Is it possible to be 31 years old and yet a China Marine?
               By another fine gent's reckoning, yes. True story here. I met a
               gentleman while flyfishing last week....while flyfishers are notoriously
               standoffish on the stream, it's kind of hard to not remark when
               the only two guys on the stream are wearing USMC baseball caps.

               Anyway, this older gentleman started asking about this young
               jarhead's duty stations. I informed him that I had been a cannon-cocker,
               then went on embassy duty. One of my embassy posts was Shenyang,
               China. Shenyang is a large, closed (i.e. no other white people in the city)
               city about 150 miles northwest of North Korea.

               Turns out this gentleman had been at Chosin. Needless to say, he isn't too
               fond of the Chinese. After some of my experiences in China, the same can
               be said for me.

               I told him one story (which the local Foreign Ministry called the embassy
               about). Sometimes I walked the six blocks from the Marine House in Shenyang
               to the consulate (rather than use the Marine driver, who was of course Chinese).
               I would always pass by a school, where a horde of little kids would always
               scream out "roundeye, roundeye." Pissed me off pretty bad.

               Well, we eventually got permission to get a German Shephard through the govt
               (they use them as police dogs, and everyone needed permission to own one).
               Named the dog Caesar. Us five MSG jarheads trained Caesar pretty well to
               overcome his early deficiency in English.
 

               One afternoon, I was walking with Caesar to the consulate, where I had late
               watch. The kids were just getting out of school, and up started the chorus of
               "roundeye." I had had enough. I unhooked Caesar, and yelled "SIC EM!!!"
               Sure enough, Caesar took off, barking and growling. Ya shoulda seen the horde
               of kids run off screaming. See, the only dogs they knew of were police dogs.
               Now, Caesar didn't really have a mean bone in his body, but he looked impressive.
               I called him back and walked on to the consulate.
 

               The next day the Consulate General called me into his office,
               and asked what happened. I honestly replied that Caesar got a little excited
               (albeit with a little help from me). No problem, and on with life we went.
               Although, I must say I never heard the term "roundeye" come from the school
               after that.

               This older gentleman told me that, as a young China Marine, I did him proud.
               So I guess I can call myself a China Marine after all.

               Charles Ford
               E-Mail: charlesford@danielslawfirm.com

               P.S. No offense to anyone, but I stll hate China. I want to thank the Marine
               Corps for saving me thousands of dollars, because I know one place I will
               never vacation at.  

               As has been pointed out, yesterday, May 31st, was Memorial Day
               in the United States.  However, as I read Sunday's newspaper, I noticed
               that Tsui Chi Hsii, better know as Charlie TuShu (Charlie Two Shoes)
               was going to speak at the Wesleyan United Methodist Church that morning,
               and that the public was invited. I am not a Christian, and therefore, rarely
               attend church, but I decided I wanted to hear him speak.

               This is not exactly WWII related, but rather a post-war topic.For those
               who do not know of "Charlie Two Shoes", he was a 12 year old Chinese
               boy from the city of TsingTao in Northern China.  After Japan surrendered, a
               contingent of U.S. Marines was moved into the city of TsingTao to guard a
               runway, protect a railroad, and accept the surrender and arrange the
               repatriation of Japanese soldiers to the Japanese islands.

               He became a mascot for the Marines, and eventually wore a Marine uniform
               (tailored just for him by the Marines).  He lived with them from late 1945 until
               they left China in 1949.

                Before he spoke, the service started with a prayer for those lost in battle, and
                then the church pianist played the anthems of each of the U.S. military.

                 1. Air Force - "Off we go into the wild blue yonder"

                 2. Army - "When the caisons go rolling along"

                 3. Marines - "The Marines Hymm"  All Marines present,
                 including Charlie quickly stood to attention.

                 4. Navy - "Anchors Aweigh"

                 5. Coast Guard  - Sorry, I don't know the name of their
                 anthem.

                 The song "America the Beautiful" was sung, and then the hymm
                  " Faith of Our Fathers" sung.

                A lady introduced Charlie and told us a little about him. What I stated
                before was related.  We were then told that after the Marines left China,
               Charlie was denounced by the communists because he spoke English.  He
               spent 7 years in a labor camp, followed by ten (10) years house arrest.  He
               refused to denounce the U.S. Marines or the United States, and was virtually
               a political prisoner.  His wife refused to divorce him and she and their three
               (3) children were persecuted as well.

               Charlie lost all of his personel papers, but managed to
               remember correctly the address of one former Marine buddy.  So thirty  years
               later he wrote to William Bullard of Autryville, North Carolina, telling him how
               he was and saying he wanted to come to the United States.

               Bullard's last words to Charlie had been "Be true to the spirit of the Marines,
               and remember what you learned from Sister Blanda (a Chatholic nun who was his
               school treacher).  We'll do what we can to get you to the States.  Semper Fi."

               The letter was received and Mr. Bullard wrote all his former Marine buddies.
               They organized and brought Charlie stateside. The late former U.S. Senator,
               Terry Sanford of North Carolina, introduced a bill in Congress granting Charlie
               and his family permanent legal residence in the U.S.  He first settled in my
               hometown of Greensboro, but today he lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina,
               and owns Charlie's TsingTao Restaurant.

              He spoke quietly, but quite well.  He talked of when he was in the Marines,
              and his life in China.  He talked about the fact that he was persecuted for
              knowing English, and his refusal to renounce his faith in God.  He said that each
              day he prayed to God to free him from the Communists and send him to America.
              Thirty years later, his prayer was answered.

              His commitment to the Marine Corps is absolute.  His love of his Marine buddies
              is self-evident.  He constantly referred to himself as an American (he, his wife,
             and three children are 25th on the list of applicants waiting to go before a Federal
             judge to be interviewed for U.S. citizenship).

             He's the American dream personified.  He kept the faith to the  Marine Corps and
             his buddies.

             Sorry, if this is slightly off-topic, but I know there are some former Marines on this
             list who will be interested in my report.

             Regards to all,

              Doug Maston
              E-Mail: ut00894@VGHT.VOLVO.COM
              Greensboro, North Carolina

The Book: Charlie Two Shoes and the Marines of Love Company
More Charlie Two Shoes
Note: The 'list" the writer mentions, is the WWII E-Mail Discussion List.

               I don't know the truth of this story but it sounds good.  It
               came in from my first 1st Sergeant's widow who was around
               during WW II.
 

               During the course of World War II, many people gained fame in
               one way or another. One man was Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter
               pilot
               assigned to an aircraft carrier in the Pacific.  One time his entire
               squadron was assigned to fly a particular mission. After he was
               airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone
               had forgotten to top off his fuel tank.

               Because of this, he would not have enough fuel to complete his
               mission and get back to his ship.  His flight leader told him to leave
               formation and return.

               As he was returning to the mothership, he could see a squadron of
               Japanese Zeroes heading toward the fleet to attack. And with all the
               fighter planes gone, the fleet was almost defenseless.  His was the
               only opportunity to distract and divert them.  Single-handedly, he
               dove into the formation of Japanese planes and attacked them.

               The American fighter planes were rigged with cameras, so that as
               they flew and fought, pictures were taken so pilots could learn more
               about the terrain, enemy maneuvers, etc. Butch dove at them and shot
               until all his ammunition was gone, then he would dive and try to clip
               off a wing or tail or anything that would make the enemy planes unfit
               to fly. He did anything he could to keep them from reaching the
               American ships.

               Finally, the Japanese squadron took off in another direction, and Butch
               O'Hare and his fighter, both badly shot up, limped back to the carrier.

               He told his story, but not until the film from the camera on his plane was
               developed, did they realize the extent he really went to, to protect his
               fleet.  He was recognized as a hero and given one of the nations highest
               military honors. And as you know, the O'Hare Airport was also named after
                him.

               Prior to this time in Chicago, there was a man named Easy Eddie. He was
               working for a man you've all heard about, Al Capone.  Al Capone wasn't
               famous for anything heroic, but he was notorious for the murders he'd
               committed and the illegal thing's he'd done.  Easy Eddie was Al Capone's
               lawyer and he was very good. In fact, because of his skill, he was able to
               keep Al Capone out of jail.

               To show his appreciation, Al Capone paid him very well. He not only
               earned big money, he would get extra things, like a residence that filled
               an entire Chicago city block. The house was fenced, and he had live-in help
               and all of the conveniences of the day.

               Easy Eddie had a son. He loved his son and gave him all the best things
               while he was growing up; clothes, cars, and a good education. And because
               he loved his son he tried to teach him right from wrong. But one thing he
               couldn't give his son was a good name, and a good example.

               Easy Eddie decided that this was much more important than all the riches
               he had given him. So, he went to the authorities in order to rectify the wrong
               he had done. In order to tell the truth, it meant he must testify against
               Al Capone, and he knew that Al Capone would do his best to have him killed.

               But he wanted most of all to try to be an example and to do the best he could
               to give back to his son, a good name.  So he testified.

               Within the year, he was shot and killed on a lonely street in Chicago. This sounds
               like two unrelated stories. But Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.

               Contributed By: MGySgt Jim Krudwig, USMC (Ret.)
               E-Mail: krudwig@hnet.net

"Preventive Medicine"
By John Richter
June 20, 1999
(#76)
 

A handful of we Navy Corpsmen from "C" Co. were assigned temporary duty withn the 1st Bn, 5th Marines Aid Station within the Pusan Perimeter. While outside of the medical facility doing our chores, sniper fire erupted from the adjacent hills. (At the time the Marines were outof the immediate area, their hands full fighting off the enemy further on.)

As the fired rounds entered our general area, I found myself sprawled in the dirt in my recently washed utilities. As the firing abated I picked myself up, being a bit of a neurotic around soiled items, set about brushing off every article of grime. After a brief period of calm, dangerously close shots rang out again as I found myself once more spread face down on the ground, only this time with an added touch: A mouthful of that rich, fertilized Korean soil!!!

That did it! The danger that our patients and Medical Staff were exposed tp; my aversion to eating dirt; and the ultimite indignity of having those "gooks" in the hills playing us a s puppets on a string, had me fighting mad!! Reaching for my M1 Carbine, I shouted out to one of Corpsman who had been awarded the Silver Star for bravery during WWII (figuring I could use a partner with guts!) "Hey------" (he'll remain unnamed!) "Give me a hand kicking some 'gook' butts!" His reply: "My mother didn't raise any fools."

Directly without hesitation Corpsman Melvin Hogan interceded: "I'll give you a hand "Rick." (So off we went to do the job.) Not wanting to make known to the snipers our intent, we initially headed away from the source of their firing, then circled widely and eventually came up slowly on the backside of their hill. Having a general idea of where the action had evolved from, we slowly approached their camouflaged area. A short distance ahead we could hear their Korean babbling and laughter as our quarry were preoccupied enjoying their attempt at a one-sided "turket shoot."

Hogan and I huddled together and decided on signal to bellow out loud and furiously while firing our semi-automatic directly down through the top of the covered dugout, giving the impression they were surrounded by many more than just we two. The ruse worked well as five North Koreans came screaming in surrender leaving their weapons and two of their mortally wounded comrades behind in the dugout. Moments after, a frustrated look repalced one of fear on the faces of the prisoners as they realized in disgust they had been overpowered by two mere "medics!"

Days later (in my complete naivevete) I was concerned over how I would conduct myself while being presented with whatever award they had in mind for our "accomplishment." That concern soon evaporated as word leaked out from Co. Headquarters that court-martials were being considered as reward by the "Brass" of our Medical Co. The charge: "Leaving one's duty station without permission." (The intent as rumors had it was set an example that would discourage other Navy from "playing "Marine!")The award seekers Vs. the court-martial seekers evidently neutralized one another for the "incident" was quietly layed to rest.

I strongly believe the aggressive action we took that day should rightfully been interpreted by the "Medical Establishment as 'PREVENTIVE MEDICINE!!!

(Hogan's and my encounter with these N. Koreans is recorded by Major Andrew Geer (USMC) in his book: "The New Breed" (Battery Press)

John Francis Richter
HM1 USN (ret.)
Guadalcanal/Korea Alumnus
Semper Fi
E-Mail: gyrene-doc@webtv.net