Burl Timmons
Chosin veteran
Burl Timmons
Corporal, USMC
1948–1952
Pfc. Burl Timmons
San Diego, CA , 1949
I was Marine the first time I saw the base, and I’m still a Marine.
After graduating high school, in 1948, and joined the Marine Corps, I completed basic training at MCRD, in San Diego, and then went to Guam for 15 months.
The North Koreans invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950. They almost secured the entire country, but we stopped them in the southeast corner of Korea, the Pusan Perimeter, and held them there. We outflanked them with the Inchon Landing and retook Seoul, the capital of South Korea. We had orders to invade North Korea and, by late November, we were 50 miles from the Yalu, the Chinese border, on the west side of the Chosin Reservoir.
On November 27, 1950, we went to bed believing that we would be home by Christmas. However, at 9:00pm, we were attacked by the Chinese Communist forces who had slipped across the border. We were completely surrounded, outnumbered at least 10-1 and the only way out was to fight our way through 65 miles of rough mountain terrain through enemy held territory with temperatures of -30 degrees and a wind chill estimated at -60 degrees. We were almost annihilated. If we had not had hardcore Marines, Marine officers, and air support, we would never have survived.
Worst day in the Marine Corps: November 27, 1950 when the Chinese hit us. Best day in the Marine Corp: “When we fought through the trap at the Chosin, and finally got aboard ship.”
Campaigns: Pusan Perimeter, Inchon Landing, and the Chosin Reservoir.
I came back to Midland, Texas and worked for the Post Office for 34 years. Although I had suffered frostbite of my hands and feet, I never really had a problem until I got older. Now they bother me. I think the Marine pride comes from our training and how we look out for each other. I am well satisfied with my life. I found my calling. I was born to be a Marine and a letter carrier. {07-22-2013 • Midland, TX}
