War Stories (pt. 1)

B Troop - 1949

by Richard Keith Dowell

There had been some talk about our troops in the Korean War were not combat ready.  I believe they were talking about strength, not ability or willingness.  At the outbreak of the war June 25, 1950, the 1st Cav. Div. could muster up only 11,000 men being 1/3 understrength.  Missing our 3rd Battalions in each of our 3 Regiments and 3rd Battalions in our 4 artillery Battalions.  Never-the-less, let me tell you the enthusiasm of B Troop, 1st Battalion, 7th Cav. Regt. Station at Camp Drake, 18 miles from Tokyo, Japan (Occupation troops).  We were what you might call advanced combat training Unit.  We had all the basics, but trained in much greater detail.  We would work out battles on a sand table, then put it into practice on the field, by squads, platoons and Co.  We would have sham battles with other Cos., night fighting and commando raids.  We fired all small arms weapons, learned som judo, and hand to hand combat practice.  We pulled guard duty throughout the camp, gate guard, prison guard and taking prisoners on work details.

Every Thursday we had a 30 mile full field pack forced march.  It was 15 miles up and 15 miles back.  We would be back to camp by 2pm for lunch.  Every morning started with calisthenics and once a week the Btn. got together and did them with our rifles.  We called it the Clainos Boogie, after Battalion Commander.

Twice in one year and a half we went to Mount Fuji on maneuvers which was the best training we could have had.

When I entered B troop we had a first Sgt. that could make a good day bad, and a bad day worse.  He was a frustrated exboxer, built like Lil Abner and wanted to whip anyone and everyone.  It would start the same way every morning.  We would fall out for formation.  Standing at attention, our 1st Sgt. would ask if anyone thought if they could whip him.  If so, step out.  Of course no one would.  That gave me confidence in our Co.  At least we didn't have any dummies in our troop.  We did have a light weight boxer, a little Mexican boy.  He hated the 1st Sgt. even more than the rest of us.

In the summer of 1949, our Battalion went to Mount Fuji.  One day while in the field, the two boxers got into an argument.  The little Mexican got real mad, put his bayonet on his rifle and went after our 1st Sgt.  The Sgt., being much bigger, stronger, and knowing combat tactics  took the rifle away from him, slapped him around a little and let it go at that.  But when he went to climb into his sack, there laid a dud mortar round, which could go off at any moment.  It was reported to the higher ranks.  The next morning both men were shipped out and in different directions.  We never saw either one again.

Our next 1st Sgt. was a real swell guy.  Everyone liked him.  He was just a little fellow and knew the reputation of our previous 1st Sgt.  Every morning at reveille, after the morning report, he would ask if anyone thought they could whip him to step forward, but before anyone had a chance to he'd give us right face, forward march, then laugh.  Of course we were all laughing too.

Coming back to camp from field work we would route step until we were outside of camp, then to attention, full step and sing Cadence   We had a man named Polippovich, who had a deep clear voice.  He would drop back to the center of the Co. and sing every army song their was.  The civilians that worked in the offices would yell out B troop was coming in and they would all run down and line up on the side walks to watch and listen to our songs.  I don't care how tired you would be, singing really picked us up and gave us a feeling of pride.

to be continued...