Sixty-one years is a long time.\u00a0 People age, and memories fade.\u00a0 But some things are worth remembering.<\/p>\n
On 14 August 1952, a thing worth remembering occurred.\u00a0 Sadly, it\u2019s not terribly well known today.<\/p>\n
On that date, CPL Lester Hammond, Jr., Company A, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, died.<\/p>\n
That in and of itself is nothing unusual.\u00a0 More than 33,700 US troops were killed in action in Korea.\u00a0 Thousands more died due to nonbattle injuries or are missing.<\/p>\n
However, how and why CPL Hammond died that August day is worth remembering.<\/p>\n
CPL Hammond\u2019s unit was conducting patrols near Kumwha, Korea.\u00a0 CPL Hammond was the radio telephone operator for one of the patrols.<\/p>\n
His patrol was engaged by overwhelming Chinese forces.\u00a0 They were in danger of being overrun.<\/p>\n
CPL Hammond was wounded – twice.\u00a0 He became separated from the rest of his patrol.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, CPL Hammond could observe the enemy.\u00a0 He made calls for supporting artillery fire.\u00a0 His last call for fire was on his own position<\/a>.<\/p>\n These supporting fires were necessary to allow his comrades to escape.\u00a0 However, CPL Hammond knew full well he couldn\u2019t move from his current position.\u00a0 He was too seriously wounded.<\/p>\n He made his final call for fire anyway.\u00a0 His comrades were saved.<\/p>\n He wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n