THE CHOSIN FEW
Exclusive Fraternity of Honor
Korean War – 1950
More information on the Chosin Few can be found at www.chosinreservoir.com
Applicants must have served in any allied service in, above or around the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea in November through December of 1950.
An associate membership is available to surviving spouses and children of veterans who served at the Chosin Reservoir.
A bio about Rudy B. Meekins:
Written and sent by his admin because he is simply to humble to list his own accomplishments
PFC Rudy B. Meekins Sr, veteran of the United States Marine Corp and a proud member of the “Chosin Few”. He landed at Inchon with Item Battery 3rd Battalion 11th Marines in mid September 1950 and transferred to Item Company 3rd Battalion 7Th Marines in early December.
Background
His first love was Boy Scouts, from there; it became the United States Marine Corps. He was wounded badly in North Korea in 1950 and spent almost two years in military hospitals. After returning home with 4 Purple Hearts and a long road to recovery he married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Sue Bagley that he met in the first grade at age 7. They celebrated their 66th anniversary last December 13th. They have two children, R. Bryan Meekins, Jr. and Elaine Meekins Wood, both of whom he is extremely proud.
Profession
Because of his limitations of movement Rudy became interested in accounting. A few years later, as he was able to be more active, he became involved in real estate and has been a real estate broker since 1959. At Meekins and Associates, INC, he has been building entities with valued clients, friends, and family for years. These groups of people have come together to purchase real estate for investment and he is known and trusted for his ethics, transparency and decency in business. He has threatened to retire at 90, but no one really believes that.
Community:
Rudy had been wounded so badly at the battle of the Chosin Reservoir that he had to spend two years recovering in a hospital. After the battle, he had been thrown in the back of a truck with the others who had died. Only when the bodies were removed did it become apparent that he was still alive because the below-freezing temperatures had stopped his bleeding.
Surviving this life-changing ordeal, Rudy dedicated his life to Christ, feeling Christ had spared him to witness to others. He became a member of a Bible study and a Wednesday morning prayer/praise meeting that has continued for over 40 years — which he still coordinates each Wednesday morning.
Rudy has traveled the world in missionary service to God. His Missionary trips include Jerusalem, Russia, Belarus, Mozambique, Haiti (5 times), the Gulf Coast (Hurricane Katrina, twice) He has many a tale to tell from those adventures.
The people that surround him are always amazed the knack he has on finding a way to relate to all people, the majority of whom he has an inexplicable connection with through one adventure or another in which he met their friend, family member , or associate; and his exceptional ability to remember names, dates, events and bible passages.
Rudy B. Meekins, by his honor, values, and sheer excellence as a human being, is living proof of the adage “Once a Marine, Always a Marine.”
Songs by Frank G. Gross performed by John Carpino
Frank G Gross Lyrics
Ballad of the Chosin
By Frank G. Gross
Frank Gross wrote his emotionally gripping lyrics describing the Battle of Chosin Reservoir at the Philadelphia naval hospital on December 29, 1950, as he was beginning treatment for war injuries and the frostbite that eventually cost him parts of his toes. This ballad is believed to be one of the first written about the Korean War.
The nights are cold in Korean soil
But the nights been cold before
And its not so hard in your own back yard
To be set for peace or war
But in history there’s a chapter
Of a place called Valley Forge
Repeated one December
On the Chosin Reservoir
They had us all surrounded
I could hear them scream and yell
My feelings at that moment
No tongue could ever tell
I saw the bursting mortar shells
And the bullets around me flew
As all my strength had left me
And all my courage too
But with the breaking of the morning
just before the dawn
I heard the sounding bugles
And the big attack was on
The cotton quilted uniforms
Against our bullet spree
The screaming yelling banzai
They called the human sea
Baby faces bearded
and chapped with hardened mud
Parkas that were dirty
And stained with frozen blood
Here a bunch of youngsters
Who fought on to the end
In the battle of the Chosin
Where boys were changed to men
Twelve long miles of convoy
Headed for the sea
Roadblocks at every turning
Down through Koto-ri
The frost bite and the wounded
The dead and dying too
No matter what the objective be
These boys were going through
Down through Koto-ri
The frost bite and the wounded
The dead and dying too
No matter what the objective be
These boys were going through
The captain he informed us
Perhaps he thought it right
Before we reach the river boys
Were going to have to fight
But we’re going out like marines
In an organized withdraw
And no matter what the rumors say
Its no retreat at all
We fought at least nine hours
Before the strife was ore
And the like of dead and wounded
I’ve never seen before
But the ever lasting promise
Kept along each bloody yard
No one leaves behind the wounded
Cause there ain’t no fight that hard
The chaplain collected dog tags
In his hands were quite a few
There was Captain Smith’s McCloskies
And corporal Bryan’s too
But before we reached the river
And fought our way back through
The sergeant had the dog tags
And he had the chaplain’s too
If I made you pause one moment
And take a little time
Then I know it wasn’t just in vain
That I put these words to rhyme
For there’s just to many people
Who take this all in stride
They hear these tales of battle
Then cast it all aside
Oh the nights were cold in Korean soil
But the nights been cold before
The Band of Brothers March
By Frank G. Gross
When the eagle makes a stand,
Upon a distant land,
And the spirit of the corps is in his eye he lays his anchor down,
Upon the troubled ground,
And the world knows the words of Semper Fi.
From the sound of different drummers,
In the valley of the thunder.- And a hundred marching men passing by,
Each man became a brother,
Depending on each other,
And the world knows the words of Semper Fi.
His mighty wings will span,
With the anchor in his hand,
as the mountains catch his shadow flying by and on this frozen land,
The golden eagle stands,
And the world knows the words of Semper Fi,
From the sound of different drummers,
In the valley of the thunder,
And a hundred marching men passing by,
Each man became a brother,
Depending on each other,
And the world knows the words of Semper Fi.
Though the years have come and gone,
The spirit still goes on,
Tonight we will hold our banners high,
To the brotherhood so true,
The proud the chosin few,
And the world knows the words of Semper Fi.
The Diamond in the Sky
“THE DIAMOND IN THE SKY”
Authors: Maj. Paul Sanders, USMC (Ret) and Frank Gross, I/3/7 Marines
Twas two weeks plus before Christmas
On the day of December seven
No bells to ring or choir to sing
As the snowflakes fell from heaven
No shopping sprees or Christmas trees
For this brotherhood of men
Gods gift that night moved into sight
When the star came back again
The wind blew hard and chilling cold
Beneath that starless sky
Where the frost would bite like fire
And the snow refused to die
Emotions from their silent prayers
Was showing from each eye
And from their lips that silent wish
For that diamond that diamond in the sky
Oh God how much we need it
Each soul inside did cry
As they prayed to see that diamond
Appearing in the sky
Then just before the light of dawn
You could hear the joyous shout
Our prayers have now been answered
For Gods star has just come out
In ancient days God gave a sign
To the shepherds and wise men too
And a similar sign was seen by men
That are known as the Chosin Few
There is a star! There is a star !
They shouted with a tear dimmed eye
Oh praise in rhyme at Christmas time
For Gods diamond Gods diamond in the sky
Men buttoned up their parkas
And stood to shake off the snow
Then gathered up their courage
For the last few miles to go
Through the enemy lines at Koto Ri
They fought with spirits high
Inspired by Gods special star
They called the diamond, Gods diamond in the sky
Like the twinkling lights of Christmas
That sparkle on the tree
The stars came out in multitudes
And they lighted up koto ri
Through the clearing skies the corsairs came
Flying chariots filled the air
Like the cavalrymen to the rescue
And the guiding star was there
For it was Gods star It was that star
It was his diamond. The diamond in the sky
(Note: The star over Koto Ri today is the logo for “THE CHOSIN FEW”
Frozen Chosin Frostbite Bitten Blues
I GOT THE FROZEN CHOSIN FROST BITE BITTEN BLUES
Written by Frank G.Gross
I got the frozen Chosin frost bite bitten blues,
I got the frozen Chosin frost bite bitten blues,
And over in north korea I feel it down to my shoes.
I wish I was sleeping in a big old army tent,
Yeah,I wish I was sleeping In a big old army tent,
So if you find one thats vacant I got a sleeping bag thats up for rent.
It was cold last night, cold the night before,
If they sent us Betty Grable wont be cold no more,
I got the frozen Chosin frost bite bitten blues,
I got the frozen Chosin frost bite bitten blues,
And over in north korea I feel it down to my shoes,
Theres a town in Korea that the people call yu dam ni,
Theres a town in Korea that the people call yu dam ni,
Well my damm damm knees are shaking as my body is starting to freeze.
I got a BAR that wieghs three thousand pounds,
I got a BAR that wieghs three thousand pounds,
And when I climb up those mountains my ass is down on the ground,
And I threw away the tripod too.
It was cold lat night, cold the night before,
If they sent us Betty Grable, wont be cold no more,
We’ll be home for Christmas to trim up the Christmas tree,
We’ll be home for Christmas, so MacAuther keeps telling me,
Gone to see that yule tide season, in nineteen seventy three.
Man thats a long time now.
Going to catch a gook, and fry him up in a pan,
Going to catch a gook, and fry him up in a pan,
Cause I know that he will taste much better, then these C Rations in a can.
I got the frozen chosin frost bite bitten blues,
I got the frozen Chosin Frost bite bitten blues,
And over in north korea I feel it down to my shoes.
It was cold last night, cold the night before,
If they sent us Betty Grable, it wont be cold no more,
I Got the frozen chosin frost bite bitten blues,
And over in North Korea, I feel it down to my shoes.
Man that was cold.
Chosen Few Playlist
Ballad of the Chosin Few
Young Marine
Diamond in the Sky
Frozen Chosin Frostbite Bitten Blues
A Heartsick Soldier on Heartbreak Ridge
The Unknown Soldier
Forgotten Men
Korean Mud
PBS DOCUMENTARY
The Battle of Chosin
INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS. UNFORGIVING CONDITIONS. UNYIELDING COURAGE.
Film Description
On Thanksgiving Day 1950, American-led United Nations troops were on the march in North Korea. U.S. Marine and Air Force pilots distributed holiday meals, even to those on the front lines. Hopes were high that everyone would be home by Christmas. But soon after that peaceful celebration, American military leaders, including General Douglas MacArthur, were caught off guard by the entrance of the People’s Republic of China, led by Mao Zedong, into the five-month-old Korean War. Twelve thousand men of the First Marine Division, along with a few thousand Army soldiers, suddenly found themselves surrounded, outnumbered and at risk of annihilation at the Chosin Reservoir, high in the mountains of North Korea. The two-week battle that followed, fought in brutally cold temperatures, is one of the most celebrated in Marine Corps annals and helped set the course of American foreign policy in the Cold War and beyond. Incorporating interviews with more than 20 veterans of the campaign, The Battle of Chosin recounts this epic conflict through the heroic stories of the men who fought it.
Frozen Chosin_USM_Changjin_Brig Gen Simmons
Click the link above to open the full pdf book
Edwin Howard Simmons (August 25, 1921 – May 5, 2007)
was a United States Marine Corps brigadier general. He was a career officer who served in combat during three wars — including landing at Inchon and fighting at the Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War. He was renowned as the official Marine Corps historian, being called “the collective memory of the Marine Corps”. His 1974 book The United States Marines: A History is a seminal reference text.
The blood-stained Taegeukgi (The flag of South Korea) at the time of 6.25 was hung in the office… wounded at the Battle of Jangjin Reservoir “I am proud of my surprise participation in the Korean War after visiting Korea in 1995”
Rudy Mikins, a Korean War veteran who runs a real estate business with a national flag hanging in Annandale’s office, presents a brochure introducing the Battle of Jangjinho, where he participated in the battle on the 16th.
“I really love Korea. The Taegeukgi that a young boy at the time painted on a rice sack and gave me was in my heart during the war and is still in my office.” Rudy Meekins (91), who works as a real estate broker in Anandale, Virginia, has such an extraordinary love for Korea that he runs his business by hanging a painted Taegeukgi in a frame on a sack of rice in his office.
He participated in the Korean War while landing on Wolmi Island as a member of the 1st Marine Division on September 15, 1950 during the Incheon Landing Operation. On December 13th), they engaged the Chinese Communist Army, which used the Ini tactic, and on December 6th suffered 13 injuries, including both legs and right arm. He is said to have received four Medals of Hearts for wounding at the time.
“This Taegeukgi painted on a rice sack was exchanged for my belongings by a boy I met in Seoul between the ages of 10 and 12 years old.
Mr. Mikins said that just the day before he was wounded in the Battle of Jangjin Lake, he loaded the corpses and wounded soldiers of his allies who had died during the engagement in a truck, and he did not know that he would be in such a situation the next day. At the Battle of Jangjin Lake in the cold winter of 1950, to break the siege of 120,000 people from 7 divisions of the Chinese Communist Army, 18,000 people, including 1st Marine Division and 3 battalions of the 7th Army, engaged in a hand-to-hand battle. A woman occurred. Chinese casualties were more than 45,000.
He introduces the fierce battle of Jangjinho through the ‘Kotori Star’ pin, a symbol of the battle of Jangjinho, attached to his clothes, and published ‘Frozen Chosin’, a booklet introducing the battle of Jangjinho with his photo in it. (shown)
“At the time, the Marines were marching along the east coast and the Army was marching west, but it was really cold and frostbite was a problem. I also wore a statue at the time. The father of Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also participated in the battle. The Jangjinho Battle Monument, located in the US Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia, is symbolized by the ‘Star of Kotori’. On December 7, the night before the besieged American troops were to withdraw their troops, the blizzard suddenly cleared and a star appeared over Kotori, near Jangjin Lake, because it symbolized the Battle of Jangjin Lake.”
The Battle of Jangjinho made possible the evacuation operation from Heungnam (December 15-24, 1950) called the ‘Christmas miracle’, which sent 100,000 refugees down south. After breaking through the Chinese forces at the Battle of Jangjin Lake, the US troops gathered in Heungnam and sent refugees to the South on a transport ship.
Born in Nags Head, Outerbank, North Carolina, he graduated from high school and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 18. He served in the Korean War for four months after being wounded and went through Japan, Hawaii, California, Texas, Maryland, and Virginia. He was transferred to the Naval Hospital in Norfolk.
“I still have a clear memory. He was transferred to the Norfolk Naval Hospital on January 8, 1951, where he was treated there for almost two years, until he was discharged and discharged on November 30, 1952, where he was discharged as a Staff Sergeant.”
He married on December 13 of the same year after being discharged from the military and studied accounting at Strayer University in Virginia. He later became a real estate agent in 1958 and a broker the following year. At the time, he could become a broker after only one year as an agent.
“I moved to Virginia right after I got married, so it will be 70 years since I lived in this area. I have been in the real estate business for over 63 years. What I remember is that I also arranged the house of the now deceased Taekwondo instructor, Jun-gu Lee.”
Mr. Mikins said that he was surprised when he visited Korea in 1995 as a veterans visit program.
“At that time, I had the opportunity to stay at a 5-star hotel in Seoul for 5 days and see the change of Korea, and I was very surprised. The broken Han River Bridge was rebuilt and it felt like I was in New York. I felt proud to have participated in the Korean War when I saw how Koreans developed Korea, which had been shattered by the ashes of the war.”
He predicted that the unification of the two Koreas would not be easy. And he said that the North Koreans were pitiful.
“Since South and North Korea have operated under completely different systems for more than 70 years, it will not be easy to merge them into one. I feel sorry for the North Koreans who have lived under a dictator.”
< Reporter Lee Chang- yeol >
Meekins & Associates, INC
——Locations——
DISCLOSURE OF OWNERSHIP INTEREST:
Rudy B. Meekins is a broker at Meekins and Associates, Inc. and has an ownership interest in the featured properties.
Information is believed to be accurate, but should not be relied upon without verification.
Accuracy of square footage, lot size and other information is not guaranteed.