Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

COMBAT STORIES FROM Korea

William Moncus | 1st Marine Division - Marines

4:47   |   It was eleven days retreating down that narrow dirt road from the Chosin Reservoir. William Moncus had two wounds and frozen feet and was airlifted to Japan after a runway was improvised. He began a long journey through several hospitals until he was able to walk again.

More From William Moncus

Keywords   :     William Moncus    Korea    Chosin Reservoir    retreat    Chesty Puller    frozen feet    hospital    St. Albans Naval Hospital

Videos ( 7 )
Korea
  • William Moncus  |  Korea  |  Multiple Units  |  5:50

    The first thing William Moncus encountered at Parris Island was a screaming drill instructor who got his attention right away. He responded well to the discipline. At his first post, the movie operator went on leave, so the men were told there would be no movies. What? No movies?

  • William Moncus  |  Korea  |  1st Marine Division  |  6:49

    When North Korea invaded the South, a train pulled out of Brooklyn with William Moncus on board. It picked up more Marines as it traveled across the country, arriving finally in San Diego. After shipping across the Pacific, they landed at Pusan and went straight into battle. The tide was turned.

  • William Moncus  |  Korea  |  1st Marine Division  |  6:06

    William Moncus was high up in the mountains at the Chinese border, where it was extremely cold. The Marines had just stopped to eat when they took fire from one direction, then another and another. By the next day, it was obvious they were surrounded and the great retreat from the Chosin Reservoir had begun.

  • William Moncus  |  Korea  |  1st Marine Division  |  2:47

    The enemy in Korea were not very good fighters, according to Marine William Moncus. The Chinese never could deal with squad tactics and, instead, relied on mass force. The weather was also an enemy, living in the open in the frigid cold.

Vietnam
Cold War
  • William Moncus  |  Cold War  |  Multiple Units  |  3:27

    After recovering from wounds received in Korea, William Moncus had a few stateside posts before it was time to re-up, or not. He fancied a tour in Japan and they gave it to him. He had a fondness for the Japanese kids and helped build an orphanage while he was there.

Photos ( 3 )
  • William Moncus Photographs from Korea  |  Korea  |  Marines  |  3 Photos

    Photographs from William Moncus taken in Korea

Showing : Korea Videos
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