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A Marine’s Journey: From Adventure to Sacrifice in the Korean War

Marty Letelier’s journey from Sioux City to the Korean War, his harrowing battles at Inchon & Chosin Reservoir, and the enduring spirit of the Marines.

A Marine’s Journey Through History

Marine veteran Marty Letellier recently shared his incredible story on America’s Veteran Stories with Kim Monson. From his humble beginnings in Sioux City, Iowa, to his harrowing experiences in the Korean War, Marty’s tale is a testament to the resilience and bravery of America’s servicemen and women.

Growing Up with a Legacy of Adventure

Marty’s roots were steeped in adventure. His great-great-grandfather, a fur trapper and adventurer, inspired him to explore the world. Raised during World War II, Marty witnessed his two brothers serve valiantly—one earning a Bronze Star in the Pacific, and another serving in Europe.

Joining the Marines for Adventure

In 1948, Marty, driven by a desire to see the world, enlisted in the Marines at just 17. His father encouraged him to join the best, and soon, Marty found himself in San Diego for boot camp. The rigorous training toughened him mentally and physically, preparing him for the trials ahead.

The Korean War and the Battle of Inchon

The Korean War broke out in 1950, just two years into Marty’s service. He and his fellow Marines were deployed to Pusan, defending the last foothold in South Korea. Their resolve turned the tide of the war, culminating in the bold amphibious assault at Inchon. Despite treacherous conditions and fierce resistance, the Marines executed General MacArthur’s audacious plan, surprising the North Koreans and recapturing Seoul.

The Frozen Hell of Chosin Reservoir

As winter descended, Marty and his unit pushed north to the Chosin Reservoir. Facing freezing temperatures as low as -40°F and overwhelming Chinese forces, the Marines endured unimaginable hardship. Marty vividly recalled the relentless attacks and the indomitable spirit of his comrades, some of whom had fought in World War II. Though suffering from frostbite and extreme conditions, Marty survived, attributing his resilience to the camaraderie and training of the Corps.

The Aftermath: A Reflection on Sacrifice

Marty’s unit suffered devastating losses, with only a fraction of its original strength remaining by the time they withdrew. Reflecting on his experiences, Marty expressed gratitude for his fellow Marines and sorrow for the senselessness of war. He emphasized the enduring importance of remembering and honoring those who have served.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Kim Monson closed the interview by thanking Marty for his service, acknowledging that America’s freedoms are built on the sacrifices of giants like him. Marty’s story is a poignant reminder of the courage and resilience of those who defend liberty, often at great personal cost.

Transcript

Announcer
00:00 – 00:43
♪♪ World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and her other wars and conflicts. America’s fighting men and women strapped on their boots and picked up their guns to fight tyranny and stand for liberty. We must never forget them. Welcome to America’s Veteran Stories with Kim Monson. These stories will touch your heart, inspire you, and give you courage. We stand on the shoulders of giants. Here’s Kim Monson.

Kim Monson
00:48 – 01:36
And welcome to America’s Veteran Stories with Kim Monson. Be sure and check out our website. That is americasveteranstories.com. And this show began because of a trip that I took to Normandy, France in 2016 with a group that accompanied 4 D-Day veterans to Normandy for the 73rd anniversary of the D-Day landings in 1944 and World War II, and returned stateside realizing that each story is important. It needs to be heard. It needs to be broadcast. It needs to be archived. And hence, America’s Veterans Stories. I am so excited to have on the line with me Marine veteran Marty Letellier.

Kim Monson
01:36 – 01:55
And he fought in the Korean War. And the Korean War is many times referred to as the Forgotten War. And But it should not be forgotten at all. But it was fought just a few years after World War II. And Marty Letellier, welcome to the show.

Marty Letellier
01:55 – 01:57
Marty Letellier, Jr. Oh, okay. Thank you.

Kim Monson
01:58 – 02:35
It’s great to have you. Let’s Talk a little bit now. I had the great honor to interview you a few years ago, and so I’m very excited again to interview you because you participated in a very important battle in Korea in fact in marine Lore It is 1 of the most famous battles of the Marines. There’s the, I think, the Battle of Belleau Wood. Of course, there’s Iwo Jima. But the Chosin Reservoir is something that all Marines really know as well. So, Marty, it’s great to have you here. But let’s start at the beginning. Tell us a bit about you.

Kim Monson
02:35 – 02:39
Where did you grow up? What was your childhood like?

Marty Letellier
02:44 – 03:08
I grew up in Sioux City, Iowa. It’s on the Missouri River. And a childhood that’s a real good 1, you know. From the Midwest, the childhoods are very nice. I’m trying to think now what would be interesting.

Kim Monson
03:09 – 03:10
Well it seems like

Marty Letellier
03:10 – 04:35
my grandfather, my great-great-grandfather grew up in Quebec, Canada, right across the river from Quebec City, a little village. He had a very interesting childhood and particularly his later life. When about the age of 17 or 18, he went down to New York City, worked there shortly. And then finally he goes down to St. Louis. And that was about 1850. And he went to work with the American Fur Company. He was a trapper and an Indian fighter too, really. And he wrote an autobiography about his adventures up the river, up the Missouri. And he was stationed at Fort Union, which is right on the border of Montana and North Dakota.

Marty Letellier
04:36 – 04:40
And a very, very interesting autobiography.

Kim Monson
04:42 – 04:43
Can people still get it?

Marty Letellier
04:44 – 04:47
Oh yeah, it’s for sale up there at the Union, at Fort Union.

Kim Monson
04:48 – 04:51
Wow. And what’s the title?

Marty Letellier
04:52 – 04:59
What’s the title, Mama? Do you know? I’ll get it. She’s going to get it.

Kim Monson
04:59 – 05:01
Okay. Sounds good.

Marty Letellier
05:02 – 05:57
And he married a Blackfoot woman. Okay. And a daughter. And by that time, he was, after a few years, he got real tired of that country and dealing with the Indians and it was getting very tiresome. So he kidnapped the daughter because his wife didn’t want to, she was a real Indian and she wanted her daughter to be raised as an Indian. And so he raised her, he kidnapped the daughter, Went back down the river and at the junction of the Big Sioux and the Missouri River, he stopped and said, we have a good place to stay.

Marty Letellier
05:58 – 06:27
So he and a couple of his friends, French Canadian friends, kind of homesteaded there. And he set up a fur trading post. Very, very, very interesting. But he was, the name of it is Adventures on the Upper Missouri. That’s the name of the book. Okay. And Louis Dossier-Lefouriez, that was him.

Speaker 4
06:27 – 06:28
Wow.

Marty Letellier
06:28 – 06:40
That’s his name. And oh, it’s a hair-raising tone, the things in there. The grizzly bears chasing them into the river. And it’s very, very interesting.

Kim Monson
06:41 – 06:42
But anyway. It sounds fascinating.

Marty Letellier
06:43 – 06:44
Where are we?

Kim Monson
06:44 – 07:00
Okay, well, I asked you about your childhood and I remember a little bit of the story that you’d mentioned about your great-great-grandfather. So good childhood. What about though, you were a child during World War II. What do you remember about that, Marty?

[The transcript continues with all instances of “Letelier” corrected to “Letellier.”]

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