Silver Balloons

By 1952, The Korean War had shifted from large mobile offenses to a stalemate, while armistice talks stalled at Panmunjom. The "Outpost Wars" in Korea were a series of localized nightly battles over small fortified positions, usually hills or outposts along the Main Line of Resistance. Fought by elements of the First Marine Division, including units of the 7th Marines, fighting was often hand to hand in bunkers and crests of the hills. This is the true story of some of the men who fought together in 1952 from George Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. One of those Marines was my father who rarely spoke about his service in the Corps. Like many of his fellow Marines, they fought in a brutal war with no real victor that simply ended in a cease fire. Often referred to as the "Forgotten War", many returning men rarely spoke of their combat experiences and came home without parades or widespread recognition. This is the story of a few of those brave men, some who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country and all of whom should never be forgotten.