I went on a Patriot Guard Ride Saturday. Because I felt I needed to go on
this one. It was on my mind when I got the notice of the mission and it
still has my attention four days after the service. The circumstances
are the thing that haunts me. I guess I need to elaborate.
Cristobal Romo was born in 1931 in Glendale, Arizona, and was on the older side of 23 other siblings in a very large family. He was in the Army in Korea. He was among 2400 soldiers sent to relieve the 3rd Marine Corp Battalion that was surrounded by the Chinese at Chosen Reservoir in December of 1950, the Chosen Few.
After I graduated High School I worked for Todd Ranch back when we still had citrus in Corona. A mentor of mine, the mechanic, Jerry Donnelly was a life hardened and tempered Irishman who had spent his time in Korea during the war, drove truck in the woods logging, worked on whatever needed fixed, could weld you up a Grader blade starting with a 3/8's bolt, and tell stories all day long keeping a 19 year old kid riveted and mostly out trouble. A treasure trove of dirty limericks, logging stories and exploits of his time in Korea I learned of the miserable conditions and temperatures of Korea. The wave of Chinese soldiers; only the ones in the front had guns. You dropped the shooter and the next one behind him picked the rifle up and kept coming, and so on....an endless wall and wave. I learned of other things that happened but but unrelated to this story. I lost track of Jerry, wish him well and thank him for all he taught me.
Cristobal was last seen during one of these attacks on November 27 through December 1, 1950 on the East side of the Reservoir, after days and nights of fighting, the temperatures getting in the minuses at night. After a muster on December 12, he was declared Missing in Action, and the Army declared him dead December 31, 1953.
Time marches on, leaving behind only memories and stories. The family grows older and apart as the generations go past. Tio Cristobal never seeing his younger siblings grow. In September 2004 a joint recovery operation took place at a burial site east of the Chosen Reservoir.
It took five nights for the men of the 31st RCT to fight for their lives and it took five decades to fight for their honor. Eventually, released Chinese documents and research by historians convinced the Marine Corps that the 31st RCT had fought bravely and performed well given the circumstances. In recognition of the heroic efforts of the 31st RCT in 14 September 1999, the Secretary of the Navy authorized the Army 31st Regimental Combat Team units to be included in the 1st Marine Division Navy Presidential Unit Citation awarded in December 1950.
Saturday, one brother, the youngest and only one left of his 24 brothers and sisters and a nephew put Cristobal to rest at Riverside National. Welcome home, you can rest peacefully now, no words can ever say Thank You enough for your service and sacrifice. Your full Military funeral with bugle, bagpipes, salute and presentation was one of the sharpest ever witnessed.
Cristobal Romo was born in 1931 in Glendale, Arizona, and was on the older side of 23 other siblings in a very large family. He was in the Army in Korea. He was among 2400 soldiers sent to relieve the 3rd Marine Corp Battalion that was surrounded by the Chinese at Chosen Reservoir in December of 1950, the Chosen Few.
After I graduated High School I worked for Todd Ranch back when we still had citrus in Corona. A mentor of mine, the mechanic, Jerry Donnelly was a life hardened and tempered Irishman who had spent his time in Korea during the war, drove truck in the woods logging, worked on whatever needed fixed, could weld you up a Grader blade starting with a 3/8's bolt, and tell stories all day long keeping a 19 year old kid riveted and mostly out trouble. A treasure trove of dirty limericks, logging stories and exploits of his time in Korea I learned of the miserable conditions and temperatures of Korea. The wave of Chinese soldiers; only the ones in the front had guns. You dropped the shooter and the next one behind him picked the rifle up and kept coming, and so on....an endless wall and wave. I learned of other things that happened but but unrelated to this story. I lost track of Jerry, wish him well and thank him for all he taught me.
Cristobal was last seen during one of these attacks on November 27 through December 1, 1950 on the East side of the Reservoir, after days and nights of fighting, the temperatures getting in the minuses at night. After a muster on December 12, he was declared Missing in Action, and the Army declared him dead December 31, 1953.
Time marches on, leaving behind only memories and stories. The family grows older and apart as the generations go past. Tio Cristobal never seeing his younger siblings grow. In September 2004 a joint recovery operation took place at a burial site east of the Chosen Reservoir.
It took five nights for the men of the 31st RCT to fight for their lives and it took five decades to fight for their honor. Eventually, released Chinese documents and research by historians convinced the Marine Corps that the 31st RCT had fought bravely and performed well given the circumstances. In recognition of the heroic efforts of the 31st RCT in 14 September 1999, the Secretary of the Navy authorized the Army 31st Regimental Combat Team units to be included in the 1st Marine Division Navy Presidential Unit Citation awarded in December 1950.
Saturday, one brother, the youngest and only one left of his 24 brothers and sisters and a nephew put Cristobal to rest at Riverside National. Welcome home, you can rest peacefully now, no words can ever say Thank You enough for your service and sacrifice. Your full Military funeral with bugle, bagpipes, salute and presentation was one of the sharpest ever witnessed.
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