CPL ALVARO RAMIREZ, JR USMC

JULY 27, 1932 KILLED IN ACTION DECEMBER 7, 1950

KOTO-RI, NORTH KOREA

“One of the Chosin Few”

Alvaro was born and raised in Benavides, Texas. His home growing up was at the corner of Barton and Brazil

Streets. The home is no longer there; however, there still exists a cement water cistern in that property. This

July 27, 2013, Alvaro would be celebrating his 81st birthday!

Alvaro’s parents were Alvaro and Guadalupe, and siblings: Roberto, Enrique, Roque, Olaya, Rebecca and

Raquel.

In his younger years Alvaro worked at the downtown RitaTheatre where he was in charge of the reel to reel

cameras that projected the movie onto the screen. Friends remember him as a jovial person that loved to chew

gum. Even to this day, the Benavides folk still practice the art of giving local people nick-names. Alvaro was

given the nick-name “El Chicle” (gum) simply because he chewed gum all the time.

Alvaro moved to Corpus Christi, TX around May 1949 and lived with his cousin Mel Vasquez, 2221 Presa

Street.

According to the Oct 1949 Marine Corps muster rolls Alvaro was a Private (Pvt) undergoing recruit training at

the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA. Alvaro was a volunteer Marine. In April of 1950 he was a

Private First Class (PFC) while assigned to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, CA and by Oct 1950, he

was a Corporal (Cpl) serving with the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade.

The Korean War (AKA “The Forgotten War) started in the middle of 1950. From August 1-5, 1950, nine

thousand officers and enlisted men of the 2d Marine Division and activated reserve units from Camp Lejeune,

NC arrived at Camp Pendleton, CA. Their job was to reinforce units of the 1st Marine Division which were

assigned duty in Korea. Among the enlisted men was PFC Howard Folden, a young man from Horsepen, VA

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepen,_Virginia ) whose family worked the coal mines. He would become a

friend of Cpl Ramirez. SgtFolden would later say that the Government cleared the railroad tracks from the east

to the west coast so they could get to Camp Pendleton quickly.

The 1st Marine Division (-)sailed from San Diego, CA for Korea from August 10-24,1950. The USMC Korean

War Chronology, June – September 1950

(http://www.usfk.mil/usfk/Uploads/120/USMCKoreanWarChronologyJune-September1950.pdf) shows that the

Division operated on the Korea’s west coast (Inchon Area) where they landed from July3rd

to October 15, 1950.

It also shows that the 1st Marine Division embarked for a second amphibious assault on the North Korean east

coast.

Cpl Ramirez embarked and went on to land on the east coast at WONSAN, North Korea as part of the Marine

Division. The Marines pushed towards the Chosin Reservoir with the destination of Yudam-Ni. Along the way,

when they reached Koto-Ri, they set up a Logistics post, and as they continued the Marines also established a

logistics post in Hagaru-Ri. The post provided the rations, ammunition, and transportation to the fighting force.

On Thanksgiving Day Cpl Ramirez’s unit had gone to Yudam-Ni to establish a supply dump in that area. Upon

return to Hagaru-Ri they learned that the Units of the 1st Marine Division were surrounded by Chinese troops

from Yudam-Ni to Hagaru-Ri and beyond. This is where the story of Cpl Ramirez begins regarding his heroic

stand in the field of battle at the “Frozen Chosin” as the Marines would later call this battle. This is part of an

article from the Miami Herald:

In December 1950, as U.S. Marines tried to escape from a massive trap near North Korea’s Chosin Reservoir,

sprung by an enemy they hadn’t even known was there, Major Gen. Oliver P. Smith was asked how it felt to be

retreating for the first time during the Korean War. “Retreat, hell!” snapped Smith. “We’re not retreating;

we’re just advancing in a different direction.”

As you can see in Chosin: One Way Out, an episode of the Military Channel’s Ultimate Warfare series airing

Tuesday, Smith wasn’t spin-doctoring anything. The general’s 17,000 Marines were surrounded by 120,000

Chinese troops. Their vicious, gut-wrenching breakout from their encirclement, though hardly remembered

these days, is one of the most harrowing and heroic tales in U.S. military history.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/25/3305875/tv-review-when-hell-froze-over.html

This link will provide more information on the “Frozen Chosin” (speakers on)

http://www.homeofheroes.com/brotherhood/chosin2.html

The information I gathered for this presentation turned up some interesting things along the way. I started by

taking pictures of the memorial in front of the Guadalupe R. Ramirez American Legion Post #405 in Benavides.

I then looked into all those Benavides Veterans that were killed in action during World War I and World War II.

I then started looking at the two Korean War Veterans, Alvaro Ramirez, Jr and Ignacio Canales, Jr., on the list.

At Ancestry.com I found articles about the death of Alvaro.

Corpus Christi Caller Times, Dec 15, 1950

Corpus Christi Caller Times February 15, 1952

Corpus Christi Caller Times February 15, 1952

Relatives get Posthumous Medals for 3 Area Men. Three posthumous awards for Marines killed in action in

Korea were presented to relatives yesterday in a ceremony at the Naval Air Station. Capt. N. W. Ellis, NAS

commanding officer, presented the awards.

Mr. and Mrs. George W. Conquat, ThreeRivers, and Alvaro Ramirez, Benavides, each were presented the Silver

Star medal won by their respective sons. It is the nation’s third highest award for conspicuous gallantry and

intrepidity.

Cpl. Jewel D. Coquat won the Silver Star for his gallantry and intrepidity against the enemy in Korea on Nov.

26, 1950, in the action in which he was killed.

Cpl. Alvaro Ramirez, Jr., was killed in Korea on Dec 7, 1950.

The Bronze Star won by PFC Richard C. Garza, son of Ramon Garza, 1010 Fifteenth Street while serving with

a Marine infantry company on Sept 19, 1950 was presented to the elder Garza. The Marine was killed during

the action in which he won the award.

I found a database Korea War Project (http://www.koreanwar.org/), this is where I found and made some

corrections to the basic information on Cpl Ramirez entries:

CPL ALVARO RAMIREZ JR

SILVER STAR

1ST SERVICE BATTALION - MARINES

SUP CO

1ST MARINE DIVISION

MARINES

HOSTILE, DIED (KIA)

DATE OF LOSS: DECEMBER 7, 1950

SERVICE NUMBER: 1084040

BORN: JULY 27, 1932

HOME OR PLACE OF ENLISTMENT

BENAVIDES, TX

LOCATION OR BATTLE ZONE: CHOSIN RESERVOIR

TOWN OR AREA: KOTO-RI

BURIAL LOCATION

BENAVIDESCEMETERY, BENAVIDES, TX

Comments: Corporal Ramirez was a member of the Support

Company, 1st Service Battalion, 1st Marine Division. He was

Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in Korea on

December 7, 1950.

Going further down on that database I find this:

Previous Remembrance Entries

LISA OUTLAW NOVEMBER 1, 1998

LISA OUTLAW

PAMELA JEANS APRIL 9, 2012

AMANDO GONZALEZ MARCH 29, 2013

Special Note: All information you enter in this area is available to the public at large. Your Email is masked.

You should know that historians, journalists, and active duty military organizations routinely utilize our

Remembrance entries as a key source for eyewitness and family information available nowhere else.

I then clicked on the LISA OUTLAW entry, note the date that she made that entry November 1, 1998 (almost

15 years ago) and I got this:

Remembering CPL ALVARO RAMIREZ JR

United States Marines - SUP CO 1 SERV BN 1 MAR DIV

Submission 365 By LISA OUTLAW

New Remembrance for ALVARO RAMIREZ JR

My dad was in Korea with Alvaro and would be honored to give any information that he has regarding the day

of his death. Please feel free to contact me.......LISA

I wrote an email to Mrs. Outlaw on Apr 1, 2013 telling her I was gathering information of all veterans from

Benavides (World Wars I, II, Korean, and Vietnam) that were killed during those wars. That I somewhat

remembered when Cpl Ramirez’s body was brought back to Benavides for burial and that I was 9 years old at

that time (I should have said that it was reported that Cpl Ramirez was KIA). I asked that if her father could

provide me some information about Cpl Ramirez.

She immediately replied and asked if I had a phone number where he could call me. She also wrote that “if I

knew where any of the Ramirez family members are? It has been a lifelong wish of my dad to speak with them

and talk to them”.

Mr. Howard Folden called me the following day from Spring Hill, Florida. He was with Cpl Ramirez the

morning that he was Killed in Action (KIA). We talked for a while and he did in fact state that he had been

wondering and thinking of Cpl Ramirez all these years (60+). I mentioned to him that Cpl Ramirez was born

and raised in Benavides, TX. He said that Cpl Ramirez always said he was from Corpus Christi. I told him that

he lived in Corpus Christi for a while. Mr. Folden related to me, at different times and after various telephone

conversations the following:

The Marines at Yudam-Ni were ordered to move down to Hagaru-Ri as the Division was surrounded by

Chinese divisions. Cpl Ramirez and PFC Folden had new assignments and became riflemen and machine

gunners to defend Hagaru-Ri from being taken over by hoards of Chinese attacking the perimeters every night

until the movement by convoy to Koto-Ri.

On the evening of Dec 5, 1950, the CO of the Company assigned Cpl Ramirez to man a machine gun atop one

of the trailers on the convoy. Three other Marines (PFC’s) were assigned to support Cpl Ramirez. A machine

gun (30 caliber) was assigned every 200 yards within the convoy. They were instructed that any time the

convoy stopped there were to set up the perimeter until the convoy started moving again.

PFC Folden recalls that Cpl Ramirez was always a talkative, gum chewing, leader. The morning of Dec 6

before getting the convoy moving, Cpl Ramirez came over to PFC Folden and sat next to him. He offered PFC

Folden a piece of gum, but was very quiet. PFC Folden stated that he felt Cpl Ramirez had an “intuition” that

things might not go right. They were given a cup of hot oatmeal for breakfast and a chunk of cheese to go.

As they started going south from Hagaru-Ri to Koto-Ri (11 miles), it was cold, snowing and the road was

barely wide enough in places that it was a one way situation coming down to Koto-Ri. In some places I read,

the road was only 16’ wide, if it was that wide (?).

The Band of Brothers at Frozen Chosin

On their way, after midnight(Dec 6)and early on (Dec 7), the Chinese hit the convoy with big time heavy small

arms fire. There were four Chinese Divisions operating in that area, the 58th

, 60th

, 76th

and 77th

within that 11

mile area. Two divisions on the west side of the road and two on the east, in essence completely surrounded.

However, on this particular attack it came from the east side and to the left of the convoy. The pointing arrows

on the following map indicate the directions from where the Chinese divisions were attacking the convoy!

Between Hagaru and Koto-Ri Dec 6-8, 1950

"They're on our right, they're on our left, they're in front of us, they're behind us; they can't get away from

us this time." Chesty Puller, USMC, Chosin Reservoir, Korean War

PFC Folden related that the orders to set up the perimeter when the convoy stopped was carried out many times

that day and well into the evening time. Somewhere between Hagaru-Ri and Koto-Ri after midnight and early

on Dec 7(around 0200) the troop movement stopped. They proceeded to set up the machine gun on the railroad

tracks as before. Only this time the Chinese were waiting on the other side of the tracks. As the battle began he

could see a human wave of Chinese troops moving toward their position. PFC Folden relates that Cpl Ramirez

was screaming at the Chinese as they were attacking and he was blasting away at the Chinese. To this day PFC

Folden recalls that Cpl Ramirez was yelling in Spanish “expletives deleted” (I knew exactly what he was

yelling, because PFC Folden pronounced it perfectly even though he didn’t know what it meant) as the Chinese

stormed towards them. PFC Folden was wounded and fell to the side of the road towards the railroad tracks. He

said that when he was brought up wounded after the fight, he was asking for Cpl Ramirez and he was notified

that he was atop the trailer covered with a canvas. The Koreanwar.org shows that six other Marines from the

Supply Company were killed on Dec 7, 1950 at (near) Koto-Ri.

The Convoy was headed south from Hagaru-Ri to Koto-Ri. Cpl Ramirez KIA 5.5-6 miles from Koto-Ri

PFC Folden made it to Koto-Ri and was evacuated with wounds to Japan where he recuperated and was sent

back to Korea to continue the battle. Cpl Ramirez’s body remained with the convoy until it reached Koto-Ri on

Dec 7,1950. Cpl Ramirez was (it is believed) buried in a mass grave in Koto-Ri along with 116 dead American

and British personnel. His remains were repatriated and buried in Benavides, Texas on February12,1955.

The Guadalupe R. Ramirez, American Legion Post #405 Memorial has 23 names listed of young men that made

the ultimate sacrifice during World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. As you walk through the

Benavides Cemetery you see various VA Headstones/Markers of those Veterans that have passed on and served

their Country when called upon. One can only imagine, how many VA headstones/markers there’d be in that

cemetery if Veterans had not moved elsewhere to other cities and states and buried elsewhere. The City of

Benavides has provided its share.

Some pictures follow, and then a copy of the Silver Star Award Citation for Cpl Alvaro Ramirez, Jr. United

States Marine Corps. (A three page tribute to Pvt FOLDEN follows after the medals/ribbons awarded Cpl

Ramirez.) When you read the citation and heroics of Cpl Alvaro Ramirez, Jr, you’ll understand why this tribute

was put together.

Semper Fi, Marine!

Feb 12, 1955.

The remains of

Cpl Alvaro

Ramirez, Jr

exiting the

Santa Rosa de

Lima Church,

Benavides,

TX.Oscar

Carbajal

(front),

Guadalupe

Garcia, honor

guard. Photo

Taken by

Mr.Severo

Gomez (school

teacher)

Cpl Ramirez’s G

San Diego, CA circa 1950 Grave marker, Benavides Cemetery, Palacios St.

Alvaro Ramirez, Jr.

Date of birth: July 27, 1932

Place of Birth: Texas, Benavides

Home of record: Benavides Texas

Status: KIA

Silver Star

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to

Corporal Alvaro Ramirez, Jr. (MCSN: 1084040), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and

intrepidity while serving as a Machine Gunner of the Supply Company, First Service Battalion, FIRST Marine

Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 7 December1950. When the enemy

ambushed the division convoy between Hagaru-ri and Koto-ri, Corporal Ramirez courageously exposed himself

to intense hostile fire in order to deliver his own fire into the attackers' ranks and, with deadly accuracy, killed

large numbers of them. Although critically short of ammunition, he remained at his gun as the temporarily

halted convoy again proceeded forward, valiantly persisting in his efforts to effect complete enemy disruption

until he fell, mortally wounded. By his daring initiative, unflagging determination and staunch devotion to duty

in the face of heavy odds, Corporal Ramirez contributed materially to the repulse of the hostile force and served

to inspire all who observed him, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He

gallantly gave his life for his country.

Action Date: December 7, 1950

Service: Marine Corps

Rank: Corporal

Company: Supply Company

Battalion: 1st Service Battalion

Division: 1st Marine Division (Rein.)

The President of the United States takes pleasure

In presenting

THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION

TO THE FIRST MARINE DIVISION

For service as set forth in the following Citation:

"For extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of duty in action against enemy aggressor forces in the

Chosin reservoir and Koto-Ri of Korea from 27 November to 11 December,1950.

When the full fury of the enemy counterattack struck both the Eighth Army and the Tenth Corps on 27 and 28

November 1950, the First Marine Division, operating as the Left Flank Division of the Tenth Corps, launched a

daring assault westward from Yudam-Ni in an effort to cut the road and rail communications of hostile forces

attacking the eighth army and at the same time, continued its mission of protecting a vital main supply route

consisting of a tortuous mountain road running southward to Chinhung-Ni, approximately 35 miles distant.

Ordered to withdraw to Hamhung in company with attached army and other friendly units in the face of

tremendous pressure in the Chosin reservoir area the division began an epic battle against the bulk of the enemy

third route army and, while small intermediate garrisons at Hagaru-Ri and Koto-Ri held firmly against repeated

and determined attacks by hostile forces, gallantly fought its way successively to Hagaru-Ri, Koto-Ri,

Chinhung-Ni and Hamhung over twisting, mountainous and icy roads in sub-zero temperatures.

Battling desperately night and day in the face of almost insurmountable odds throughout a period of two weeks

of intense and sustained combat, the First Marine Division emerged from its ordeal as a fighting unit with its

wounded, with its guns and equipment and with its prisoners, decisively defeating seven enemy divisions,

together with elements of three others, and inflicting major losses which seriously impaired the military

effectiveness of the hostile forces for a considerable period of time.

The valiant fighting spirit, relentless perseverance and heroic fortitude of the officers and men of the First

Marine Division, in battle against a vastly outnumbering enemy, were in keeping with the highest traditions of

the United States Naval Service."

Harry S. Truman

President of the United States

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION

The President of the Republic of Korea Takes profound pleasure

in citing

for outstanding and superior performance of duty during the

period 26 October,1950 to 27 July, 1953

THE FIRST UNITED STATES MARINE DIVISION (REINFORCED)

for the award of

THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION

Landing at Wonsan on 26 October,1950 the First United States Marine Division (Reinforced) advanced to

Yudam-ni where they engaged the Chinese Communist Forces. The heroic and courageous fighting of the First

United States Marine Division (Reinforced), which was outnumbered but never outfought by the Chinese

Communist Forces; coupled with its fight against the terrible winter weather in this return to Hungnam, has

added another glorious page to the brilliant history of the United States Marines. After regrouping and

retraining, the First United States Marine Division (Reinforced) rejoined the United Nations Forces and began

the attack to the north which drove the aggressors relentlessly before them. The enemy spring offensive during

April 1951 which threatened to nullify the recent United Nations gains was successfully repulsed by the First

Marine Division (Reinforced) and when other Republic of Korea Forces were heavily pressed and fighting for

survival the timely offensive by this Division gave heart to peoples of Korea. In March 1952 the First Marine

Division (Reinforced) assumed responsibility of defending the western flank of the Eighth Army. In carrying

out the responsibilities of this assignment the Marines won everlasting glory at Bunker Hill. Continuing active

operations against the Communist enemy until the Armistice, the First Marine Division (Reinforced) inflicted

heavy losses upon the aggressors and successfully repulsed their assaults upon strong point Vegas and Reno

during March 1953, and during July 1953, just prior to the signing of the Armistice, again threw back the enemy

in several days of severe fighting at strong points Berlin and East Berlin. Although suffering heavy losses

during these engagements, the First Marine Division (Reinforced) was at all times successful in maintaining the

integrity of the United Nations' positions within their assigned sector. The First United States Marine Division

(Reinforced), by its unparalleled fighting courage and steadfast devotion to duty, has won the undying affection

and gratitude of the Korean people. During its entire campaign the First United States Marine Division

(Reinforced) remained true to its motto of "Semper Fidelis". In keeping faith with the highest traditions of its

own country the First United States Marine Division (Reinforced) kindled new hope in the breasts of all free

men and women in the Republic of Korea. This Citation carries with it the right to wear the Presidential Unit

Citation Ribbon by each individual member of the First United States Marine Division (Reinforced) who served

in Korea during the stated period.

/S/ SYNGMAN RHEE

President

Silver Star

Purple Heart

Presidential Unit Citation

National Defense

Korean Service

Korean Presidential Unit Citation

United Nations Korean Service

Silver Star: Criteria: Gallantry in Action against an armed enemy of the United States or while serving with

friendly foreign forces.

Purple Heart: Criteria: Awarded to any member of the U>S> Armed Forces killed or wounded in an armed

conflict.

Presidential Unit Citation: Criteria: The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), is awarded to units of the United

States Armed Forces for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy.

National Defense Ribbon: Criteria: Any honorable active duty service during any of the following period:

1950-1954.

Korean Service Medal: Criteria: Participation in military operations within the Korean area during the period:

1950-1954.Three major campaign stars:

UN Defensive June27, 1950 – September 15, 1950

UN Offensive September 16, 1950 – November 2 1950

CCF Intervention November 3, 1950 - January 24, 1951

United Nations Korean Service: Criteria: Service on behalf of the United Nations in Korea between

June27,1950 and July 27, 1954

SgtHoward L. Folden, USMC

4 January, 1932-

Wounded in Action

December 7, 1950

Koto-Ri, North Korea

“One of the Chosin Few”

Howard L. FOLDEN was born in North Tazewell, Tazewell, Virginia. His separation DD-214 shows his home

of record to be Horsepen, Virginia

Mr. FOLDEN was a Private in the United States Marine Corps receiving Marine Corps Boot Camp Training at

the First Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. The date of the

muster rolls (he joined Aug 22, 1949) was October 1-30, 1949. That muster roll showed that Private FOLDEN

qualified as a sharp shooter with the M1 Rifle. Like Cpl RAMIREZ, Pvt FOLDEN was 17 years old when he

joined the Corps.

Private FOLDEN was sent to California when the Korean War broke out in 1950 via train along with 9,000

officers and men from the 2nd

Marine Division to bolster and reinforce the 1st Marine Division.

Private First Class (PFC) FOLDEN was with Cpl RAMIREZ when they sailed towards Korea during the Month

of August in 1950. They landed on the east coast of South Korea and the Division had a big part in sending the

North Korean fleeing back to North Korea. They sailed again from the east coast of Korea to the west coast but

landed (from the Sea of Japan) on the North Korean city of WONSAN.

PFC FOLDEN was assigned to Cpl RAMIREZ’s detail to help man the machine gun in the convoy (I read that

this convoy had about a 1000 moving equipment (trucks, jeeps, bulldozers, artillery)) as they headed from

Hagaru-Ri to Koto-Ri and its’ final destination of Hungnam. This machine gun team was to set up the

perimeter whenever there was a pause in the movement of the convoy and until the convoy moved again. This

occurred many times during that day and night (Dec 6, 1950). PFC FOLDEN related that sometime after

midnight and early in the morning of December 7th

the convoy stopped again. As they set up the machine gun

on the railroad track, the battle began and all they could see was a human wave of Chinese troops moving

towards their position. Cpl RAMIREZ was killed in action and PFC FOLDEN was wounded.

PFC FOLDEN traveled with the convoy all the way down to Koto-Ri on the same 6X6 trailer with Cpl

RAMIREZ. He was taken to a first aid tent; he was given a morphine shot by a Chief Corpsman and tagged to

be air evacuated.

The muster rolls for January 1951, shows PFC Howard L. FOLDEN assigned to the 1st Provisional Casual

Company, Fleet Marine Force, Camp Otsu Kyoto Post Command (Japan). The entry states: Joined for

recovery only Dec 10, 1950 from 1st Service Battalion, 1

st Marine Division, FMF while hospitalized USNH,

Yokosuka.

PFC FOLDEN returned to Korea for duty on March 15, 1951 and rotated back to the United States on

November 4, 1951. He was assigned to the Marine Corps Air Base, Cherry Point, North Carolina until he was

discharged from the Marine Corps November 1952 with the rank of Sergeant.

Sgt FOLDEN returned to Tazewell, Virginia, met and married Judith Folden on January 1953. He went to work

in the coal mines (U.S. Steel) and after a while decided that coal mining was not his best choice for making a

living. In 1955 they moved to Homestead, Florida where Sgt FOLDEN went to work for the Civil Service at

the Homestead Air Force Base. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_Air_Reserve_Base. SgtFolden retired

as the Chief Quality Inspector for Equipment and Supplies in 1988 and now lives in Spring Hill, Florida.

Sgt FOLDEN had spent 60+ years wondering the final outcome of Cpl Ramirez’s body/remains! When I

responded to that statement by his daughter on KoreanWar.org and the first time I talked to Sgt FOLDEN, I

could tell that he felt relief just by the changing sound of his voice. That night I sent his daughter a note that I

had talked to Sgt FOLDEN, the next day her husband sent me an email and I’ll just note a couple of lines:

“There are many things that happen to us on our journey in life we have no control of; my Father in law has

suffered in silence his entire life from the horrors of war. Many good men died and to watch this happen has an

effect on those who survived that only those that have experienced it can relate too. This idea of love is never

forgotten even years after a fellow soldier have met his fate. Your act of thoughtfulness has allowed my father-

in law to have closure on his worries that Ramirez did not get the recognition my father-in law knew he

deserved”.

Semper Fi, Marine!

Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation (1 bronze star), Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Korean

Service Medal (4 major campaigns), ROK Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Korean Service Medal