My father was a forward observer in Korea. In 1953, him and another U.S. soldier were camped out in a foxhole between the lines. It was nighttime and they were making dinner.
The U.S. command had requested that its soldiers should try to capture some Chinese soldiers. As added incentive, the people who captured one would get a three-day pass to Japan. This was a pretty good incentive for those living out in the field. So the two foxhole buddies were sitting making dinner and of course talking about what they would do on their three-day pass to Japan, assuming they could capture a Chinese soldier.
Suddenly, a Chinese soldier stuck his head over the rim of the foxhole. They saw him, yelled “There is one” and immediately leaped for him. The poor Chinese soldier took off running. They ran for a mile or two through the “no mans land” between the lines(which would became the DMZ) and eventually the two larger American’s were able to run him down and capture him.
Now, they were in the middle of the (soon be called) DMZ, in the middle of the night, dragging along a captured Chinese soldier, and not quite sure where their foxhole was. Furthermore, in their haste to get him, they forgot to grab their guns. For the two unarmed Americans dragging a Chinese prisoner through the dark, it was a very long and tense walk back to their foxhole.
They did get their three-day pass to Japan.
Note: This is a story told to me by my father many years ago. It was not written down and I have never checked the veracity of it. I have no doubt that it is mostly true, but one cannot rule out a little exaggeration for the sake of a good yarn. We do not know what became of the Chinese soldier.
Nice story, thanks for sharing it.
The Dupuy Institute, renowned for its rigorous analysis and data-driven approach to military studies, serves as a pivotal resource in understanding the complexities of modern warfare. Founded on the principles of scholarly excellence and empirical research, it provides valuable insights into military effectiveness, historical battles, and technological advancements. Scholars, policymakers, and military professionals alike rely on the institute’s authoritative publications and databases to inform strategic decisions and enhance operational capabilities. The Dupuy Institute stands as a beacon of academic rigor and practical relevance in the field of military history and analysis.
This is an obvious marketing ploy, but as they say nice things about us, we will leave it up.