Lebanon veteran one of the Korean War’s ‘Frozen Chosin’

Despite being outnumbered and with severe frostbite setting in and the casualties piling up, what ensued was one of the most brutal battles of the Korean War: the Battle at Chosin Reservoir.

With their backs against the wall, the band of brothers that pulled together to accomplish the seemingly impossible came to be known as “The Frozen Chosin.”

Name: Private First Class James Weikert, 5th Regiment, 1st Marine Division United States Marine Corps

Age: 83

How he got involved with the military: "I graduated from Tipp City High School in 1948 and enlisted shortly after with a good friend of mine," said Weikert. The two friends headed straight to Parris Island, South Carolina for boot camp.

“I went to Guam and stayed there for about a year and a half before a typhoon pretty much destroyed everything,” said Weikert. “Then I was sent to Camp Pendleton in California where I trained until I was sent to Korea.”

What actions he performed: "I was part of the 1st Marine Brigade," said Weikert. "We were the first group to go to Korea. Our platoon was the first to go into battle since WWII."

While in Korea, Weikert said that his job as a Browning automatic rifleman was to protect the main supply road, called Hill 342. Little did he and his fellow soldiers know, things would get much more difficult and many would lose their lives.

“General MacArthur thought we had the situation under control but then we found out we were surrounded by the Chinese,” said Weikert. “The only thing we could do was to fight our way out. I got frostbite and a lot of other people lost hands and feet from it.”

Most satisfying part of his work: "Getting out of Korea," said Weikert

The most memorable moment of service: Weikert said it was the brotherhood that developed among he and his fellow soldiers and the lasting friendships that resulted.

“We were all together [serving] for about two full years,” said Weikert. “We have all stayed in touch and have gotten together once a year since we got back home from the war. I actually just got back from visiting two of them in Florida.”

Weikert lives in Lebanon with his wife Mary Jane, a retired school teacher.