PebbleCreek’s Armed Forces Plaza was dedicated May 15, 2010. It honors all who serve or have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The plaza is located directly west of the PebbleCreek Eagle’s Nest Clubhouse and is made up of pavers and seat caps engraved with the names of servicemen and women of PebbleCreek residents, family or friends. It also features military branch flags, the U.S. flag and a beautiful water feature. A book that identifies the locations, by name of each paver also features some of the compelling stories of service men and women who have a paver there. Recently, homeowner Sandra Hand honored her husband’s service in Korea with a paver in the plaza. David shared a bit of his story.
David Hale Hand, Korea
It was July 6, 1953, and I was just 21 years old and was a part of the 7th Division, 32nd Regiment, “H” company, 81mm Mortars, in Korea. I had been stationed in the Chowan Valley for about six months. The Chowan Valley was the DMZ (38th Parallel) with the Chinese on the north side and the 7th Division on the south. We were about one mile apart and could see each other. There was activity in the valley almost every day and night, so we had fire missions on a regular basis. By then I was a Platoon Leader and head of our Fire Direction Center.
We had been moved back to the Division area for some rest, showers, new clothes and food. A few hours after we had settled in, a battery of 155mm, Long Tom Howitzers near-by, started a barrage. The barrage went on into the evening so there was no rest. After dusk we were loaded into trucks with our equipment and headed, we did not know where. We arrived at a very large ammunition staging area and set up our mortars. Company “D” mortars was already there and firing steadily. All I knew was the we are at the base of Hill 255 and the Chinese had attacked the hill. We set up our mortars and I zeroed them in on the north side, top of the hill where the Chinese were and we began firing almost as fast as we could. The air was filled with the noises of a ferocious sound of war.
After 72 hours of non-stop firing I had to get some sleep. I found a squad tent filled with many boxes of ammunition and cuddled up among them. About two hours later, I was being shaken by one of my men and yelling, “Sergeant, Sergeant, where were you when the barrage went through?” I looked up at the tent in shreds. I had been protected by hundreds of tons of live ammunition!
The battle lasted for four days and then there was an eerie quiet. In a little while, 12 men came off the hill. Two were my forward observers who directed our fire, and the other 10 were all that was left of “E” company who were protecting the hill. “E” company was a reinforced rifle company of over 300, who we were to learn, were attacked by a Division of Chinese.
Our eight guns had fired over 40,000 rounds and we melted the bottoms out of 12 Mortars.
The Chinese stopped their advance when they took the hill. It became the last battle of the Korean war.
The maps that I had only showed the hill we were on and did not show the surrounding areas. We were to learn that we were on a hill which was dubbed “Pork Chop Hill,” because of its shape. It was a hill isolated at the intersection of the Chowan Valley and another valley which flows from the north and directly into Seoul, 35 miles away. It was known as the “Gateway to Seoul.”
After the war ceased, we did busy work for about a month when I got orders to report to Special Services at 7th Division Hq. The Commanding General’s Staff Sergeant had joined our platoon a few months earlier so he could get some battle time which was required in order to get the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. We became friends and he remembered that I had tried to get into Armed Forces Radio along my way in the Army. My interest in civilian life was Theatre. Needless to say, I was not able to get that transfer. He instigated the orders. Our Company Commander tried to talk me out of it and stay with the company. Our First Sergeant was about to rotate and he wanted to make me a Master Sergeant to take his place. I had arrived in Korea a Private and now was a Staff Sergeant within six months. Something you can only do in battle. I thought about it for only about one minute and declined. First, I wanted to take the entertainment post and second, I could not see myself as a 21-year-old Master Sergeant, with other Master Sergeants, who had been in the army for 25 years.
In Special Services I was able to put together a very good “All Soldier Show,” which toured our 7th Division and was then deemed good enough to tour the Far East Commands. I was not to be part of the tour as I rotated home and discharged in 22 months and 16 days. Because of what I had built in Special Services I was replaced by two Sergeants and a Lieutenant.
I am so pleased that my lovely wife Sandra Hand has honored me with a plaque in the PebbleCreek Armed Forces Plaza.
The Armed Forces Plaza is the host to patriotic public events and an Armed Forces Day Program. Residents, family members and the public are welcome to visit the plaza. For more information about the plaza, ordering pavers or any other plaza information, contact Traci Baker, Director of Community Activities at 623-535-9854 ext. 56 or [email protected]; Activities Office location: Eagle’s Nest Activities Center (at the northeast corner of Robson Circle and Clubhouse Drive).