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Recruit Corky Foster hiked over 400 miles to prove his belief that the Vietnam war was worth fighting.
To defend these people VC and NVA is fair and just to give them the opportunity to form a democracy is useful Although our efforts are often clumsy, Americans are the two things I want to be part of this effort I want to join Americans who sacrifice every day to achieve these goals.
Julius Corky Foster, personal notes 8 February 1968.
You may not recognize his face or his name, but after hearing his story you can never forget Julius Foster Cartwright was a Marine lance corporal who lived and died defending the principles that all peoples have the the right to freedom of choice and self-determination.
In 1967, at the age of 28, Julius, named Corky by family and friends, said Americans weren t concerned enough about the efforts and sacrifices made by the US military to help the Vietnamese people fight against communism, he decided to do something that would make people sit up and take notice.
August 27, 1967, Corky left his grandfather's home in the coal region of Welch, West Virginia, and hiked toward the Navy base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Corky had already served in the Marines in a reserve program several years and received an honorable discharge in February 1967, just three months before graduating from the University of West Virginia in the summer, he itches to go to Camp Lejeune and reenlist before leaving home, Corky had already completed the physical and mental tests necessary to put a new navy uniform.
Corky walked more than 400 miles on a trek of 31 days at Camp Lejeune difficult maneuver that draws attention he would use to emphasize the effort made by other Americans fighting in Vietnam and show that the American people and college graduates wanted to bring the war to a successful and honorable end, reported the Charleston Gazette, a West Virginia newspaper on August 29, 1967.
Corky took notes on the miles he walked, he met people and blisters he fought during his 31 days on the road Mark Mathosian.
Corky has kept a daily diary in a small black book he stored in his pocket, he writes entries to the end of most days, although sometimes he struggled to see in the dark and was tired of miles walking with the bag of 38 pounds her back.
Corky walked an average of 17-20 miles per day in heavy boots, and at the end of the first day, painful blisters surface on his feet and between the toes problems with blisters plagued Corky during the entire hike and continued to haunt him even after reaching Camp Lejeune and during its possible deployment at the base of Khe Sanh Combat Marine in Vietnam.
In his diary, Corky documented his way, the people he met and the number of miles walked, he also commented about, he met supporters and travelers along the way He often documented what ate and the company he kept during meals It's no surprise that Corky has written often on the blisters on her toes and feet and his constant need to treat imagine walking a mile with painful blisters on your feet then imagine walking 20 miles a day for 30 days with blisters on your feet most of us simply give Corky Not his convictions and the will were robust, and his desire to make a fiery statement about the Vietnam war kept moving forward.
Most nights Corky slept in the woods near the interstate or side highway road he was on the end of the Mosquitoes day were a constant annoyance Although people have offered shelter, his goal was to stay outside from time to time he slept in a hammock provided by a fan or friend Many people offered him food and drink, sometimes he accepted based journal entries, Corky loved sandwiches ham, chocolate bars and Tang, the orange drink powder popular in the 1960s.
Corky stopped at the restaurant or ate food from her bag after settling for the night in the woods whenever the opportunity arose, he washed and dried his socks and sometimes accepted offers to wash or shower in someone's home He frequently stopped at gas stations to use the bathrooms.
Initially Corky didn t get much attention from spectators But as the days turned into weeks, photograph and the story appeared more often in newspapers and on radio and television fame grew, and more people recognized the most spectators cheering, waving vigorously they spent in cars, trucks and motorcycles.
Some people stopped to take pictures, shake his hand or pat him on the back and wish him a truck driver stopped and told him: We need men like you that a truck driver had spent five months as a prisoner of war in a POW camp in Korea others had no apparent interest, and even showed a certain disdain.
Corky the log is filled with comments and interesting observations.
On 29 August 1967 it increased to 20 hours around 9 am, a sleeping bag hanging on a line, socks washed some socks Flushed water, ate lunch and wrote in the newspaper made an observation What is the reaction of people who go through the boys have a curiosity to look a hint of admiration bright girls in their sports cars look as if they say, what kind of blunder is that upper-class newlyweds age way with their beautiful clothes tan car models seem startled as if to ask what in the world is that the lower class in old cars and simple clothes to look at me as if they know the way is steep and the load is heavy.
Tuesday, September 12, 1967, he observed a young woman riding a motorcycle, all bundled up with luggage and guitar attached to his bike, she Corky with his gloved hand before he realized it was a girl he assumed she was heading to school and saved a soul mate, each seeking self-understanding of education but in two former institutions, schools and war.
On another occasion Corky wrote that people in the Cadillac and Lincoln cars never blew their horns or waved rarely looked at him, he was also caught off guard when a man with two or three others in the car he saluted also amusingly noted, the next time a horse woman with a man staring at me with a sort of smile, I'll overlook it.
comments Journal of September 18 provided a little insight into human nature Shaved an old Esso station lunch in a small neighborhood restaurant You do not get quick service when you are walking with a large orange bag odor back I t think you get good service when you smell a bad odor period.
As he walked near Camp Lejeune, residents came out of their houses to greet Some asked for his autograph and several wanted to take his picture or be photographed with him One woman said, I'm glad to see someone with guts Interestingly, when it was very close to Camp Lejeune, he saw many Marines in cars leaving the base for the weekend Several Marines waved and some stopped to talk with him without surprise, their main issues were why I walk, what I'm trying to prove.
Corky was not shy, and he regularly phoned payphone media say where he was or where it would be when it reaches their area if they wanted an interview that he was determined that his message heard However, there was no glory hound When he reached Camp Lejeune day 31, Corky was encouraged by commanders to consider registering for school candidates agent However, Corky declined the offer he wanted be on the front line and in action and hope to have the opportunity to converse with people of Vietnam It called for the immediate assignment in Vietnam.
Corky has arrived in Vietnam December 3, 1967, and was assigned to Marine combat base through Highway 1 near Phu Bai, south of Hue in central Vietnam While in Phu Bai, he spent most of his time to run patrols and ambushes outside the perimeter of the base According to Corky, they literally lived in the bush, we will be on 2 or 3 days to return the morning of the third day by truck or on foot, eat a hot meal, get three days C-rations and go back in the afternoon.
The weather was still cold and rainy, and one night when it did not rain was considered a good night, he wrote, be ambushed here is like sitting in a southwest Virginia grazing on a rainy night to fall You're sitting up staring into the darkness of your fire zone, trying to stay awake, covered with forms poncho sleeping two or three other people in your lying nearby There are usually two or three other of these positions, called holes behind and beside you to create a website ambush We rarely dug a real hole.
Corky stayed at Phu Bai to 16 January 1968 when he was reassigned to combat base at Khe Sanh Marine, northwest of South Vietnam near the Laotian border Khe Sanh was just south of the area DMZ between North Vietnam and South Skirmishes hills for this area began in April 1967 and gradually escalated into major confrontations fight.
The Battle of Khe Sanh, also known as the seat of Khe Sanh, truly began January 21, 1968, when the American garrison came under heavy rocket and artillery attacks by the North Vietnamese army One of the first shell enemies from exploded ammunition discharge based Corky recalled that the rocket exploded most munitions littering the track with shrapnel for the next 77 days and North Vietnamese Marines fought fierce battles in and around hills of Khe Sanh, which proves to be one of the longest and bloodiest engagements of the war.
It is now known that the attack Khe Sanh was a precursor to the massive offensive Viet Cong and NVA launched in South Vietnam on January 30.1968 during Tet, the annual celebration of the lunar new year During 'Tet offensive more than 100 towns and cities, including the provincial capitals, were attacked by more than 80,000 communist troops Although this coordinated surprise attack was underway, US commanders have decided that Khe Sanh could and would continue to defend air support and military supplies, even if the fighting was fierce and heavy losses.
Corky wrote home on units Many Tet Offensive were invaded Saigon and Da Nang were affected and Hue, about 20 miles from Phu Bai was occupied by the NVA He and the other Marines Khe Sanh heard news on 'Tet offensive a press conference held by Gen. William C Westmoreland, head of the military command with the United States, Vietnam, who oversaw all US combat forces inside the country When press conference Westmoreland little about Khe Sanh, and rightly presumed Corky, there is more to come.
Corky also reported Some people say here is the efforts of the NVA to give them a stronger position at the negotiating table, I think it's a little too early for us to hurt bad, but we were for a while and they still keep coming confirm History Corky and other Khe Sanh also right about that.
Recognized as a talented chef, Corky was designated as the point man for his platoon that men have crossed dense enemy infested territory close to the problem of Corky base with blisters on his feet quickly reappeared and he needed to medical assistance for severe blisters due to ill-fitting boots, he timidly left his battalion when the order of Da Nang for medical treatment because a doctor told him that if he didn t receive immediate treatment could his feet be permanently damaged Corky received a pair of mounting boots properly in Danang.
Corky phoned his parents to a hospital bed in Da Nang on 18 Feb 1968 just before returning to Khe Sanh He told his parents he was eager to get back with my section, I feel so slow here back with my squad seeing action.
That was the last time that Corky would talk with his parents, he was killed at Khe Sanh four days later when shelling US positions in the early hours of the evening of 22 February 1968.
A Western Union telegram sent to Corky parents in Winston-Salem, NC, Feb. 27 1968 said he supported the fragmentation injuries to the head and body of hostile mortar fire while in a defensive position search by Gregg Jones, author of the book the Last stand at Khe Sanh, revealed the bullet that killed Corky NVA creaked from the west at about 5: 30 pm and landed in a narrow trench line that he and others defending near the airstrip Khe Sanh.
Six Americans whose Corky were killed in the trench, and nine other Marines were injured when their defensive positions were hit by mortar shells on the days and months before the artillery bombardment of the unfortunate event remained a constant challenge on some days there were some shells, other days many new evidence suggests that the NVA carefully prepared for the mortar fire, the establishment of four observation posts to identify the impact of shells the Marines.
Corky and ethics and courage are not forgotten If you visit Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, you will find four monuments in Monument Circle in the old section of the base Camp Geiger Registration on a bed Corporal Julius C Foster 1938-1968 Lance Corporal Foster, a member of company E, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marine 3d Marine Division, was killed February 22, 1968 by mortar fire hostile during the battle of Khe Sanh, Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam.
There was also a road in the old part of the foundation that bears his name, Foster Boulevard Road and monument were dedicated May 26, 1969.
In West Virginia, the city of Welch has honored its native son renaming a bridge over the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River August 16, 2015, the period is now called the USMC Julius C Foster Memorial Bridge near French Gratitude Park a stone monument dedicated to honor the day Corky life and devotion to the marine Corps, his country and freedom.
Mark Mathosian is a freelance writer in advance, North Carolina.
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