Kenneth Warner
Bio
Kenneth Warner was born on May 31, 1932, in Kearney, New Jersey. There were three boys and one girl in his family. He graduated from Kearney High in 1950, just prior to the start of the Korean War. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves and soon received orders to Korea, along with his younger brother, Leslie. They found themselves fighting in the Jangin (Chosin) Reservoir, though in separate units. He climbed his way through the mountains in the cover of dark, often in blizzard conditions with temperatures well below zero, and slept on the cold ground with just a lined sleeping bag with which to keep warm. He was assigned to removing the deceased, many of which had frozen, and encountered masses of Chinese forces suffering from the extreme cold as well. He always looked for his brother when troops passed by on the road and was overwhelmed with joy when he found him alive. Despite the tremendous hardships he faced in the Jangin (Chosin) Reservoir, his service to his country and to the Korean people remain a source of pride as he has witnessed the prosperity of South Korea today.
Video Clips
The Realities of the Bitter Cold
Kenneth Warner shared his first experience ever with death. Having never seen a dead body, he explained one of his primary tasks was to retrieve the deceased from battle. He described the shock from seeing bodies frozen solid and the struggle in trying to find the most respectable approach in removing them for transport. He recalled hearing the moaning and whimpering of the Chinese Prisoners of War as they stood barefoot in the ice and snow, suffering terribly from frostbite.
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Treadway Bridge (graphic)
Kenneth Warner described the obstacles created by the dangerously cold temperatures and the engineering behind bridge drops. Floating box cars were parachuted in with all the necessary items to construct a bridge where existing bridges had been destroyed. He credited such engineering as the reason why they were able to get out of that area. He recalled learning sometime after the war that the Chinese dead were used to fill the holes between the steel and the ground because the ground was so rocky and frozen they were unable to source sufficient dirt.
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Serving with Chesty Puller
Kenneth Warner recollected his memories of Chesty Puller, a legendary leader and most decorated member of the Marine Corps. He remembered his experiences serving alongside Puller and how he never backed down, even when facing off with General MacArthur. He explained how Puller turned down the Medal of Honor on more than one occasion despite all of his medals and honors he had received.
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Finding His Brother Alive
Kenneth Warner's brother was also fighting in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir but in a different regiment. Kenneth believed his brother, Leslie, had died because he received reports of heavy fire where his brother was fighting and he couldn't find him. One day his brother approached him and surprised him that he was still alive. Kenneth Warner was overjoyed. Leslie was never able to talk about his experiences in the Korean War.
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