Info on Marine who owned my S&W 1917

[gn3hz3ku1*]

wow!

[taladeganite]

I'm almost certain I met this Marine once.. I was working as a plumber out of Martinez california.. which is next to Pacheco, where this devil dog was living.. being a former marine, walking into his house was like entering a marine corp military history museum.. It didnt take me long to ask where he served.. and I was dumbfounded.. the chanjin reservoir(chosin) ... I had alot of respect for what he had to stay.. listening to his stories , none to indepth.. I didnt leave for 2 or 3 hours.. it was an Honor. Im not certain it was him.. but how many frozen chosin lived in pacheco.. a very small area.

[Joe]

Awesome thread. what are the odds

[goober]

wow. very cool story.
Ruth, if you are serious about not wanting the pistol, then that's very nice of you.
BUT...
if you would like to have it back, i propose a donation pool to come up with the funds to buy the gun from Davidwhitewolf (if he is willing) and return it to your family. Davidwhitewolf can then buy another pistol to replace your father's, or use the money as he sees fit.
i personally will put up the first $20 towards this cause, and i'm betting many other Calgunners will chip in too. the CGN admins can handle the affair, if they see fit to, or we can make other arrangements.
just an idea.

[TregoMark]

Wonderful story. I'm sure the op will cherish the pistol and it's history.

[aerosick]

I wish that some of my old guns could talk or that their history would just find me this way!

Great story with a great ending and a new beginning...

Billy

[imtheomegaman]

wow. very cool story.
Ruth, if you are serious about not wanting the pistol, then that's very nice of you.
BUT...
if you would like to have it back, i propose a donation pool to come up with the funds to buy the gun from Davidwhitewolf (if he is willing) and return it to your family. Davidwhitewolf can then buy another pistol to replace your father's, or use the money as he sees fit.
i personally will put up the first $20 towards this cause, and i'm betting many other Calgunners will chip in too. the CGN admins can handle the affair, if they see fit to, or we can make other arrangements.
just an idea.

I'd donate to that.

[11Z50]

Truly living history.....I will pitch in if needed.

[cortayack]

Great story........Happy see it posted here in Calguns........
I will pitch in as well if needed. But I think she already made up her mind...

[rerussell]

Thank you to all who offered to donate for me to get the gun back -- I really appreciate it. I firmly believe the gun belongs to the OP -- my family would have no interest and I feel very happy that it's with someone who cares about it and will cherish it. Again, the only request I have is that the posts be put together, printed out and kept with the gun.

Taladeganite: you did meet daddy, he did live in Pacheco and I know he enjoyed talking with you very much.

Here's a copy of the poem he wrote for the Chosin Few Newsletter. While looking for it, I ran across the diary he'd written of his time in Korea.

The March of the Chosin Few

The march that begin in December of that
frozen long ago, continues to this day,
and into the future. The end will come
when the last of us fall out, called to
the Final Fraternity.

In the beginning, we were young,
strong, and determined. Our ranks were
thinned, be we carried on as the world
watched in wonder. We achieved our
goal – the sea – despite horrendous odds,
and to the chagrin of those who had
written us off; we did not stop but
continued onward.

For some, it was continued service, and
for others, it was home and hearth … but
the march went on. As the years progressed,
we went our various ways: families, schooling,
business, good times and bad. But we still
marched on.

As time progressed, our ranks grew less, as
those of us fell out when called to that Final
Fraternity – immortalized by the memories
left behind. Names of friends, strangers … yet
bound by that bond only we can share.
Still the march goes on.

We know not what the future holds, but
inexorably our ranks will grow smaller
as those of us fall out when called. Our
legacy and traditions will live on as
guides for those who follow their own
marches.

As for us, We’ll continue our own
March, which will go on, and on, and
on …..

Orville A. Bierkle (USMC E/2/7)

This poem was included in the diary, I don't think daddy wrote it. I'll share it as it obviously meant alot to him.

Whatever we were in that frozen
long-ago and whatever we are now,
we are bound as one for life in an
exclusive fraternity of honor

The only way into our ranks is to
have paid the dues of duty, sacrifice
and valor by being there. The cost
of joining, in short, is beyond all
earthly wealth.

And here's the info on the book he contributed to:

Korean Vignettes: Faces of War : 201 Veterans of the Korean War Recall That Forgotten War Their Experiences and Thoughts and Wartime Photographs of That Era (Hardcover)
by Arthur W. Wilson

Product Details
• Hardcover: 488 pages
• Publisher: Artwork Pubns (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965312003
• ISBN-13: 978-0965312004

Ruth

[sorensen440]

amazing story

Im very glad you decided to come on here with this information Ruth

[steadyrock]

This thread keeps on giving. Ruth, thank you for sharing the information about your father. I'm kind of at a loss for words after seeing what took place here...

[liketoshoot]

Wow best 15 minutes of reading I've done yet. Thank you Ruth and thanks to the OP for searching for infomation or we would never know one of our true Patriots.
Thank you

this is now tagged.

[double_action]

I agree, best thread ever.

[ojisan]

Wow! I am blown away by all this!
To see this go full circle is awesome.
Ruth, thank you so much for taking the time to register and post all this info.
I love this kind of history.
I can't explain why, but both my eyes have something in them right now...
Also, Ruth, I have to ask why you googled your father's name at this particular time. Do you do this often or just a feeling you got to check now?
Yes, this is one of the best threads ever on Cal Guns, and Ruth, you helped make it this way. Thank you again for sharing these stories with us.

OP: you are a very lucky man to be the owner of history that can be held in your hand. I am sure you will take care of this amazing history piece with the proper care and respect it deserves.

I have to say again how terrific this all is.
You have all made my day already.
Thank you!