DENCHFIELD RAYMOND
CAPT. US ARMY
30 NOV 1950
KIA CHOSIN RESERVOIR
We are a military family. Men in every generation back to the 1700s (and probably before) have donned the uniform of their country. Fortunately, all except one returned home safely to pass away of old age. Today is for Capt. Raymond C. Denchfield.
WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER
By Judith Knight
We’ve all heard
This casual remark
And thought little of it
And just as well
For whoever heard
Of a frozen hell
Well listen to me
And you will know
Of the frozen hell
Where soldiers go
I can tell you now
How it was then
When I went to hell
And back again.
It was back in fifty
You know the score
When the Thirty-first
Went off to war.
We were the Polar Bears!
We’d been around,
But we almost lost it
On that frozen ground.
It was called Chosin
That frozen place
Unhabitable I’d say
By Gods own grace
But there we were
At forty below with frozen ear
And frozen toe
With weapon frozen
To the hand
Then forced to fight
For this bitter land
Out-numbered there
By the Devils brood
Fighting to death
And dying crude.
We did not bleed
For our blood was frozen
There on the battleground
We recall as Chosin
And on we went
Our numbers small
To Hagarui-ri,
As I recall.
And even in Hell
A hero’s born
And we had ours
That frozen morn
When Donald Faith
Redeemed us there
But stayed behind
In the Devils lair.
Like one before
A sacrifice made
He gave his life
For those he saved
Four thousand strong
Were nevermore
Three thousand lay
On the Devils floor
And of those left
To fight again
There were but a handful
Of Faith’s own men
He led us out
That day from Hell
It’s sacred ground
Where our hero fell.
A rag-tag lot
Half-frozen men
Half-able but willing
To fight again
And I am one
And you may be too
We are known today
As the Chosin Few!
