Close Contact Over the Miles

CLOSE CONTACT OVER THE MILES -- reflections on the Korean War, as seen through the eyes of a 20 year old American G.I., remembered and re-told some 64 years later. Bill Martin, the youngest of five loving sons of Hank and Byrdie Martin from rural northern California, recounts memories as a rear area soldier. Through letters home to his girlfriend Bonnie, a connection with normalcy was kept and so was a reminder of what the fight was for. While not fighting directly for our nation's freedom, American troops fought for the freedom of others, slowing the march of communism, and indirectly preserving freedom at home. Bill volunteered to do his part -- to serve for love of family and country, just as his four older brothers had done before him in WWII. Bill's letters home provide a timeline covering his service in Korea, prompting short stories -- not about tactical battles of war, but rather about what Bill calls "soft memories" of war; the human part. These memories focus on relationships, idealism, and the lessons he learned while growing up and maturing in Korea as a young soldier. These many years later, Bill's love of family and country remain strong. He is, however, troubled by what was and still is written by some authors describing troops early in the Korean war -- by writers very knowledgeable on war tactics and troop movements, but way off-base in intimating cowardice of individual soldiers as they retreated early in the conflict to re-group. The term "Bugg'n Out" is often misused and falsely interpreted as a tactic used by individuals to avoid a fight. In reality, Bill encountered fine brave men who were surviving and "Bugg'n Out" to regroup and fight again.