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One of the Mysteries of the KOREAN WAR Where Did All The GIMLET Cooks Go? June 2002 The U.S. Army was able to have many select it for the enlistment opportunities offered by the GI Bill of Rights The Redondo Union High School Class of 1947 sent Sal Ambriz Cal Bellwood, Dean Bennet, Gene Bibeau, Bill Grantham, Jack Renke and other young men to Fort Ord in Salinas, California including myself Ralph McIntosh for basic training. Upon completion of training, Camp Stoneman, Pittsburg, California became the waiting depot for assignment. Our Pal SAL became infected with the MUMPS and started a Quarantine that would last off and on for six months clear into Seoul, Korea for me. After spending the year of 1948 with the Sixth Division MP Platoon in Pusan our group was moved to Kokura,Kyushu, Japan and the home of the 24th Infantry Division. My assignment, the 21st Regiment GIMLETS in Kumamoto, Kyushu on the southern tip of Japan. This would be my new home for the next fourteen months with rotation to the states in February 1950.I was then discharged in March 1950 with 2 1/2 months paid leave and was I happy to be home. Being a cook (not by choice) I left many happy friends and some not quite as happy at Camp Wood in Japan. The month of June would change all that, with the North Koreans invasion of South Korea. Company M of the 3rd Battalion (my Company and All My Friends) would soon be in very serious combat situations. Our Recoilless Rifles were assigned to Task Force Smith and Two days later the remainder of the company joined them in Korea. History tells the story a little here and a piece there but when ALL the known facts are collected and shown with name rank and Army serial number it is one sad unaccounted for mystery as to just what happened to all the cooks in Company M and the rest of the SEVENTY men unaccounted for. The documentation I have is supported with a duty roster supplied by my good friend Jack Higdon, a Silver Star Combat Veteran who supplied the roster for 1949 and went on to retire after 29years service. Jack is one of the Task Force Smith Survivors and need I say more. Thank You Jack, and all the REST of our Company M men and the Armed Forces Veterans and Families who have help secure the Quality of Life we have in the United States. Here in these webpages are the AFTER THE WAR FACTS known about Company M from my research. Ralph "Mac" McIntosh |
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