MCB Camp Pendleton

Press Releases

Korean War-era Marines hold 50-year reunion at Pendleton

19 Apr 2003 | Pfc. Macario P. Mora Jr. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- They operated behind enemy lines during the Korean War. And they trained for that harrowing mission here.

For the past 30 years, reconnaissance Marines from the Korean War have been traveling across the nation, reuniting every two years. This year - the 50th anniversary of the war's end - their reunion destination was the site of their parent unit at Camp Pendleton.

"They're like walking history," said Gunnery Sgt. Steve Mendal Nelson, acting sergeant major of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and a native of Wellsburg, W.Va. "It's great for the younger Marines to have all this history just walking around."

Nelson and retired Lt. Col. Thomas J. Power, a resident of San Diego and a Korean War- era recon Marine, helped organize the 50-year reunion for about 16 Korean War Veterans here Apr. 19. Marines from 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, hosted the event.

The reunion kicked off with brunch at the 33 Area messhall in Camp Margarita. Power said it was a big deal eating at the messhall because they hadn't done so since 1997 in Quantico, Va. He said the food has changed for the better since then.

After brunch, the veterans enjoyed a demonstration on the newest gear used by recon Marines. They reviewed new flak jackets; Nuclear, Biological and Chemical defense gear; land navigation tools; night-vision devices and a variety of weapons.

Among them: the M16A2 service rifle, the M4A1 Carbine rifle, M249 squad automatic weapon and the M1014 combat shotgun.

"These weapons are a lot different from the M1s and old shotguns we used to use," said Dick A. White, a native of Belleville, Ill.

He was a private first class in the 3rd Recon Company during the Korean War.

"Perhaps the most important thing shown to us were the Meals Ready-to-Eat," said Power.

The veterans had never seen an MRE before.
They ate C-Rations as young Marines in the field and during the Korean War.

"A meal that can cook for itself is something they're interested in seeing," said Nelson.

The veterans' day culminated in a tour of Camp Pendleton, including a stop at the Main Exchange.

Past recon reunions have unfolded in Las Vegas, Hawaii, Alaska, San Francisco and San Diego. The recon veterans keep in touch via telephone and e-mail, Power said.

Korean War-era Marines hold 50-year reunion at Pendleton

19 Apr 2003 | Pfc. Macario P. Mora Jr. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

PRINT

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- They operated behind enemy lines during the Korean War. And they trained for that harrowing mission here.

For the past 30 years, reconnaissance Marines from the Korean War have been traveling across the nation, reuniting every two years. This year - the 50th anniversary of the war's end - their reunion destination was the site of their parent unit at Camp Pendleton.

"They're like walking history," said Gunnery Sgt. Steve Mendal Nelson, acting sergeant major of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and a native of Wellsburg, W.Va. "It's great for the younger Marines to have all this history just walking around."

Nelson and retired Lt. Col. Thomas J. Power, a resident of San Diego and a Korean War- era recon Marine, helped organize the 50-year reunion for about 16 Korean War Veterans here Apr. 19. Marines from 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, hosted the event.

The reunion kicked off with brunch at the 33 Area messhall in Camp Margarita. Power said it was a big deal eating at the messhall because they hadn't done so since 1997 in Quantico, Va. He said the food has changed for the better since then.

After brunch, the veterans enjoyed a demonstration on the newest gear used by recon Marines. They reviewed new flak jackets; Nuclear, Biological and Chemical defense gear; land navigation tools; night-vision devices and a variety of weapons.

Among them: the M16A2 service rifle, the M4A1 Carbine rifle, M249 squad automatic weapon and the M1014 combat shotgun.

"These weapons are a lot different from the M1s and old shotguns we used to use," said Dick A. White, a native of Belleville, Ill.

He was a private first class in the 3rd Recon Company during the Korean War.

"Perhaps the most important thing shown to us were the Meals Ready-to-Eat," said Power.

The veterans had never seen an MRE before.
They ate C-Rations as young Marines in the field and during the Korean War.

"A meal that can cook for itself is something they're interested in seeing," said Nelson.

The veterans' day culminated in a tour of Camp Pendleton, including a stop at the Main Exchange.

Past recon reunions have unfolded in Las Vegas, Hawaii, Alaska, San Francisco and San Diego. The recon veterans keep in touch via telephone and e-mail, Power said.