King High Remembers:

Frank TorresAmanda Rossman

Jessica McPeak

Gabbi Lagandaon

Frank Torres grew up in New York. At seventeen years old, He decided he wanted a way to escape the city full of gangs. “I would have rather died fighting for my country than being killed by the gangs.” In 1948, He enlisted in the marines to “get away from home.”

In the beginning…

Boot camp

Frank Torres went to Parris Island, originally a prison, in South Carolina.The boot camp was 13 weeks of isolation and strict instructors.“ I did what I was told.”

After instruction, He and 33 others left for Camp Pendleton for 2 weeks. There they were suited up with 782 combat equipment. It then took 11 days to sail to Japan on the USS Henrico. On ship all they did was “ a whole lot of nothing” eating, sleeping and coping with the rough seas.

USS Henrico

The Korean War

Wonsang: the beginning of a nightmare

November 27, 1950 –December 24, 1950It took 2 to 3 weeks to march the 78 miles journeythrough the Chosin Reservoir, in negative 40 degreeweather, to North Korea. “I was very fortunate.”” I felt cold all the time, it was like my feet didn’t exist.” 3,000marines lost and 15,000 injured “It was so cold youwould die and freeze in that position.”“You had to breakbody parts to align the dead to be buried properly.” “Frost bite was a common occurrence and many developed psychiatric disorders, we called it shell shock.”

The Battle…After China entered the war, The Marines were fighting bothNorth Koreans and Chinese.“ The Chinese always attackedat night.” “We knew they were attacking we were heard “Herethey come.” and I could hear the stomping of feet on the snow and that’s when I thought I was going to die.”The Chinese philosophy was “Let the enemy come into the den, surround them and kill them.”“ We were really just trying to get away.”

HardshipsIt was against regulation to keep a journal or take photos during their experience so if the soldiers were captured, as a prisoner of war, the personal information couldn’t be used against them.All of the supplies were airdropped. “Food was useless and frozen solid”, C- rations were rare, they contained meatballs and soups and sometimes cookies and cigarettes. Pallets were dropped mostly with ammunition and lots of tootsie rolls. “You won’t see this in history books but that’s how we survived, on tootsie rolls.”

Entertainment

The Marine core has an active sports program.

“I passed my time playing racquetball and I didn’t stop until I was 70 years old.”

Memorable ActsFrank remembers Bill Barber won a Medal of Honor for his courageous acts on Fox Hill during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. Bill’s unit was completely surrounded by Chinese, 129 men began controlling the hill and the unit kept position so that other soldiers could escape from the North. For 4 nights and 5 days the Chinese “were doing the same thing, but expecting different results.” In the end 20 men were left standing, “Perseverance and targeted air cover” assisted in the success of this maneuver. “We were watching over each other.”Those men sacrificed their lives for their fellow soldiers.

The Next Phase…In 1951, at the age of 21 Frank came home for a year and “got marriedand had kids right away.” He got a job in Ohio, working at a Steelcompany. He returned as a drill instructor at Parris Island, ironically thesame one he went to as a young marine. He reflects back at the time hewas a “mean drill instructor,” as he explained stories of the recruitscomplaining about the mosquito and nat infested camp and would simply say “let them eat.” At boot camp as an instructor, the leadership skills he gained by observation, when he was a recruit, were put into action. “Got to learn to take orders and give them too.”

VietnamIn 1966 “ I saw a little more combat.” Frank went toVietnam battling against the communist there. He says “I think media is what made us lose the war.” Vietnam was the first televised war. “The enemy used media as a tool to win by turning the home population against waracts.” “It was the first time people were able to turnon the tv and see the horrors of war.” Thisinfluenced the American population to desire tostop the war. “We came really close to using theatomic bomb on the North Vietnamese.”

Vietnam War

The Chosin FewIn 1983, soldiers who battled at the Chosin Reservoir

created an organization called the Chosin Few, to reunite all survivors. They first met in San Diego. Totheir surprise, 2,000 men congregated at the first meeting. “I found out I wasn’t alone after the ChosinFew was established.”

The symbol for the organization is the bursting star. This was established after one night during the battle of Chosin Reservoir. When the wounded soldiers were injured at Koto-ri, they looked out of the warming tent at the sky, just then clouds opened up and they saw the star. They thought it was a sign of an airdrop and the star became a symbol of hope.

Chosin Few Reunion

After War…

Frank Torres became a radar technician for Tactile Air Control. He job was to track where enemies were. He was a radar tech for ten years. Frank was awarded the Purple Heart for being injured in the service. After his service in the marines, He spent twenty years in

the postal service.

Effects from the war… 850 people are still unaccounted for from the Korean War. Even today farmers in North Korea will occasionally find

human bones. There are identification units in Hawaii that assist in finding the identity of these lost lives.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was acommon result from seeingtragic combat. Even Frank says he had “nightmares for 15 years,and occasionally even currently.” The soldiers called this shell shock.

Frank Torres’ interview with Korean Television at Demilitarized Zone

Frank receives Ambassador of Peace Award and Medallion at 61st Anniversary Celebration in Seoul, Korea

Beliefs and Lessons Learned…Franks philosophy in life is “if you want to get old fast then

do nothing.” “its not enough to stay physically fit , you’ve got to stay mentally fit.”

“I learned to internalize some stress in life cause other problems come along, but after a while the stress eventually manifests itself.”

“There no such thing as luck, Optimism is my good luck charm.”

Franks advice is to “go to college and get your degree, the military is not for everybody.”

After the war “I evolved into a non-war person but certain things must be stopped. Force must be countered with force.”

Frank says he learned self-worth and self confidence through the war.

“You will survive.”

What we learned…

From this experience we gained an insight to a life that we will never have a chance to be a part of. It has key historical significance that was vital to our learning. We appreciate those that sacrificed themselves to honor our freedom. Although these battles are long gone, they will never be forgotten.