William McReynolds Oral History Interview, February 6, 1995, June 24, 1996, June 29, 1997, April 26, 2001

(Oral History #OH0147)

Title:	William McReynolds Oral History Interview
Creators:	Lennon, Donald R. McReynolds, William
Repository:	ECU Manuscript Collection
Languages:	English
Extent:	0.035 Cubic feet, 7 audiotapes, 7.5 hours, 130 pages .

General note

1920s-1953

Access Restrictions

No restrictions

Copyright Notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Preferred Citation

William McReynolds Oral History Interview (#OH0147), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

Acquisition Information

• Gift of William McReynolds

Processing Information

• Encoded by Apex Data Services

Colonel McReynolds, the son of a Marine Corps officer, comments on his childhood at various Marine bases, the death of his father in Nicaragua in 1929, and his experiences at the U.S. Naval Academy. For the period after his commissioning as a Marine officer, he reflects on his training and World War II service on the Samoan Islands, stateside, and during the landing at Kwajalein during the Marshall Islands campaign.

In his second interview, Colonel McReynolds describes training for and involvement in the landings at Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima, as well as duty at Maui and Pearl Harbor prior to the ending of World War II. Postwar assignments included Camp Pendleton, U.S. Navy Yard, Ft. Sill, and Camp Lejeune. He discusses the outbreak of the Korean War, his transfer to Japan, and his landing at Inchon, Korea. Included are descriptions of the Inchon landing, the occupation of Seoul, the return to Inchon, the Wonsan Harbor landing, and the Chosin Reservoir engagements.

In Interview #3 Colonel McReynolds describes in detail the engagement at the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, efforts to withdraw from the location, the marches to Hagaru and Koto-ri, and their evacuation to Wonsan by boat. He recounts the rebuilding of the battalion and its return to action in "Operation Killer" at Fusen, crossing of the Hochon River, their position along the Pujon River, and the defense of a pass near Songchon.

In Interview #4 Colonel McReynolds continues his narrative, describing how the Chinese Army was caught in a valley at Songchon, the American offensive attack at "Dead Horse Gulch," and their push up toward Yangoo, after which he rotated out of Korea.