Page 83 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2024 - Online Magazine
P. 83
Don Ferree Korean War Survivor and
Hero among Us
by Larry Williams
we were 17 years
old and talked
our mothers into
signing for us. The
Navy wouldn’t
take us, but the
Army needed
guys in Japan (as
part of the Army
of Occupation),
so they took us.
Later, they found
out how young
we were and
sent us home. I
reenlisted at Ft.
Ord, California on
March 23, 1948,
when I was 16,
and got sent to
the enemy during the 2nd Infantry
WWII.) My oldest Division. After eight weeks
of basic training, we were
brother, John
Jr., was a Navy shipped out to Osaka, Japan.
on Ferree of Corpsman and served in It took us 13 days to get there
Crosbyton considers New Guinea during WWII. on a troop transport. I was
Dhimself lucky to have Another brother, Bob, was assigned to the 27th Infantry
survived the brutal fighting an aircraft mechanic in Regiment, 25th Division.
in the early days of the the Marines. My younger
Korean War. brother, Douglas, retired as a “In August 1950, I was sent
to Korea and assigned to the
His life began in 1932, far captain in the Air Force. All 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd
from the battlefields of four sons were veterans. Infantry Division, Company
Korea. He was one of five “I attended Hoover High B. We landed in Pusan and
children born in San Pedro, School in San Diego. I began working our way
California to John Eugene played football, basketball, north 60 miles. We were only
and Margie Ferree. “He and baseball, but only went fighting the North Koreans
had met my mother in Long through the 9th grade. I in those early days. We had
Island, New York. My dad wanted to be a Navy man them whipped; they were
had a long Navy career and like my dad and brother. on the run. I remember
was involved in both WWI When I was 15, me and a that I could see Manchuria
and WWII. He spent time buddy who was 14, tried from my foxhole. It was a
in Alaska and served on to join the service. We had very desolate-looking place.
the USS Richmond (the only some made-up papers from Nothing would grow on it.
WWI-era ship to engage with a real estate agent saying
Lubbock Senior Link 83
