| Sgt. William Floyd Payne USMC -Korea |
| MIA - June 19, 1953 Hill 190 - Outpost East Berlin |
Most Patriotic and military graphics supplied by:
| G Company 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division |
| Letters From War - Mark Schultz |
And late in December, a day she'll not forget
Oh, her tears stained the paper with every word that
she read,
It said, "I was up on a hill, I was out there alone,
when the shots all rang out and bombs were
exploding.
That's when I saw him, he came back for me, and
though he was captured a man set me free.
And that man was your son. He asked me to write to
you, I told him I would, oh, I swore."
It was the last of the letters from war.
Oh, her tears stained the paper with every word that
she read,
It said, "I was up on a hill, I was out there alone,
when the shots all rang out and bombs were
exploding.
That's when I saw him, he came back for me, and
though he was captured a man set me free.
And that man was your son. He asked me to write to
you, I told him I would, oh, I swore."
It was the last of the letters from war.
Mr. Floyd J. Payne
2075 Locust Street
Grand Island, NE
My Dear Mr. Payne,
A report has been received in the headquarters from overseas which enables me to give you
some information concerning the circumstances attending the disappearance of your son,
Sergeant William F. Payne, 1070176, U.S. Marine Corps.
According to this report, on July 19, 1953, the first platoon of Company "G" of which your son
was a member, had just occupied Outpost "East Berlin" when at 10:00 P.M., it was attacked by
intense mortar and artillery bombardment and overrun by enemy troops. William and Private
First Class Travis L. Ryan, U.S. Marine Corps, were in the platoon command post bunker when
a barrage of enemy mortar fire landed on it, caving it in and prohibiting entry or exit.
The few marines who could move after the initial barrage and attack found themselves
completely surrounded by enemy troops. They were able to muster themselves together and
fight their way out to the main line of resistance; however, the intense combat situation did not
permit them to remove their dead or wounded comrades.
While I must regretfully emphasize the fact that your son may be dead, the report from this
organization does not contain sufficient evidence to warrant a conclusive determination of death.
He will continue to be carried on the rolls of this headquarters as Missing In Action. Should any
additional information be received, or should any circumstances occur which would warrant a
change in his status you will be immediately notified.
I earnestly hope that information of a more definite nature will be received soon.
Sincerely yours,
Major, U.S. Marine Corps
Head Casualty Section
2075 Locust Street
Grand Island, NE
My Dear Mr. Payne,
A report has been received in the headquarters from overseas which enables me to give you
some information concerning the circumstances attending the disappearance of your son,
Sergeant William F. Payne, 1070176, U.S. Marine Corps.
According to this report, on July 19, 1953, the first platoon of Company "G" of which your son
was a member, had just occupied Outpost "East Berlin" when at 10:00 P.M., it was attacked by
intense mortar and artillery bombardment and overrun by enemy troops. William and Private
First Class Travis L. Ryan, U.S. Marine Corps, were in the platoon command post bunker when
a barrage of enemy mortar fire landed on it, caving it in and prohibiting entry or exit.
The few marines who could move after the initial barrage and attack found themselves
completely surrounded by enemy troops. They were able to muster themselves together and
fight their way out to the main line of resistance; however, the intense combat situation did not
permit them to remove their dead or wounded comrades.
While I must regretfully emphasize the fact that your son may be dead, the report from this
organization does not contain sufficient evidence to warrant a conclusive determination of death.
He will continue to be carried on the rolls of this headquarters as Missing In Action. Should any
additional information be received, or should any circumstances occur which would warrant a
change in his status you will be immediately notified.
I earnestly hope that information of a more definite nature will be received soon.
Sincerely yours,
Major, U.S. Marine Corps
Head Casualty Section
The following letter content is used with the permission of Bob Juch
(www. juch.org) - Thanks, Bob!
(www. juch.org) - Thanks, Bob!
Links