One of them, he remembered was called Andy, Andy Gump the other men jokingly called him. God, the snow was deep on the tree‑covered ridge they were sent out to reconnaissance.

All three carried their M1s on the alert with full clips inserted. Both brothers were with them only a week. Spread out in single file, they walked along in full moonlight carrying on short conversations.

He remembered the brothers remarking how similar Korea was to their native home. It was a calm night with no hint of danger. They were even so foolish as to start remembering women, a dangerous thing to do on patrol.

The rifle fire came at them from everywhere. They walked right into a trap without realizing it. That was the first time he was wounded.

Both brothers were down. He had strength to check. Andy was still living with a bullet hole from the base of his neck through his forehead. The brother was dead.

Jim tried to fight back while his blood continued to make a red pool on the white snow. The wound was in his thigh somewhere he could not locate only he was so cold, he could not tell how badly he was hurt.

Men continued to fight when half their bodies were blown away. The only reason he quit was because he could no longer see. There were dark forms in the snow around him when he ceased to know what was happening.