Info on Marine who owned my S&W 1917

[ArinX]

amazing thread

[Davidwhitewolf]

Wow. THANK YOU Ruth!

[goober]

Yes, the diary is a wonderful addition to the story and helps us all know Sergeant Bierkle and his experiences so much better. Thank you for sharing your father's story with us, Ruth!

[imtheomegaman]

There, on page 28 of the diary he mentions his .45. I got a chill.
Simply amazing, as a few pages later he loses his rifle, and is forced to use his .45 to fight the Chinese.
Later he tells how he, uhem, procured it after being ordered to evacuate.

A statement from a marine he quoted:
"The Chinese Communist forces may not have known who we were, but they sure as hell found out in a hurry"

[Too Slow]

Unbelievable, this thread never quits giving.

[Davidwhitewolf]

Nice catch imtheomegaman! Provenance for this revolver being at Chosin has been established beyond anyone's doubt I think.

Too_Slow, you know what, I've got more. Not as amazing as the diary but still cool. Unfortunately I'm packing for Boomershoot so it'll have to wait.

Also, I'm thinking I might make a Boomer in the Sergeant's honor and explode it with his revolver. If I'm brave I'll video it and pop it on YouTube (and here of course).

It's a small thing, but his service did preserve my liberties to enjoy lawful recreational opportunities with firearms and explosives. Plus he was evidently a firearms civil-rights enthusiast, so I hope he'd have gotten a kick out of it.

Thoughts? Yes? No?

I've only had time to glance at the diary, but I'm printing it out and the wife and I will be reading it to each other on the drive up to Boomershoot next week.

[6172crew]

I think the ashes from that volcano have made it all the way over here.

Semper Fi

[The King]

Best Thread Ever.

[ojisan]

I just got done with the read.
Wow!
Such modesty.
Amazing story.
Thank you!

[imtheomegaman]

Originally Posted by Davidwhitewolf

Nice catch imtheomegaman! Provenance for this revolver being at Chosin has been established beyond anyone's doubt I think.

Too_Slow, you know what, I've got more. Not as amazing as the diary but still cool. Unfortunately I'm packing for Boomershoot so it'll have to wait.

Also, I'm thinking I might make a Boomer in the Sergeant's honor and explode it with his revolver. If I'm brave I'll video it and pop it on YouTube (and here of course).

It's a small thing, but his service did preserve my liberties to enjoy lawful recreational opportunities with firearms and explosives. Plus he was evidently a firearms civil-rights enthusiast, so I hope he'd have gotten a kick out of it.

Thoughts? Yes? No?

I've only had time to glance at the diary, but I'm printing it out and the wife and I will be reading it to each other on the drive up to Boomershoot next week.

Do it, get it on video, I for one would love to see it.

[rerussell]

David,

Please, make the boomer and explode it with daddy's revolver. He would've been tickled pink and excited about it.

Ruth

[Mr. Beretta]

Guys....It doesn't get any better than this!

The best thread I've ever read on this forum since I joined on 12-25-2005!

Wow...Simply Wow !

[ivanimal]

This is my new favorite thread. Ruth, thank you for sharing so much of your fathers history. My Dad was also in Korea. I have fond memories of him sharing front line stories with his boys. My father also never met a stranger. His generation truly loved life. I pray I am half the man he was.

Thank you for finding our little corner of the internet. You have truly brightened our forum.

Ivan

Having sold a Smith and Wesson Pre 17 to David, I can say he is a stand up guy and a great representative of who we are here. David you make us proud!

[UtahJarhead]

I've been following this thread for the past several months, since about last October or so and just wanted to express how awesome it is how these events have transpired.

For the record, Puller's name is Lewis Burwell Puller. His nickname was 'Chesty' because he was barrel chested from having asthma. Yes, the manliest man to ever be a man fought wars with asthma. Oh, and that man probably fought alongside Mr. Bierkle as well!

[UtahJarhead]

Mother of God... this man actually served at the Chosin Reservoir. In my eyes, and the eyes of many others, that place is the epitome of sacrifice and honor. Ruth, I hope you really understand how incredibly AWESOME your father was just for having been there. If you don't know of the history of the Chosin Reservoir, PLEASE read the history behind it. Your father's tale adds so much more to the story than what I'd previously known. It adds a personal touch to it.

[freonr22]

i have no idea why 3/4 way though tears are falling from my eyes to my arm. i am dumbfounded. why?

[tacticalcity]

Very cool that the Marine's daughter posted here in reply and told us about her father. I really needed to read an upbeat story about a good old Marine, and to see so many Calgunners appriciate his life, his story and his service. It really cheered me up.

The only sad part to it is that it won't continue to make its way down the family line. However it does sound like it found a good home. Perhaps you would consider willing it to the first one of her decendents to serve in the military after your death or something cool like that? Just a suggestion of course. You bought it in good will. No obligation there. It would just make a cool ending to this story, provided the person who received it would cheerish it and keep the tradition going.

[antonio]

WOW awesome story

[Red Dog]

Such a cool story. It has been a pleasure to follow along.

[FirstFlight]

What a beautiful story. I am glad to be one of the many that have been fortunate enough to be here and become part of this thread.

Like all here, I will never forget this story nor forget Orville A. Bierkle, U.S.M.C. Semper Fi Marine!

[UtahJarhead]

Davidwhitewolf, I've been watching Random Nuclear Strikes after Boomershoot, but I haven't seen a mention of the revolver's involvement. How did it go?

[Davidwhitewolf]

Thanks for checking! I'm still unpacking and processing video from Boomershoot, so I haven't gotten my Boomershoot After Action Report post up yet at Random Nuclear Strikes, and I was thinking of posting on this thread at the same time as I did that.

Briefly, it turns out that a .45 ACP round from a 5" revolver barrel -- even a tracer round, legal in Idaho, not that I have any here in California -- doesn't have the velocity to set off a boomer. I didn't even uncase Sgt. B's revolver.

HOWEVER!!! At Boomershoot, I had some great conversations with OLEG VOLK (!!!), the noted firearms civil-rights photojournalist, who photographed both me and my wife shooting boomers, and he was interested in possibly photographing the revolver. We didn't get to photograph it that weekend, but I plan to follow up with him to see about hiring him to take some well-staged photos.

I also was the subject of a long interview with the well-known firearms TV personality MICHAEL BANE (!!!) for his show Shooting Gallery, and although I didn't discuss Sgt. B's revolver with him, the contact was made and I have some ideas for how he might be able to help this revolver end up in the National Firearms Museum....

Finally, I have yet to clear this with Joe Huffman, the Boomershoot event director, but it occured to me that igniting a Boomershoot Fireball (i.e., a boomer and gasoline) with a tracer round or two from the revolver would have the same effect on video (for my purposes) as shooting a boomer. Actually it'd be even more spectacular. The Blogger/Media Day this year was cut short because of miserable, soggy, rainy conditions, so there was no fireball. But I'm gonna see if I can arrange for a special Sgt. Bierkle Fireball on Boomershoot Media Day 2011. Joe's pretty easy-going about these things, so long as you're safe.

[PMN]

Thanks Davidwhitewolf for starting this thread and a special thanks to Ruth for sharing all this with us. We all owe everything we have and love to men like Orville A. Bierkle a true HERO!!!

[heypal]

Thank you David and Ruth. My father served in Korea as well, and passed away a year and a half ago. He didn't have much when he passed, but I have his old Marlin .22 and I can't tell you how much that rifle means to me. The fact that someone found and is caring so well for Ruth's father's service revolver means a lot to me as well. It means a lot to the community, and it means a lot to anyone who gives a damn about our countries history. Congratulations David, on discovering wonderful history about your sidearm and for being a stand-up guy. Congratulations, Ruth, on passing your father's sidearm on to someone who will cherish it, and act as its steward until it's time to archive it for history.

Congratulations, Sergeant Bierkle, on making it back. I can't thank you enough for your service. Congratulations on raising a daughter who loves and respects you, and honors your memory and the country you fought for. Thank you, Sergeant. You're in our thoughts and prayers. Your memory lives on.

[scubamark13]

What an Awesome thread! I subscribed I hope to see and hear more.

[icormba]

tagged

[usctrojan]

tagged

[UtahJarhead]

Davidwhitewolf, I know all about Joe Huffman and Oleg Volk. Great people, those 2. Them and many more are on my blogroll. Glad it MOSTLY worked out and I hope you can successfully get it into the firearms museum. It certainly deserves it! Incredible work you've gotten done with it.

[Arteel]

AMAZING story...PERIOD!

David, you are a class act.

Ruth, this was not an accident. Thank you so much for sharing about your father. He is a hero and will never be forgotten.

I hope you decide to check in here once in a while. As you can see, there are tons of good people here.

Take care,

Ryan

[cmaynes]

just amazing....

[fquinonez]

It is warriors like these that make me proud to call myself not only an American, but an American Marine!

Semper Fi brother! I look forward to the day that we shall meet and share the watch at Heaven's gate.

Frank Q.

[UtahJarhead]

Originally Posted by fquinonez

Semper Fi brother! I look forward to the day that we shall meet and share the watch at Heaven's gate.

Frank Q.

+1!

[bden]

WOW! I can't say much that hasn't already been said other than WHY THE # (sorry ) DOESN'T THIS THREAD HAVE A STICKY??? Incredible people all the way around here, and one of the best stories I've ever seen. Amazing.

Sticky? Please!! (it took too long for me to notice this was here)

[fquinonez]

I had to take a short business trip this week to Las Vegas, so I decided to print out all of the PDFs posted to the thread. The journal article, one sheet, and the diary. I was proud before I read it. Now I am incredibly honored. I walked a litter taller through the airport on my way home today.

If you have not read the diary....DO IT! I promise you will be all the better for it.

Semper Fi!

[bombadillo]

Wow, this is truly an inspiration to see the historical value and 2 people who would have never known each other otherwise and bringing them together over a great man of the past. Just astounding.

[Foulball]

Originally Posted by fquinonez

If you have not read the diary....DO IT! I promise you will be all the better for it.
Semper Fi!

Well said.

Thank you so much Ruth, David and most importantly Marine Bierkle.


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[NapaCountyShooter]

Amazing story. Definitely should be in CGN's best threads.
This thread is what firearms are really about. They're just tools that passed down through generations over time have helped forge this country into the place that we all hold so dear. Ruth, thank you to your whole family and to all of you that have served. We all appreciate it so much.

Jonah

[Moto_Joe]

Very proud to say this is the first thread I've ever tagged....

Ruth, I hope you're still floating through here occasionally and I really hope you realize how much this really does mean to all of us here. This is just such an incredible story!

[Lone_Gunman]

This thread one of the best. Amazing. I'm going to pass it on to some friends.

[jaq]

Honor. This thread displays that in a most remarkable way. Thank you OP. Thank you Ruth. Thank you Orville A. Bierkle, USMC.

And thank you to a mentor of mine, Bud Glass. A Screaming Eagle 101st Airborne Korean War combat veteran who, when I asked him about his wartime experiences, handed me a 900 page Korean War history book and told me to read it. I did. And that is how I learned of the special significance of what the Marines did at the Chosin Reservoir and was able to deeply appreciate Mr. Bierkle's service and this thread's rare value

P.S. During my own service, I traced the steps of many of my forebears in Korea.

Semper Fi