The Four Deuces: A Korean War Story
Novato, CA: Presidio, 1989. Book Club Edition. Hardcover. [6], 288 pages. Slight wear to top and bottom edges of DJ. Crawford served with the Marines during the Korean War as a forward observer in a 4.2 mortar company. But fire-missions interested him less than the doings of fellow enlisted men, who seemed to devote much time and effort to hoodwinking officers, making midnight requisitions from U.S. Army depots and generally behaving like "characters." In combat, the author got banged around a good bit, but couldn't manage to earn an official Purple Heart wound. The story of his attempts to achieve this goal is virtually the only unifying theme in this collection of wartime anecdotes and tall tales. Marines of all ages will enjoy Crawford's yarns. Others may wonder how so many devilishly clever, cynical, foul-mouthed and courageous young men could possibly end up in one outfit. Crawford spent 21 years in the Corps, serving in all ranks from private to master sergeant. A fictionalized version of the author's experiences as a sargeant in the First Marine Regiment during the Korean War. The author has written: These memoirs are not an attempt to answer, solve, or resolve the problems arising from or about the three-year-long Korean War or the much longer stalemate that followed. This story was written to let you know how one very young, very scared marine saw his very first war and how he reacted to the killing and the mayhem of it. The stories are my view of that war, a war gone to ground in the trench lines. Dig into the stories and you may find something you were not expecting.
I am well aware that my view of the Korean War has no historical importance. Still, it is my view, and I want to share it with you. I do not have a cause to plead or an ax to grind, and that alone ought to count for something. My memoirs are selective and most certainly tainted with time. My recollections are a lot like boot mines, and ought to be approached with caution.
I was a grunt, a Four Deuce forward observer, assigned to duty with a marine infantry company every time the 1st Marine Regiment went back up on line. During the time I was in Korea my boondockers were firmly planted in trench-line mud. When I came home in September 1952, I was proud that I had helped in the attempt to stop Communism in Korea. I was proud of all the men I served, and served with, and I was a little bit proud of myself too." Condition: very good / good.
Keywords: Korean War, U.S. Marines, War Veterans, Forward Observers, Marine Infantry, Fictionalized, Trench Warfare, 1st Marine Regiment, 4.2 Mortar, First Marine
[Book #72571]
Price: $17.50