Korean War Legacy Project

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, and they often gave their mother a hard time on rainy days for there was no television to keep them entertained. 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 soon found themselves fighting in the 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 often tasked with 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 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 shares his first experience ever with death. Having never seen a dead body, he explains that one of his primary tasks was to retrieve the deceased from battle. He describes the shock from seeing bodies frozen solid and the struggle in trying to find the most respectable approach in removing them for transport. He recalls hearing the moaning and whimpering of the Chinese Prisoners of War as they stood barefoot in the ice and snow suffering terribly from frostbite.

Tags: 1950 Battle of Chosin Reservoir, 11/27-12/13,Chinese,Cold winters,Front lines

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Treadway Bridge (graphic)

Kenneth Warner describes the obstacles created by the dangerously cold temperatures and the engineering behind bridge drops, where floating box cars would descend with all the necessary items to construct a bridge where existing bridges had been destroyed. He credits such engineering as the reason why they were able to get out of that area. He recalls 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 frozen they were unable to get sufficient dirt.

Tags: 1950 Battle of Chosin Reservoir, 11/27-12/13,Chinese,Cold winters,Front lines,Physical destruction

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Serving with Chesty Puller

Kenneth Warner recollects his memories of Chesty Puller, a legendary leader and most decorated member of the Marine Corps. He remembers his experiences serving alongside Puller and how he never backed down, even when facing off with General MacArthur. He explains how Puller turned down the Medal of Honor on more than one occasion despite all of his medals and honors he had received.

Tags: Front lines,Home front

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