Thursday, Nov. 11 we will celebrate Veterans Day. This Federal
Holiday, honors veterans of the U.S. armed forces and those killed
in battle. Originally called Armistice Day, it began as a
commemoration of the ending of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918.
Thursday, Nov. 11 we will celebrate Veterans Day. This Federal Holiday, honors veterans of the U.S. armed forces and those killed in battle. Originally called Armistice Day, it began as a commemoration of the ending of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918.
On this Veterans Day, I will honor HM1 Billy Gene Cooper.
Almost 60 years ago, the Korean War raged and I was there as a Marine. I felt as most Korean War Marines did that the Navy medical Corpsmen who were by our side in battle performed admirably. In fact, during that time, one Corpsman, HM1 Billy Gene Cooper became my friend.
“Doc” Cooper grew up in Corning, Iowa and graduated from Corning High School with the Class of 1946. He immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In short service, he was released from active duty April 1948. Yet, on September 10, 1948, he chose to become a member of the Naval Reserve.
After his service release, he attended the State University of Iowa at Iowa City. Cooper wanted to become a doctor, and in 1950, he enrolled at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. and began studies.
He met his love, Dorothy Kennedy, at the University and they were married in February 1951.
As a reservist, he was recalled to active duty, also, in February 1951. He left for overseas June 4, arriving in Korea, June 21, 1951.
We became friends in August, when the 1st Marine Division went into reserve north of Wonju. Yet, our Marine Division plunged back into the attack in September. We attacked the ridgelines above the “Punchbowl” in northeastern Korea, close to the east coast.
Early on the morning of Sept. 13, two days after my 21st birthday, all battle quieted. It was surely “the land of the morning calm.”
Sometime after 0800, HM1 “Doc” Billy Gene Cooper, our Headquarters Corpsman, came over to my foxhole. He stood there, reading a recent letter from his wife.
He was a newlywed and he knelt down to show me pictures. Then he straightened up. I had to stretch my neck to look up to him. Sitting in my foxhole, I was just able to peer out with only my helmet above ground.
Since the hills were alive with North Koreans, it is not surprising that enemy observers were behind our positions.
And yet, the North Koreans would zero in their old positions for future salvos by mortars and artillery. In fact, we were in holes those Communists had occupied the day before. This would have to be the explanations for their salvo right on target, particularly on our reverse slope. In any case, without warning, an enemy mortar barrage salvoed into our positions.
I heard the “swoosh” an instant before it hit and I fell to the bottom of my foxhole. But it wasn’t fast enough. After the explosion, I felt stinging in my back. With one hand, I reached around and felt pieces of metal. When I looked, my hand was bloody.
Then I realized that my new buddy, “Doc” Cooper was lying there outside my foxhole, face down. The same mortar that landed beside my hole, landed at his feet. He was killed instantly. I looked down hill at our mortar section. Most of them had been blown out of their foxholes. This barrage was a direct hit. In an instant, most of the mortar section were killed or wounded.
“Doc” Cooper was killed in action near Hill 749 on Sept. 13, 1951. HM1 Billy Gene Cooper was born Oct. 1, 1928. He died a few weeks before his 23rd birthday.
He arrived home almost four months later.
It took most of four months to arrive in California. Retrieving his body from the point of this bloody battle took several days. Then, body preparation. Storage for months was necessary until a ship was available. At that time, it took almost two weeks to sail the Pacific.
The body arrived at the Oakland pier Jan. 2, 1952. Escorting his remains home by train from California was his cousin Frederick R. Cooper, AMC, U.S. Navy. The body arrived in Corning, Jan. 5.
Obviously, his wife, Dorothy, had been notified and she had made the arrangements. Burial services were conducted Monday, Jan. 7, 1952.
Sadly, his wife Dorothy, erected their gravestone with the heading, COOPER. Underneath, on the right, read, Billie Gene, 1928-1951. On the left, read Dorothy Kennedy, 1931 – .
For some 59 years, Dorothy grieved for her lost love. On June 27, this year, she passed. After decades apart, Billie Gene and Dorothy are together again for all eternity.
On Thursday, please remember and honor all those veterans, who have given their lives for our country.
Burton Anderson is a Purple Heart Korean War Marine veteran and the author of “We Claim The Title – Korean War Marines.” He can be reached at ba****@*ol.com.
