Photo By Lance Cpl. Daniel Todd | Staff Sgt. Jesse Harper shares his story at the 4th Marine Regiment Marine Corps...... read more read more
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By Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Todd
III Marine Expeditionary Force PAO
CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Jesse Harper set foot on Okinawa for the second time in his life recently, but this time it was a more peaceful visit.
Harper fought in the Battle of Okinawa and after 61 years, he returned Nov. 9 as the guest of honor at the 4th Marine Regiment's Marine Corps Ball.
"It was great to be asked to be the guest of honor," said Harper. "I am very proud of what I did and enjoy speaking with others about my experiences."
Harper was born in Manitou, Okla., in 1926 and joined the Marine Corps in June 1944.
In December 1944 he deployed overseas to Pavuvu in the Solomon Islands where he trained with the 4.5-inch rocket launcher he used during the Battle of Okinawa.
From April through June 1945, Harper's platoon fired more than 70,000 rockets in support of operations on Okinawa including the battle for Sugarloaf Hill.
"Sugarloaf Hill is the only battle I really remember from my time on Okinawa," he said. "For two weeks we bombarded the heck out of that hill, and 61 years later, when I stood on top of that hill, I could hardly recognize where I was standing."
After the war, Harper joined the Marine Reserves. He graduated from the University of Houston June 5, 1950, with a Bachelor of Science in education.
"The day after I graduated I married my beautiful lady," Harper said with a huge smile. "The 5th and 6th of June 1950 were two of the happiest days of my life."
In August 1950, he was recalled to active duty. He participated in the Inchon landing in Korea and served with a 60-mm mortar section.
"When the captain picked me up, he told me I was in charge of the 60-mm mortars and he wanted me no more than 200 yards from him at all times, and when I heard fire he wanted those mortars speaking," Harper said.
On Dec. 8, 1950, Harper was wounded and evacuated to Japan. He called his wife to tell her he was all right and would return to duty in Korea.
"Years later my wife told me that a couple weeks after I had called, a jeep pulled up in front of her house and a couple of men told her I had been killed," he said with a grin. "Well, she knew I was in a hospital in Japan and had a few choice words for them."
In February 1951, Harper rejoined his unit in Korea and participated in battles at Wonson, Hamhung and Chosin Reservoir.
He returned home in June 1951 and was honorably discharged from the reserves in July 1952.
Harper worked for Burbank Jr. High School in Houston, Texas, for 35 years. He taught physical education and later became the principal.
"I still bossed like a staff sergeant should boss, and I had all the discipline of the kids. If they didn't behave at first, they learned rather quickly," Harper said with a laugh and a wink.
In 1990, Harper joined the Chosin Few, an organization of survivors from Chosin Reservoir. He still participates in community projects such as educating Texas A&M students, Texas high school students, and Texas Reserve Officers' Training Corps units about the Korean War.
He lives in Houston with his wife Billie Jean.
| Date Taken: | 11.09.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 11.17.2006 09:28 |
| Story ID: | 8289 |
| Location: | CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 15 |
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