As I think back now, the only thought that comes to mind is -- he wasn't heavy. The passing years make it hard to recall all the names of the men I was with. The dates I didn't know then, so I wouldn't know them now.

The walk from Yudam-ni to Hagaru-ri and on to Koto-ri was mostly a matter of survival, just trying to keep from freezing or starving. We had no rations, though I did have a frozen glump of bread -- which I gnawed on from time to time. Leaving Koto-ri, I believe I was with Pfc. B. G. Coleman, Walt Cheedie and McMullan or Harold Haney. As we moved down the MRS at night, something caught our attention off the side of the road. We went over to check and found a wounded Marine. He had been treated by a corpsman who had tagged him and moved on.

We stopped several vehicles to get him transported out of there but none had room. Finally we got a stretcher off a jeep, put him on it and started carrying him down the center of the road. Then we came to a tank sitting on the road.

We thought the crew was either dead or asleep as we had a hard time getting their attention. After considerable effort we made contact and got permission to put the wounded Marine on the back over the engine, hoping it would keep him warm. We loaded him, climbed aboard too, and the tank headed down the road. Then we started to receive small arms fire. As the turret began to turn, we scrambled off, got the stretcher and carried the wounded man to the side of the road. Several Chinese came down to the road and fired. McMullan and another man went down to opposite side and eliminated them. Again we picked up the stretcher and started walking. Some time later a corpsman came upon us, checked out the wounded Marine, gave him morphine, marked his tag and moved on. We continued until we came to a Navy Chief Corpsman. He told us to leave our man with him, assuring us that he would be taken care of.

We would have carried that wounded Marine all the way to Hungnam, if necessary, and right onto the ship. He wasn't heavy.