PORK CHOP HILL

G.I.'S ESCAPE  

Officially it was designated hill 255, but its lines on a map of Korea and a 1959 film made it world famous as PORK CHOP HILL . Based on a book by military historian S.L.A. Marshal, the movie dealt only with the penultimate, two-day battle for Pork Chop Hill in April 1953. In actuality, that Hill claimed the lives of soldiers from the United States, Thailand, Colombia, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and China in an ongoing struggle that lasted longer than on any other single battlefield in Korea.

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Growing up in the 1960's, this movie would play on TV every once in awhile. The significance of the battle and the great struggle of the men involved never struck me, until I found this article the other day on Harold Scharmer, who played end for the Hackensack football team in 1952. Only 7 months later, he was fighting in Korea.

The Record news article dated July 10, 1953 on Harold Scharmer's near capture and escape during the battle of Pork Chop Hill is even more moving in light of the fact the war ended only 17 days later on July 27, 1953. Let us never forget the soldiers sacrifice.

Bob Meli April 10, 2009