For Hometown News
MARTIN COUNTY -
The U.S. Marines and Navy Fleet Marine Force Corpsmen, members of the Martin County based Lance Cpl. Justin J. Wilson Detachment 1045, Marine Corps League, are partnering with the Martin County Library System to air combat film footage of the famous Korean War 1950 battle of the immense Frozen Chosin' Reservoir.
The presentation will include guest speakers and U.S. Marines, who participated in the battle to defend the ice-frozen allied positions during the worst weather conditions imaginable while they were members of the 1st Marine Division.
At that time, U.S. forces numbered merely 20,000, and were completely encircled, and occasionally overrun, by overwhelming Communist Chinese Army forces numbering nearly 200,000.
One of those who will speak is Marine Gerald "Gerry" Murphy, a long- time member of the Marine Corps League, and one of the estimated 2,000 or so veteran Marines residing in Martin County.
He, along with Korean War battle veteran Albert R. Karacand and Donald C. Thibault will bring candidly vivid and graphic eye-witness testimony of their personal combat exploits to the audience.
The MCL Detachment and library staff are hopeful that other Korean War veterans living in Martin and adjoining counties, who also served in the U.S. Marines' 1st, 5th or 7th Divisions and in other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and allied nations' armed forces, including the '41 Royal Marine Commando' who fought alongside American forces, will join Marines Murphy, Karacand and Thibault on stage to be recognized and take part in the question and answer session following the featured film.
These veterans are asked to kindly identify themselves when they acquire free tickets for the event, by completing a provided form.
This free public education production, made possible by the Martin County Library System, will be presented at 10 a.m. on Nov. 7 at the Blake Library, located at 2351 S.E. Monterey Road.
The Blake Library's public events room has seating for approximately 250, therefore advance free admission tickets are being offerd on a first, come first served basis. The tickets can be acquired by visiting the Blake Library's central lobby area, where up to four tickets can be acquired at a table manned by a Marine Corps League member from 4 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5.
For more information, call (772) 919-8800 or email jjwilsonmcl1045@gmail.com.