FRANK CICCONE wrote on August 6, 2013
Long Beach New York
Comments:
My Uncle SSGT.Orlando "Rocky" Ciccone was killed at Boulder City on July
25,1953 any information would be greatly appreciated . Thank you for your
service.
Semper Fi
| Entry: 8990 |
HILL 119 BOULDER CITY |
BOB (DOC) WICKMAN wrote on June 24, 2013
Keizer OR
Comments:
I was a Corpsman with Item/3/7 on Boulder City during the
last assaults by the North Koreans. Severe fighting. Many
casualties.
Dedicated To - Arthur Donald DeLacy - 1st Lieutenant - USMCR - MIA POW - 10/07/1951 - Heartbreak Ridge