Behind Chinese Lines

Tom Swedensky

[Editor’s Note: Don’t let it be said that old Frogs don’t have a vivid imagination in their later years.]

Long-Dong-PO---North Korea-1953:

It had been decided by higher Authority (Captain Boynton ) that we would sneak into N. Korea and blow up an enemy bridge. Two rubber boats with a crew were dispatched at 11:00 P.M. Wesley Keith and "Swede" Swedensky slipped over the side and swam in to recon the beach and signaled back that all was clear. "Red" Marler , "Slim" Lueb, and  “Dish” Dishman were each carrying 100 lbs. of C3 on their backs. Lloyd "Bing", Crosby carried four blasting caps in his pocket.  Furman Sims was loaded down with two lbs of primer cord. "Flags " Berry, the P.O. in charge told " Punchy " Hughs, A quarter master and our navigator to move out and lead us to our target.

After about three hours of stumbling around in the dark, it became clear that Punchy’s idea of navigating was to go in widening circles until we found our target. We could see the bridge. About 200 yards from the bridge we saw a small hut with blazing neon lights.

As we got closer we could make out the words, " Mao's Bar And Grill,". It was decided that since we were all camouflaged, we would check it out.
Berry posted Keith and Eyler as security. As we entered we could see immediately that it was a Chinese soldiers hangout.

We all sat at a table and ordered drinks, as they were giving us the once over. Every thing was going pretty good until this Chinese Lieutenant spotted Billy “Dish” Dishman and started asking questions. Furman Sims explained, and the guy understood that Billy was from one of the Southern Provinces of China. We all knew right then that Furman was destined to be a great lawyer and or liar. Meanwhile, Crosby was eye balling this little girl sitting with a Chinese sergeant and is trying to move in on him.

Several hours later, Flags Berry gave the order that it was time to move out. He detailed Lueb and Eyler to stay behind and plant some C3 charges around the bar. The rest of the detail went on down to plant the charges on the bridge. We had every thing set up and were ready to hook up the blasting caps, but could not find Crosby. Dish said the last time he saw him he was sitting in a dark corner of the bar with the Chinese girl. Berry sent Red Marler back to the bar to get him and the blasting caps.

We finally had every thing ready, and set a thirty minute fuse. As we were on our way to pick up Lueb and Eyler who had already set their charges, the bar went off with a big bang and little Chinese men were seen flying through the air.  I saw a tear in Crosby's eye as a brassiere came floating down.

Now all we had to do was go through the ordeal of  Punchy Hughs guiding us back in ever widening circles to our extracting point.

And that boys and girls is the end of the tale of brave Frogs behind Chinese lines.

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