In God We Trust
2ND ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT - Honors Due!!
From Charles H. Owens, MSgt., USMC Ret.
I am trying to help the 2nd Royal Australian Regiment receive the battle honors they deserve for the fine job they did in Korea. On the 24th of July 1953 while serving in the 2nd platoon, H Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, the 2nd Royal Australian Regiment saved our bacon. This was on Hill 111 and the 2nd platoon was tied in with an Australian machine gun section commanded by a Sgt. Brian C. Cooper. My platoon had only half the men we should have had and still was supposed to defend the same amount of ground. On the 9th of July while trying to retake OP East Berlin, we were reduced to 20 effectives out of 54 men. On the night of the 24th of July Sgt. Cooper called in artillery fire on my position and his position when the Chinese were in our trench lines. I need to know what I can do to get this fine 2nd Royal Australian Regiment the battle honors they deserve. I have the official records stating what they did that night and it goes into a lot of details and tells more deeds than I have in this letter.
Service Number 01 931 379
Rank and organization:
Second Lieutenant U.S. Army, Battery C, 39th Field Artillery Battalion, 3d Infantry Division
Place and date: Near Surang-ni, Korea, 10 to 11 June 1953.
2nd Lt. George Sam Buck, a member of the 39th Field Artillery Battalion assigned as Forward Observer to Company K, 15th Infantry Regiment, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Company K was committed to the defense of "Outpost Harry", a strategically valuable position, when the enemy launched a reinforced regimental sized attack against the company. 2nd Lt. Buck moving about the outpost units while constantly exposing himself to direct enemy fire effectively called for defensive fire from the supporting indirect fire units. Learning that the enemy had reached the trenches he returned to the company command post on the outpost. 2nd Lt. Buck took a position just inside the command bunker and along with the company commander and executive officer; they repulsed several attempts by the enemy to seize the command post. The enemy threw grenades into the bunker, seriously wounding the company commander and mortally wounding the executive officer, both being knocked unconscious. Lt. Buck although seriously wounded remained at the bunker entrance protecting those inside the bunker and rendered first aid to the company commander. Repeatedly the enemy attempted to enter the bunker only to be denied entrance by the deadly carbine fire from Lt. Buck. He remained in radio contact with support units. When it became apparent that the position was untenable, he called for artillery fire upon his position, stopping the enemy advance. The enemy threw more grenades into the bunker knocking Lt. Buck down, this time wounding him in the leg and arm. On two more occasions when enemy soldiers stepped into the doorway to fire, Lt. Buck killed them, denying the enemy control of the command post and saving the life of his fellow soldiers. Finding that his carbine was jammed as the enemy entered the bunker, he wiped blood from his wounds on to his face and lay still beside the two unconscious company officers. When the K Company officers started to regain consciousness, the enemy shot them both, killing the executive officer and again wounding the company commander. Reinforcements drove the enemy from the outpost and not until Lt. Buckís Artillery forward observer replacement arrived, did Lt. Buck leave the outpost. 2nd Lt. Buck's valorous conduct and unflinching courage reflect lasting glory upon himself and uphold the noble traditions of the military service.
Luxembourg Army Corporal Raymond Beringer, serial number L/310903, distinguished himself by selfless, heroic action while serving as chief of a heavy machine gun team, heavy weapons company, Belgian (B.U.N.C.) Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment.
3rd Infantry Division. The Belgian Battalion was deployed in defensive positions along the "White Horse Mountain Line" east of the village of Chatkol as the 3rd Infantry Division s far right element adjacent to the Republic of Korea s 9th Infantry Division. During the night of 7-8 April 1953, Chinese Communist forces launched a bitter assault to penetrate the United Nations lines. Initial enemy successes swept back the forward positioned outposts and threatened to break through the battalion s right flank. On his own initiative and with complete disregard for his personal safety, Corporal Beringer single-handedly relocated his heavy, water-cooled, .30 caliber machine gun from the protected confines of his bunker to an exposed position on top of it so as to have a better field of fire. Despite heavy mortar and artillery shelling, which was pinning down his fellow comrades, Corporal Beringer delivered accurate and crippling fire for several hours into the waves of assaulting Chinese troops, estimated to be of regimental strength. His determination and coolness under fire blunted the enemy attack and was crucial to the successful defense of the battalion s exposed flank. Following the engagement upwards of twenty dead and wounded enemy were found within 200 meters of his bunker.
At the time of this action Cpl Beringer was an extended volunteer, his mandatory tour of duty having expired three months earlier, when the Luxembourg contingent returned home. In recognition of his heroic feat, he was cited in the official Belgian dispatch of 22 April 1953 by his battalion commander, and promoted to the rank of sergeant. His company commander advised him that he was being recommended for a valor decoration, and gave him the choice of an Belgian or American award. He chose the latter, but apparently the paperwork never reached US channels. The only US awards Cpl Beringer ever received were the Korean Campaign Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. He served in Korea a total of 24 months, from 27 February 1952 to 25 February 1954. In August 1992, upon confirmation that no official records existed in US Army files concerning his recommendation for the Silver Star, he was presented a "certificate" signed by Secretary of the Army Stone commending his combat service in the Korean War.
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal to Private First Class Morris K. Mundahl, United States Marine Reserve. For service as set forth in the following:For heroic achievement in connection with operations against the enemy while serving as Assistant BAR Man, Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in Korea on 29 May 1951. While moving to cover the flank of the 2nd Platoon, which was advancing on enemy positions on a hill mass south of Yang Gu, Private First Class Mundahl noticed an enemy force moving to attack the column. The fire team quickly opened fire on the enemy killing four soldiers and driving the remainder to cover. Fearlessly moving through intense enemy fire, the team reached a position 30 feet directly in front of two enemy positions. After gaining fire superiority over the enemy positions, he and two other Marines spearheaded an assault through the breach created in the enemy defensive line and overran a trench and two bunkers. Private First Class Mundahl’s courageous actions, initiative, and unswerving devotion to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.
For the President,
(signed) J.L. Jones
Commandant of the Marine Corp
2ND RYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT - Honors Due!!
From Charles H. Owens, MSgt., USMC Ret.
I am trying to help the 2nd Royal Australian Regiment receive the battle honors they deserve for the fine job they did in Korea. On the 24th of July 1953 while serving in the 2nd platoon, H Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, the 2nd Royal Australian Regiment saved our bacon. This was on Hill 111 and the 2nd platoon was tied in with an Australian machine gun section commanded by a Sgt. Brian C. Cooper. My platoon had only half the men we should have had and still was supposed to defend the same amount of ground. On the 9th of July while trying to retake OP East Berlin, we were reduced to 20 effectives out of 54 men. On the night of the 24th of July Sgt. Cooper called in artillery fire on my position and his position when the Chinese were in our trench lines. I need to know what I can do to get this fine 2nd Royal Australian Regiment the battle honors they deserve. I have the official records stating what they did that night and it goes into a lot of details and tells more deeds than I have in this letter.
Marvin T. Treadwell, Jr. was honored on November 15, 2001, at Texas A&M University with the presentation of the Silver Star Medal to his family for actions while serving with the United States Marine Corps in Korea in May, 1951. This citation was presented on behalf of the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and the President of the United States by the Naval ROTC.
Marvin was a classmate of the 1950 Spring Graduation Class of San Jacinto High School. Marvin was a member of the Sixth Marine Reserve Battalion in Houston, Texas, when they were activated in 1950. They were ordered to Camp Pendelton and further integrated into the 1st Marine Division. Many of them were assigned to the 1st Battalion 7th Marines. Marvin became a "Snuffy" in the third squad of the second platoon "Baker" Company.
Like many reservists, he had experienced little formal training. Tom Pentecost recalled Treadwell telling him that he had too many drill periods so he was not assigned to go to "boot" camp. Instead, he was issued his "782" gear and shipped out. He learned how to field strip his M-1 on a hill overlooking Seoul, Korea, after the landing at Inchon.
The Battalion, under the command of Lt. Col. Raymond Davis, landed at Wonsan and went through the hell of the Chosin Reservoir. They made the Pohang patrols and the subsequent move to the North against the Chinese. They made Operation Ripper, Killer, and the fighting on the Quantico and Kansas lines. Marvin became a Corporal and got a fire team just before Operation Mouse Trap. The Division moved to another front and started on the move North. The battle for the hill for which he was cited occurred shortly thereafter.
Marvin was evacuated from that hill for a small wound. After recovery, he was given an assignment at Battalion Headquarters. Among his duties was as an escort for the "cow trains." These were groups of Korean laborers who carried heavy loads of food, ammunition, and water to those Marines who were still running the hills. Pentecost said, "We continued to see Marvin every other day. He was rotated in August and wound up in Camp Lejeune. From there he was released from active duty. He served in Korea from September 1950 until August 1951."
Marvin married, and he and his wife continued to live in Houston. He also continued his education at the University of Houston, graduating in June 1957. Marvin spent the remainder of his life in the Houston area. After the 1999 Marine reunion in Palm Springs, Marvin and his wife went to Hawaii for a vacation celebrating her retirement. He died on June 4th on that Hawaiian trip. His body was laid to rest at the National Cemetery north of Houston, Texas. Colonel Hernandez, USMC, presented Marvin's widow with her husband's Silver Star on November 15, 2001, with family and friends present.
The Secretary of the Navy
Washington, D.C. 20350-1000
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal posthumously to: Corporal Marvin T. Treadwell, Jr., United States Marine Corps Reserve, For service as set forth in the following: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Fire Team Leader, Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in action against enemy forces in Korea on 29 May 1951. While moving to cover the flank of the 2nd platoon which was advancing on enemy positions on a hill mass south of Yang Gu, Corporal Treadwell's fire team observed an enemy force preparing to attack the column. Realizing the threat, he moved quickly to reinforce the lead element of the threatened platoon by skillfully maneuvering his team while under hostile fire to a position 30 feet in front of two enemy positions. The enemy intensified its fire with grenades and automatic weapons, wounding several Marines. Corporal Treadwell moved fearlessly into the open and initiated a flanking movement through a breach in the enemy defensive line. Without regard for his personal safety, he took an exposed position to cover his team as they entered an enemy bunker and trench complex. Noticing an enemy bunker located at the top of the objective, he charged the enemy position, jumping on the roof of the bunker and firing into it. His actions allowed his team to engage and kill the enemy soldiers. By his extraordinary heroism in the face of extreme danger, unrelenting perseverance, and steadfast devotion to duty, Corporal Treadwell reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
For the President
(signed) Gordon England
Secretary of the Navy