NEW VIDEOS

John Kane

---

The Black Watch was a Scottish unit that was fighting alongside the Marines in Korea. This began a lifelong love of bagpipe music for John Kane. The Chinese sent a horde of troops against his position and, during that fight, an artillery shell landed too close and he was knocked out and evacuated. (5:15)

---

John Kane couldn't believe it. A fellow Marine, Richard Riffenburg, had been hit by a sniper and was badly wounded but every bit of ground between the outpost and the aid station at the main line was zeroed in by the Chinese. Policy was no one goes out there in daylight. They were just going to put him in a bunker and let him bleed out and he couldn't let that happen. I'll take him. (8:28)

---

John Kane had been through some fierce battles but now he was back in the rear putting out concertina wire. No bullets but it was well below zero and miserable. Then he got R&R in Japan. That was much better. (5:48)

---

His last two months in Korea were in a safe place, held back in reserve. John Kane almost volunteered to go back to the front but he figured he'd used up his quota of close calls. So, when his time was up he returned home, did guard duty for a while and then left the Marine Corps. His only regret was not using the intelligence training he'd received. (6:57)

---

What hazards did he face in Korea? Aside from all the different weaponry, John Kane had other things to deal with. From the extreme cold to the rats to the opportunistic Korean ladies, there was always something, (5:51)

---

Either they were gutsy or their officers didn't mind wasting them but the Chinese would come in under their own barrage. They were also well equipped with Czech and Russian weapons. But Marine John Kane enjoyed some advantages, like warming his hands to a nearby napalm drop. And he had good allies with the international forces that were there. (5:46)

---

He does have a couple of small issues with the Marine Corps. John Kane was a squad leader in Korea, which is a sergeant's job but they barely promoted him to corporal. So they were stingy with rank and medals, as well. Nevertheless, he is proud that he had a hand in containing communism. (5:45)

---

As a child, John Kane had trouble with his eardrums. The Army didn't want him. The Navy didn't want him. The Air Force didn't want him. But there was a war on and the Marines said come on in. (7:30)

---

John Kane was on a train back to Jersey City after boot camp, along with some fellow Marines heading to the same area. When the train got to North Carolina, they were informed that certain Marines had to move to the back of the train. Someone reached up and pulled the emergency cable, stopping the train. (6:13)

---

After completing two grueling months of training at Camp Pendleton, John Kane expected to be sent to Korea but, instead, he was sent to a new brigade with a new commander, the legendary Chesty Puller. Kane really wanted to go to Korea but the General wasn't letting anyone transfer out. (6:53)