Harold Don
Bio
Harold Don was born in 1931 in Tucson, Arizona. His grandfather and other relatives immigrated from China to set up a produce store. Later, his father moved to Tuscon, Arizona, to start his own grocery business. While in high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves. In June 1950, his reserve unit was sent to basic training at Fort Pendleton. He was part of the Incheon Landing and experienced heavy fire from the North Koreans at Yeongdeungpo. He was on the front lines at the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, which has gone down in U.S. Marine Corps history as an epic military campaign. He received a letter of commendation for his involvement at the Chosin Reservoir. When he was redeployed to Korea during the major Chinese offensive, he became a machine gun squad leader. He served a total of eleven months in Korea. He volunteers actively in his community, including the VA hospital and at other organizations.
Video Clips
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserves
Harold Don, during WWII, joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves while still in high school. He explains that students living in poor situations wanted to join the Reserves because of the small monthly pay and issued uniforms. He shares how he, initially, aspired to be an aviator, but his small stature and vision impairment prevented him from becoming a pilot. He recalls being called to service in June of 1950 and sent to basic training at Fort Pendleton when the conflict in Korea broke out.
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Seeing and Experiencing Battle
Harold Don shares how he was apprehensive about his time in Korea. He recalls witnessing the destruction from prior battles upon landing in Incheon. He remembers how his unit experienced fire from North Korean tanks at Yeongdeungpo and observed the destruction at Seoul when traveling to Wonsan where they were tasked with clearing the harbor of mines.
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Battle of the Chosin Reservoir
Harold Don shares memories from the front lines at the Chosin Reservoir. He recounts how the United States units were surrounded by the North Koreans and Chinese on all sides. He notes how cold the temperature dropped in the winter when the lake would freeze over. He comments on how the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir was one of the epic battles in United States Marine Corps history, evidenced by many Medal of Honor recipients.
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Extremely Cold Conditions
Harold Don describes the challenges of digging foxholes in Korea's frozen ground during the winter. He details how one had to clear enough snow to make an indentation to rest in. He notes how, as he was assigned to heavy machine guns, his foxhole was located at the most vulnerable point. He explains how, in an effort to keep the machine guns' barrels from freezing, he had to utilize antifreeze.
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Redeployed as Machine Gun Squad Leader
Harold Don discusses being redeployed to Korea during the Chinese major offensive. He shares he was unaware, at the time, that Chinese forces had retaken Seoul and that he became a machine gun squad leader. He remembers partaking in Rest and Relaxation, which meant moving back several miles from the front for a hot shower and food. He notes he remembers the country itself when asked what he remembers most from this eleven-month tour in Korea. He describes Korea as being like a third-world country at the time with primitive farming, sanitation, and construction methods.
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