About Us and Our Site

Our group, the First Battalion Seventh Marines-Korea 1950-1953 was organized by a few members of Able Company who met at a small unit meeting at one of the Chosin Few reunions. At one of the company reunions General Davis, who visited with the group, remarked it would be nice to have members of the entire battalion (that is his Battalion which he formed and commanded at Camp Pendleton and took to Korea on through the Chosin) at a reunion. Taking the generals remark literally a group of us worked to locate all the members of the original battalion for our first battalion reunion in Toledo, Ohio. Since then, we have held reunions in Texas, Florida, California and Missouri. Our next will be in South Carolina in 2003.

Our initial list consisted of those Marines who served with the original battalion from the time it was formed at Camp Pendleton and the date of the 1st rotation draft in April of 1951. At the Fort Myers Reunion in 1997, the membership voted to extend an invitation to all who served with the battalion at any time during the Korean War, to our next reunion. That reunion, chaired by Bob Licker, was held in May of 1999 at Palm Springs, CA near 29 Palms, the location of the current First Battalion 7th Marines. This reunion brought together two generations of Marines, who served with the battalion, but almost 50 years apart. At the business meeting of this reunion (Palm Springs) it was voted to expand our organization to include all Marines and Corpsmen who served with the battalion at any time during the Korean war. This we have done.

Our group is very informal, we have no organization, no by-laws, no officers, no dues, no nothing. We meet every two years to become reacquainted with those whom we shared a unique experience, have a few, tell a few sea stories and try to impress the ladies with our individual feats.

Our funding comes from funds raised at each of our reunions. Each reunion provides funds to meet it’s own expenses and provide seed money for the next reunion. In addition, each of the reunions has made substantial contributions to various non-profit groups and institutions. Each reunion has contributed to the Marine Military Academy in Texas. At the reunion held in Palm Springs, the group dedicated a monument to all who paid the supreme sacrifice while serving in the battalion. In addition the last two reunions have provided funds to 1st Bn. 7th Marines to help defray the cost of the enlisted ball.

OUR WEB SITE

Our web site is dedicated to all who have served in the battalion during the Korean War. We pay tribute to our heroes with the Medal of Honor Page. Our “Roll of Honor” (page is still under construction) is a listing of all who were KIA or DOW while serving in the battalion. We have also listed their personal decorations. The history page provides an overview of the battalion’s history. Our roster contains a listing of all members as of the date of posting. It is posted via Yahoo which hosts the Bulletin Board and Picture pages, thus the advertising.

The Bulletin Board is open to all of our members for posting information which they feel would be of interest to others within our group. The picture link offers an opportunity for members to post pictures taken during their tour in Korea. The reunion page provides the latest information on our next reunion and a brief review of our previous reunions.

The ”We Remember” page has grown as new stories and experiences are posted. However, with the posting of stories and or experiences the time required to open the page has also lengthened. To assist in locating a particular story we have added an index of all articles which have been posted. In the future we plan to link the each entry in the index directly to the associated story.

In the meantime; PLEASE BE PATIENT.

The page provides an opportunity for members to tell their stories, and individual experiences. For many of us there are long periods of time in which we were in Korea that we simply do not recall, other memories are as vivid today as they were some 50 years ago. The memories are there but are way back in the deep crevices of the mind. Often a single word, picture or someone’s recollection is all that is needed to revive these memories, some good, some hilarious and others bad. Regardless they are our memories, which can, and should be shared with others. It is hoped this page will help all of our members to recall and share their unique experiences. Members may post stories by sending them via email or regular mail to Charles McKellar.

Members and visitors to our site are requested to check the roster, particularly to ensure we have your unit, dates in Korea and other information we maintain on each member such as, spouses names, telephone number and e-mail address. Comments and suggestions, such as errors or omissions relating to our “Roll of Honor” will be appreciated. Comments or suggestions may be sent to Mac via  email at:  cwfm1928@earthlink.net