Intermission Stories (14)

(Top): Lt. Lewis Wood on right in Korea
(Bottom): A Korean valet assigned to Baker Co.

W. Lewis Wood, Jr.

Baker Company/179th Infantry Regiment/45th Division

This story is from the “I Was There” series in the History Channel magazine, January/February 2012 issue.  It is not condensed or edited in any way.  

Pullin’ a Hank Snow: ‘I’m Moving On’

During the winter of 1951-1952, I served as platoon leader with Baker Company of the 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division on the front in Korea.  One of the most popular ballads of the day was entitled, “I’m Moving On” by country music star Hank Snow.  Since many of the men of Baker Company, including myself, called Tennessee home, we had adopted the theme “Hank Snow” to use in radio communications.

In order to maintain radio silence we could use phrases such as “I’m pulling a Hank Snow” or “The enemy is using a Hank Snow to the rear” or “You better get your Hank Snow going.”  These phrases were used to indicate movement of one kind or another, and although the Chinese could hear our radio messages, “Hank Snow” was a code word they could never decipher.

(Left): Soldiers take a break at company HQ in Korea
(Right): A pair of disabled M-17 tanks in a valley below the platoon’s defenses.

Another code word was “Hank Williams,” who was famous for many country music songs, but was especially noted for his ballad “On Top of Old Smokey.”  So, any time one of our units wished to indicate their position, they could signal the code word “Hank Williams” which meant they had occupied the crest of a hill.  We also used other country music stars that were famous for lyrics such as “Down in the Valley” or “St. James Infirmary.”

One of our wiremen from the communications section, Pvt. Eddie Kohl, was an excellent guitarist and country singer.  He would help us come up with appropriate lyrics and the name of the singer most related to the song, whose name we could use as our code word for particular messages.  Kohl was an excellent soldier.  He so loved the military that he later volunteered for the U.S. Marines and served with distinction in Vietnam.

W. Lewis Wood, Jr. is from Germantown, Tenn.

Click on any image to view full size.

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Dan Blocker as Hos Cartwright

Dan Blocker’s High School Yearbook photo

 

In continuing to research the 179th Infantry Regiment/45th Division, I discovered a well-known and beloved actor who also served with them in Korea.   As part of F Company/2nd Battalion/179th Infantry Reg, Dan Blocker, better known as Hoss Cartwright on “Bonanza”, was a Sergeant who gallantly received a Purple Heart for his wounds incurred during combat.

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Farewell Salutes – 

Maria “Angie” Arreola – Mesa, AZ; USMC

John E. Benz – Palm Beach, FL; US Navy, WWII

James Cox – Chicago, IL; US Navy, WWII

John C. Fisher – Waihi, NZ; RNZ Air Force # 81913 & Royal British AF # 3528335

Walter Glanc – Toronto, Can. (born in Russia); RAF Polish Air Squadron, WWII

Ervin Dayton Hand – Fayetteville, AR; US Navy, WWII, aviator, USS Randolph

William Kaufman, Jr. – Seattle, WA; US Air Force, Colonel (Ret.)

Richard Mathieu – Annapolis, MD; US Navy, WWII, aviation ordnance

Murl Orr – W.Palm Beach, FL; US Navy, WWII, captain’s talker aboard a minesweeper, PTO

Manuel Rojas – Long Beach, CA; US Army Air Corps, 187th RCT, WWII, PTO

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