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The KWE has received a request for information about ships that transported the 34 replacement drafts to Korea. If you remember what replacement draft you were on, the name of the ship that took you to Korea, the port from which you left the States, and the date you left, please help us build this new page of the Korean War Educator. If you have some, but not all, information, you are encouraged to share what you have with us.
Hello. I noticed that you do not have any information posted regarding the 2nd USMC Replacement Draft in 1950. I possess October 1950 letters written by Staff Sergeant Ronald J. Hamel, who arrived in Korea in Company G, 2nd Replacement Draft. On October 29th, 1950, S/Sgt Hamel was aboard the U.S.S. President Jackson, off the coast of Japan en route to Kobe. He states that they boarded ship in San Diego on October 14th and sailed on October 15th. He states that en route they were told that they would be assigned to the First Marine Division. (S/Sgt Hamel, a Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester veteran, was very happy about this).... Hamel next wrote from Camp Otsu, Japan, on November 8th. He states that they were to board ship at Kobe for Korea the following day.
..... I hope this is of some use to you. Sincerely, Jim Howey, Ontario, Canada.
Cpl. Rick Kennedy served in C-1-5 in Korea. He and about 1,500 other Marines left California for Korea on the APA SS General Collins in November 1950.
According to the book, US Marines in the Korean War, this draft left the States on the USNS Gen. William O. Darby (AP127) due to arrive in Korea in January 1951. Veteran Ken Johnson was on the USS Menard when making the trip to Japan in the 4th Replacement Draft.
Larry McDonough left San Diego and arrived in Korea on February 5, 1951 via Kobe, Japan on the USS Wiegel. The book, US Marines in the Korean War, stated that the 5th Replacement Draft was to arrive in Korea mid-February 1951 on the USS Gen. J.C. Breckinridge (AP176).
I departed from San Diego, California, on February 15, 1951 in the 6th Replacement Draft onboard the USS Randell, arriving in Pusan, Korea on March 5, 1951, assigned to D-2-7, 1st Marine Division. - Ed Evans, USMC 1152518
Dale H. Brown Sr. of Monson, Maine, left for Korea in the 10th Replacement Draft from San Diego on 18 June 1951 on the USNS General William Wiegel.
The 11th replacement draft sea transportation consisted of three ships: the USS General William M Black (TAP135), USS Cavalier (APA-37), and USS General M.C. Meigs (TAP 116). From SSgt. Davis F. Goode (USMC) Serial Number 1120747, the KWE received this information:
We boarded ship (the Black) late at night on 13 July 1951 and sailed from San Diego the following day, arriving at Sasebo, Japan, 27 July 1951, for fuel and stores. I will never forget a huge sign at the dock: "THROUGH THESE PORTALS PASS THE BEST DAMN FIGHTING MEN IN THE WORLD". This location was primarily a US Army installation. Aboard ship we had nothing to do but get in line for breakfast, leave the chow hall and get in line for lunch, and leave the chow hall and get in line for dinner. No one wanted to go down in the bowels of those troop ships to the sleeping compartments where narrow canvas cots were hinged to the wall, six high, maybe two foot apart at most from top to bottom. We slept on deck if we could find a niche and didn't mind sleeping on steel. We had salt water showers and were provided a special soap that was supposed to make salt water lather. It didn't lather. Rather, it took off one's top layer of skin. Most of us were fairly new Marines and had shiny dungarees that hadn't faded much. To make ourselves appear as "old salts", we tied our dungarees to a length of rope, threw them in the ocean, and let them flip and flop in the wake of the screws for awhile. They faded with this abuse. At night the sky was a wonderful sight. I had a friend from Brooklyn (name was Murphy) who was fascinated by the stars. He never realized the sky was so wide. His concept of the heavens was from a narrow view of the sky between high rise buildings at 33rd and 3rd Streets, New York City. We arrived in Pusan Harbor on 5 August 1951. There was an enormous tent city adjacent to a soccer field/stadium. There were telephone poles with loudspeakers erected at various locations on the playing field. We milled around on the field all day, listening for our name to be called and which trucks to get on. I went to the 1st Engineer Battalion.
Chris E. Sarno (tanker, USMC) embarked onboard USNS Gen. M. C. Meigs at San Diego, California and departed there on 15 August 1951. Arrived and disembarked at Pusan, Korea 31 August 1951.
Herb Wong (USMC) was in the 13th Replacement Draft to Korea. In his KWE memoir he wrote, "It took about 16 days to transit the Pacific. We arrived on either the first or second of October with the 13th Replacement Draft -- or "Lucky 13" as it was known." The transport ship was the Marine Lynx.
Peter A. Beauchamp served in the USMC's G-3-1 in Korea from November 1951 to October 1952. He arrived in Korea in the 14th Replacement Draft on the USS Noble. According to A Chronology of the United States Marine Corps 1947-1964, the 14th Replacement Draft disembarked at Kobe, Japan on November 7, 1951, from the USNS Aiken Victory.
According to A Chronology of the United States Marine Corps 1947-1964, this draft arrived at Kobe, Japan on December 2, 1951, on the USNS Gen. John Pope.
The 16th Replacement Draft left Camp Pendleton on the Gen. Wm. Weigel on 12/15/51. Dr. Birney Dibble (USN) said: We dropped anchor in the evening of 1/1/52 just off Sok-cho-ri, a tiny village on the east coast a little north of the 38th parallel. We were taken ashore in an LST, five trips with 1,000 Marines on each trip. We were taken to 1st MarDiv headquarters in open trucks -- some fun after being in a 70-degree ship for three weeks! I'll never forget that monotone voice over the intercom: "All hands lay below and prepare to disembark." Repeated two more times. Carried my 55 pound pack and M2 carbine to a lower deck and just walked aboard the LST, no climbing down a cargo net!. Left our two seabags for separate transfer -- one of them never made it to me -- most of my extra cold weather gear. All important stuff in my backpack. Never did get it! Semper Fi.
According to A Chronology of the United States Marine Corps 1947-1964, this draft arrived at Kobe, Japan, on March 12, 1952 onboard the Gen. W.H. Gordon.
1Lt. Gerald F. (Jerry) Merna (USMC Ret.) told the KWE: I was with the 20th Replacement Draft from Camp Pendleton, California that docked on May 6, 1952 in Inchon, Korea aboard the USNS General John Pope. I was immediately assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. It was a month after my 22nd birthday and 15 months since I was married. I began and ended my year long tour as an ATA Section Leader and as a platoon sergeant. In between, I was the Legal Chief for an Infantry Battalion, and later for the entire First Marine Division. From May 6 to July 6, 1952, I was one of the three ATA Section Leaders of Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. The other two Section Leaders were Technical Sergeants Donald J. Lupo (KIA Feb) and Glenn Corbett. Our Platoon Leader was Second Lieutenant James Hammond. On June 1st, 1952 I was promoted to Technical Sergeant. Lieutenant Hammond would ultimately become a Colonel and served with distinction in Vietnam. When he retired he was editor of Naval History Magazine. He died about two years ago.
Ernie Needham (USMC Ret.) left San Diego for Yokohama in the 21st Replacement Draft onboard the USNS General Meigs in May 1952.
Pierre Peterson was in the 22nd Replacement Draft, arriving at Inchon in early July 1952. He remembers hitting a storm on the trip over, stating, "The waves were higher than the ship." The ship was the Gen. M.C. Meigs.
According to A Chronology of the United States Marine Corps 1947-1964, this draft arrived at Kobe, Japan, on October 2, 1952, onboard the USNS Marine Serpent.
According to A Chronology of the United States Marine Corps 1947-1964, this draft arrived in Japan on December 3, 1952, onboard the USNS Gen. William Weigel.
According to A Chronology of the United States Marine Corps 1947-1964, this draft arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, in January 1953 onboard the USNS Gen. M.C. Meigs.
Donald Lesser of Utah was on duty with the 1st Combat Service Group in Korea beginning January 1953. He departed San Diego for Korea on the General Walker.
According to A Chronology of the United States Marine Corps 1947-1964, this draft arrived in Kobe, Japan, on May 1, 1953 on the USNS H.M. Walker.
According to A Chronology of the United States Marine Corps 1947-1964, this draft arrived in Kobe, Japan in June 1953 onboard the USNS Meigs (T-AP-116).
Chris E. Sarno (tanker, USMC) embarked onboard USNS Gen Walker at San Diego, California and departed there from 10 September 1953. Arrived and disembarked at Inchon, South Korea 29 September 1953 for a second tour of duty after the active war ended.
Larry Barickman went to Korea in the 39th Replacement Draft on the General Pope.