Robert Whited
Bio
Robert Whited enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves in May of 1947. By August 1948, he had enlisted in the regular Marine Corps and attended recruit training at Camp Pendleton, California. Serving as part of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, Company B, he was deployed to Guam. Not long after returning to the States following a devastating typhoon, he and his unit were sent directly to Korea in July of 1950. While in Korea, he fought in the battles at Pusan Perimeter, Incheon Landing, and Chosin (Jangjin) Reservoir among others. In 1961, he returned to South Korea for training exercises. He continued serving in the Marine Corps, including a tour in Vietnam, until his retirement in 1972.
Video Clips
Two Big Things
Robert Whited recalls being reassigned to Camp Pendleton following a typhoon that devastated Guam in January 1950. By July 1950, his unit was sent to Korea to "help plug the gap". He initially believed he was going to Japan, but things had turned crucial in Korea so they were shipped directly to Korea. During conflict near the Naktong Bulge, he recalls his unit capturing a North Korean officer who had two things to say.
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One of the Greatest Things We Ever Did
Robert Whited recalls movement of his unit from Seoul to Incheon and later Wonsan. He explains the 5th Marines did not immediately go up to the Chosin (Jangjin) Reservoir but, instead, ran patrols out of Heungnam where he remembers encountering their first Chinese. He describes how when they were establishing a roadblock they were hit by the Chinese and pushed back to Hagaru-ri and Koto-ri and ultimately to the seashore. He describes how, during the retreat, they were protecting thousands of Korean refugees who were ultimately loaded on a cargo ship and taken to Busan.
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Living Conditions in Korea
Robert Whited speaks about the difficult living conditions the men in his unit found themselves in upon arriving in Korea. He notes there were no permanent tents when they arrived, and due to them moving about frequently, there was very little "comfort" in their accommodations. He recalls never really having much accurate intelligence on what was happening no matter where they were located.
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Worst Memory
Robert Whited recalls the Battle of the Chosin (Jangjin) Reservoir was the worst memory of the war. He remembers having very little intelligence when they were hit by one hundred thousand Chinese. He shares how he and the other members of his unit dealt with tragic events such as having to fight their way out of the Chosin (Jangjin) Reservoir, resulting in the death of many men.
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