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Phillip Ammar-Family
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Marine SgtMaj John Ammar.
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Contact Info
Last Address Cedar Grove, West Virginia
Date of Passing Aug 12, 1977
Location of Interment Twentynine Palms Cemetery - Twentynine Palms, California
Wall/Plot Coordinates *Plot: Row 26 A
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Retired as Base Sgt. Major, 29 Palms MCB in 1974.
Other Comments:
Served as a Major with the California Cadet Corps, from 1974 until his death in 1977.
SgtMaj John Richard Ammar #132484
July thru October 1945 - Corporal - 4Th Bn, (155Mm How), 13Th Mar, 5Th Mar Div, FMF, In The Field.
January 1946 - Military Police - Corporal - Headquarters, 4th Bn, 10th Mar, 2nd Mar Div, FMF, In The Field
July 1953 - MOS 4936 - Hq Btry 2Dbn 11Th Marines,Korea - Staff Sgt
July thru October 1953 - MOS 4936 - Servbtry 2Dbn 11Th Marines,Korea - Staff Sgt
January thru April 1954 - MOS 4936 - E Btry 2Dbn 11Th Marines,Korea - Staff Sgt
Burial:
Twentynine Palms Cemetery
Twentynine Palms
San Bernardino County
California, USA
Plot: Row 26 A
Korean War/Korea, Summer-Fall (1952)/Battle of Heartbreak Ridge (Hill 851)
From Month/Year
September / 1952
To Month/Year
September / 1952
Description All three of the 2nd Division's infantry regiments participated, with the brunt of the combat borne by the 9th and 23rd Infantry Regiments, along with the attached French Battalion. The attack began on September 13 and quickly deteriorated into a familiar pattern. First, American aircraft, tanks and artillery would pummel the ridge for hours on end, turning the already barren hillside into a cratered moonscape. Next, the 23rd's infantrymen would clamber up the mountain's rocky slopes, taking out one enemy bunker after another by direct assault. Those who survived to reach the crest arrived exhausted and low on ammunition. The inevitable counterattack would then come--waves of North Koreans determined to recapture the lost ground at any cost. Many of these counterattacks were conducted at night by fresh troops that the North Koreans were able to bring up under the shelter of neighboring hills. Battles begun by bomb, bullet and shell were inevitably finished by grenade, trench knife and fists as formal military engagements degenerated into desperate hand-to-hand brawls. Sometimes dawn broke to reveal the defenders still holding the mountaintop.
The battle progressed for two weeks. Because of the constricting terrain and the narrow confines of the objectives, units were committed piecemeal--one platoon, company or battalion at a time. Once a unit could no longer stand the strain a replacement would take its place, until the 23rd Infantry as a whole was fairly well shattered.
Several units up to company size (100-200 men) were wiped out. The Americans employed massive artillery barrages, airstrikes and tanks in attempts to drive the North Koreans off the ridge, but the KPA proved extremely hard to dislodge.
