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Frost Bite?

I got to Korea Christmas day 1950, No Christmas dinner there, peanut butter sand, cold coffee.

3rd bat 7th Just got out of Kotare and moved to nesaun we landed at Pusan from a Japanese ship, Christmas eve spent from Sasabo to Pusan, we stacked rifles put cig. pks on for decorations and they played white xmas over and over again. I went out on deck and there coming in to Sasabo was the prinston, My best friend was on the prinston hadn’t seen him for a couple of years, That really made me home sick, my first Christmas away from home.

A song of the times was “Bless them all, Bless them all, MacArthur & Ridgeway and all, they started a drive for the river Yalu while we froze our balls off at old Hagarue, so were saying goodbye to them all the large the short, the tall, we will be home for Christmas, the kids never missed us, so cheer up my boys bless them all, A

And another was “here comes a g-ok sneaking thru the grass playing burp gun boggy on chubby’s azs, so were moving on, been away too long, your flaying too high for my little old sky so were moving on. can’t remember the rest.

I do remember the Bob Hope show in Korea, that was a great show, a good lift for all of us, I think I would have given it up for a hot shower & a hot meal, but what to h-ll, didn’t have the choice.

I was wondering if there was any Marines out there that got frost bite, and what they do for it now. my legs hurt all the time, feel like they are giving out, and has poor circulation. Just would like to know what to do to make them feel better. If anybody knows let me know.

Bob (chubby cheeks) Langford, wep co 3rd bat 7th, 1126140 USMC

NOT as MEAN NOT as LEAN but ALWAYS a MARINE

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Comments

sidney crews - April 1, 2020

The legend of 3/7 lives on. Sid Crews Cpl. 3/7 mos 2311 Nov,66 thru July68. Hope you can get some help for your legs Semper FI. my friend

Harry Geagan - April 1, 2020

I haven’t had frost bite, but for my peripheral neuropothy, I use a lotion called Topricin. It helps stop the itching and burning.

George R. O’Connell RM2(E5) USN 1956-64 - April 1, 2020

As one gets older and things become fuzzier and open to a little bit of embellishment, I fondly remember a USMC LTCOL, Enlisted in Korea and O during VN, –every year at Christmas he would relate the ‘story’ of a Christmas Day where the tree, decorated with whatever they could find and a troop returning from patrol looking at the tree and going “HO F’n HO”, “MERRY F’Nn CHRISTMAS”. Just a ‘throw in’ but I used to say I was SANE because I had a piece of paper to prove it and would be referring to my ‘passing’ of the US Military standard ‘Psych test’ that allowed me to attempt to serve in Submarines. The older I got the more I figured that the test wasn’t one to see if ‘WE’ were sane, but to see if ‘WE’ were CRAZY enough to live in a sunken tube, jump from a perfectly sound airplane, swim 20 miles in full gear etc etc etc RIP COL.

Bonnie Sload Tyrrell - April 1, 2020

Anyone serve with my Dad in Korea? Gerald Asher Sload was his name; joined the USMC on Jan. 17, 1947. He took part in 6 major battles in Korea, including Inchon Landing and Chosen Reservior. He was Operations Chief, Integrated Management Liaison Office when he retired as a MSgt. in 1967. He got severe frostbite while serving in Korea and he bothered him his whole life. My Dad passed away on March 25, 2008. I would be honored to hear from those who served with my Dad. Semper Fi.

buzz alpert. Sgt E-5, USMC 1960-66 - April 1, 2020

Bob I would go to a major medical facility for your legs, if you can, and see specialist in vascular medicine. I just did and they found, with non invasive testing, that I have a blocked artery behind my left knee. They put blood pressure wraps around my legs in several places and recorded the results. They produced a chart and the vascular surgeon read it and said he could clear it by inserting a wire about hip level and punching through the blockage. It’s done under “twilight” anesthesia, which is no big deal with hardly any side effects and you are up and out in no time at all. He also ordered a CT scan and thank God Medicare paid for all of it. I’m 78 and still do push-ups, sit-ups, etc and I lived a healthy life, but stuff still happens as you age. But you need to go to a doc who specializes in your problem. If you want to ask me any questions my email is keelerbarracks@yahoo.com. My advice is probably worth what I charge for it, nothing, but please contact me if you want to. My name is Buzz. I could never repay the Marine Corps for all it did for me. I wish all my fellow Marines, men and women, good health and God bless the Marine Corps.

Manuel Gonzales - April 1, 2020

In reply to buzz alpert. Sgt E-5, USMC 1960-66.
Buzz you are correct vascular surgeon at the VA and my outside provider both agreed on surgery to both my legs (Diabetes) ” Choice Plan ” Tri-West paid for MRI, Ultra-sounds and surgery to the outside vascular provider. Continued swelling on my left leg, Pelvic VenoGram procedure was done April 2016 lord and behold no more problems. I am service connected including and hope Bob the Korea war veteran is too. USMC 1958-1965 mgonzalesime@aol.com

L. K. Larry BLAIR 1956 to 1987. - April 1, 2020

As I recall, from the Korean War vets I served with, it was,” Here’s Luke, the Gook , comin’ down the pass, playin’ the Burp-gun Boogie on a Doggie’s azs, he’s movin’on, he’ll soon be gone, he passed the gate, doin’ 88, he’s movin’ on.”, AND ” There’s a Doggie and Marine, on the line, Doggie says ” Marine, you’re doin’ fine, but I’m movin’ on, I’ll soon be gone. They’re shootin’ too fast for my little ol’ azs, I’m movin’ on!” And a later version went “There’s a Big Bad Doggie named “Combat Joe”, won his Purple Heart at the USO, he’s movin’ on, he’ll soon be gone,. He got “combat sick” at a trainin’ flick, he’s movin’ on.” Just things I heard as a PFC in 1957, from some Hard Charging Marines who saw WW II and/ or Korea. My best man was MgySgt Rick Sweard who was a PFC with “Easy” Co, 2nd Bn, 5th Marines at the Chosin. He was my platoon sergeant in “Alpha” Co, 1/9, on Okinawa in 1961/’62, when I was a CPL. GOOD People!Marines from those days were “Dinky” HOWE, James HUNOT, Wally Diede, P T Morris, “Muff” Gowin, “Red” PARADISE, ” John Wayne” LEHNHART, Gy Sgt Dickie, and a lot of others who I have lost to CRS. Semper Fi !

Ron Hoak - April 1, 2020

Hey Bob, I was too young for Korea, I came into the Corps as a naive 17 year old in 1960. Something you said about having a friend on the Prinston, (sic, Princeton CV-37) got my attention. I am wondering who your friend was? I was assigned to the Princeton as a part of the MAD (Marine Air Dept.), we Marines staffed the Air Dept and Supply as well as Combat Cargo. There were around 300 of us and about 900 sailors to drive the ship as I understand., The Princeton is long gone, but many of us who were her crew or who were attached to her are still meeting every two years for reunions. I am the both the Association’s Chaplain and Historian. I have the crew roster. If you get this look for me on Facebook or ask Sgt Grit for my email. I’d love to know if your friend might be someone I know. “Semper Fi” to all you Korean Vets. My Uncle Steve Hodges was with the Marines at Chosin in Artillery. Ron Hoak Cpl. USMC 1960-64.

Randy Bjerke, GySgt USMC (ret) and County Veterans Service Officer - April 1, 2020

Vascular problems in the extremities caused by frostbite can be service connected with the VA. A successful claim for disability could result in monthly compensation and free health care for service connected conditions. See your County Veterans Service Officer for help in filing the claim. If your state does not have CVSOs, make an appointment with the American Legion, VFW, or DAV Service Officers located at your VA Regional Office. You’ll need an original or certified copy of your DD-214 and medical records showing the diagnosis of the condition. Don’t go it alone, or put it off – See a Service Officer now!

chris wesling - April 1, 2020

My dad, Mgy/sgt-E-9 William j. Wesling , who served on Tinian/saipan & Okinawa in ww2, in korea & Vietnam in his 30 yrs. in the Corps. He prayed to St. Chritopher if he came home, he would name his son [ if my mom had a boy] Christopher.] I was born while he was in Korea. After growing up around Camp Leguene, [ midway park, camp geiger, Cherry Point & finally cape hart housing etc.] I felt like was in the Marines all my life living with a hard ass Marine until adulthood. My dad had problems with his feet from frostbite in Korea. About 10 years after retirement he started getting toes & parts of his feet amputated. Dad was as Gung-ho as any Marine serving from 1942- 1972. RIP DAD 1924-1991

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