"A Soldier's Story"
By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey

The year was 1950, November 27th and 28th.
 It was during the most dreadful and terrifying moments of the Korean War.
 The weather was very bad, the temperature dropping down to 34 below zero.
 The Marines were ordered to attack.
 They were to attack on the east and west of the "Chosin Reservoir," in North Korea.
 It was later described as
 "the most ill advised and unfortunate operation of the Korean War.

On the 28th they came up against a red army of 120,000.
 Our American Marines were surrounded, outnumbered 37,000 to 1. 
Many were down. 
"Marine Kenneth Sanders" among  them. 
 He was severely wounded, spending an entire year on a hospital ship,
 plus another year in a land hospital to recover.

Kenneth's account of the fight:
"On Nov. 28th, all the Marines in our platoon perished during the battle, 
with the exception of myself, I being wounded, and one other Marine.
 "Otis," with a Machine gun in one hand, and a pistol in the other, 
he stepped in front of me, shielding me, from enemy fire, with his own body.
 With both guns blasting away, he died saving my life."

Our Marine received 
"The Purple Heart,"
 "The Bronze Star,"
 and "The Korean War Service Medal,"
 from South Korea, posthumously. All for his bravery.
 His body has not been recovered to this very day, 
but his family has not lost hope that someday he will come home.

Who was this man? 
His name was Otis Merle Harwell.

She was his girl, "Laverne Hunt."
 She corresponded with "Grandma,"
until my grandmother died in 1991. 

I am sure there are other's who could

 better share my Uncle's story. 

I wish I had known him.

I wish he had been there on my wedding day,

 along with my other soldier uncle's.

I wish he had met his nephew "Tommy's," beautiful 

"Korean Bride," Connie.

I wish he were here to meet his namesake,

Tom and Connie's new baby Grandson,

"Otis"