A few days before we were to leave for the supply run, the Korean War started. A barge platoon of about 15 men and two barges were attached to the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade (Reinforced). Two pontoon barges were loaded aboard the USS Ashlain (AKA 55) at Naval Station San Diego, which is across the bay from our homeport at Coronado, Calif., around the first of July 1950.

Our chief-in-charge was BMC William "Bill" Holden of San Diego, Calif. Holden was a POW during World War II. He was captured and sent on the Bataan Death March in the Philippines in 1942. He spent all his POW years at the shipyard at Rohe, Japan.

The convoy left San Diego for a destination unknown to the troops. Our barges were loaded on the covers of the forward hatches of the Ashlain. In the convoy was the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade and small detachments of Naval Beach Group 1 (boat units, beachmasters, UDTs, and Navy Seabees of the 104th NCB). We sailed in convoy for about 30 days without sighting any land.

On August 1, 1950, we first saw land. We were informed on the PA system that we were off Pusan, Korea, and that we would off load in the late afternoon. We were also informed that we were in a hostile combat area and could be overrun by the North Korean forces.

Our barges were needed that day. Soon our Seabee barge platoon was assigned to cargo handling. Later that night, our platoon helped transport wounded for the medical personnel.

About 48 hours later unloading was complete. Our barges were in the water, but could not be lifted back aboard the Ashlain. Holden was able to get us aboard the USS Fort Marion (LSD 22). The Fort Marion took us to the naval station at Yokosuka, Japan. We offloaded the barges at Yokosuka and began setting up a pontoon assembly.

A few days later another detachment arrived with enough pontoon supplies to assemble two more Rhino barges (5 pontoons wide by 30 pontoons long).