Marines take care of other Marines
December 3rd, 2009 by Jack Orth | FLASHBACKS | | 0 Comments
Leathernecksquare.com
The Gunny
In July of 1953, I was a squad leader with H/3/7 in Korea. We were on line near the Berlin outposts and Boulder City. I had helped carry a wounded Marine back to the reverse slope, and was on the way back to my squad. The Gunny directed me to take a group of Korean Service Corp men up to help the 2nd platoon, who had been hit badly by incoming. On the way up, we were hit by incoming that killed most of the KSC people, and wounded me in the back and leg.
I came back down the slope and the Gunny, although surrounded by incoming, got me into a Charlie Co. tank that would take me back to an aid station where I would be helicoptered to the hospital ship USS REPOSE. As I was being pulled through the tank hatch, the Gunny yelled up,
“Throw down your cigarettes!” It was as if he was at the 7/11 store .. no rush .. he just calmly asked me to throw down my cigarettes.
I’ve always felt the Gunny saved my life. For many years after my discharge in late 1953 I mistakenly thought that Bill Parks had been killed in Korea. About twenty years ago I found out that he was alive and well in Hendersonville! Naturally, I went down from Boston to see him, and met his wife. Since then I’ve spent time with him, and a couple of years ago asked him to be our advisor at Leatherneck Square.
When putting on my ribbons for the Marine Corps Birthday celebration in Hendersonville, I had a flashback to that day in Korea long ago. Here I was, spending the M.C. Birthday with “The Gunny” … I’m 78 years old, and the Gunny is in his mid-eighties. There is a very strong possibility that for the past 57 years I’ve been alive because of one Marine taking care of another Marine. On this Birthday in Hendersonville, it hit me once again that Marines always take care of other Marines, no matter what the situation is.
Oh, how proud I am to have served those three years in our “Corps”. Where would I ever have met such people if I hadn’t joined The Marine Corps? I wouldn’t have! Combat is an unexplainable happening on one’s life … ya have to be there to understand. Even though the times were more than difficult, I’m glad I was there. It enabled me to see what Marines do for each other in the toughest of times. Marines, if need be, will give their life for another Marine.
We, at Leatherneck Square, salute you all during this Christmas season. My family and I, of course, give an extra salute to Sgt. Major William Parks, USMC (Ret.)… he being our own “GUNNY A.J. SQUAREDAWAY, USMC, (Ret.)
Semper Fi …… Cpl. Jack Orth, USMC (1950-1953)
