Another one passes on - one of The Old Breed.

[tigre_fish]

Gentlemen,

Last month, a rather remarkable man passed away, Mr. Phil Harding, Jr. Phil was a retired deputy sheriff who passed away with no living immediate family. Phil served in 1 Mar Div in WWII, seeing combat at Peleliu and Okinawa. After the war, Phil who I believe was from Tulsa settled in Louisiana and married a cajun. A few years later, when the Korean conflict kicked off, Phil received notice that he was to report to San Diego within two days. Back then, getting from central Louisiana to San Diego was not a simple, fast process - Phil kissed his wife goodbye and got on board a train heading west. He reported three days later, and prompty got his tail chewed for being late. Phil then participated at the miraculous amphib assault at Inchon, and was dug in at Chosin Reservior when all hell broke loose in a small place called Koto ri. Phil had a .38 revolver with him there that his wife had sent him, along with a box of 50 rounds. On the morning after the massed charges by the Chinese, the Marine to Phil's left was dead, the Marine to Phil's right was dead. Phil had fired every .30 cal round that he and his fallen Marines had on them, and as I recall the story, Phil had five rounds and one empty chamber left in the cylinder of his .38. When Phil went home, he left the revolver with another Marine, convinced that it had saved his life and might do the same for someone else. After that, Phil was called to his CO, who asked him what he was doing in Korea. Capt. said that records showed that Phil had enough "points" (as many other 1 Mar Div Marines did) from WWII that he was exempt from being called up, but it was too late now, he was there. After his second war, Phil served with the Rapides Parish Sheriff's department for twenty some years and retired a well respected man. Rest easy Phil, you've earned it.

TF

Phillip F. Harding, Jr. | thetowntalk.com | The Town Talk

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[critter44]

Thanks for that post. Another of the 'greatest generation'. He will be missed!

[Dave]

I READ WHERE ANOTHER WW11 vet passed away, He helped raise the frist flag at Iwo, wasen't my paper so I couldn't keep it but I think the name was Potter?