This Military Service Page was created/owned by
PFC David Gettman (Tacoma Dave)
to remember
Gettman, Henry (Hank), SGM USA(Ret).
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Contact Info
Last Address Walla Walla
Date of Passing May 24, 1983
Location of Interment Mountain View Memorial Park - Lakewood, Washington
Wall/Plot Coordinates 11-261-P PRE [Garden of Prayer Precast]
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Sitting at the dining room table, drinking a beer and working a crossword puzzle, when he had a massive heart attack. Dad, I'm so sorry I never got to know you better.
Henry Gettman was born in Walla Walla, Washington. He was the son of Conrad Gettman and Anna Maria Ditter. Henry married Dorothy Jean Wissen.
Henry was a retired U. S. Army Sergeant Major; he was a veteran of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War.
Other Comments:
Dad was awarded several of these during the 1930's among his scores of other shooting medals, but not knowing any better, several were destroyed or lost by my friends and I, wearing them while playing Army in the woods around my house when we were kids. For a time I had the most decorated unit in the Army!
Korean War/UN Offensive (1950)/Second Battle of Seoul
From Month/Year
September / 1950
To Month/Year
September / 1950
Description In contrast to the quick victory at Incheon, the advance on Seoul was slow and bloody. The NKPA launched another T-34 attack, which was trapped and destroyed, and a Yak bombing run in Incheon harbor, which did little damage. The NKPA attempted to stall the UN offensive to allow time to reinforce Seoul and withdraw troops from the south.[citation needed] Though warned that the process of taking Seoul would allow remaining NKPA forces in the south to escape, MacArthur felt that he was bound to honor promises given to the South Korean government to retake the capital as soon as possible.
On the second day, vessels carrying the U.S. Army's 7th Infantry Division arrived in Incheon Harbor. General Almond was eager to get the division into position to block a possible enemy movement from the south of Seoul. On the morning of September 18, the division's 2nd Battalion of the 32nd Infantry Regiment landed at Incheon and the remainder of the regiment went ashore later in the day. The next morning, the 2nd Battalion moved up to relieve a U.S. Marine battalion occupying positions on the right flank south of Seoul. Meanwhile, the 7th Division's 31st Regiment came ashore at Incheon. Responsibility for the zone south of Seoul highway passed to 7th Division at 18:00 on September 19. The 7th Infantry Division then engaged in heavy fighting with North Korean soldiers on the outskirts of Seoul.
Before the battle, North Korea had just one understrength division in the city, with the majority of its forces south of the capital. MacArthur personally oversaw the 1st Marine Regiment as it fought through North Korean positions on the road to Seoul. Control of Operation Chromite was then given to Major General Edward Almond, the X Corps commander. General Almond was in an enormous hurry to capture Seoul by September 25, exactly three months after the North Korean assault across the 38th parallel. On September 22, the Marines entered Seoul to find it fortified. Casualties mounted as the forces engaged in house-to-house fighting. On September 26, the Hotel Bando (which had served as the US Embassy) was cleared by Easy Company of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. During this fight about 12 North Korean P.O.W.s were killed (apparently while naked and unarmed) in the building's basement.
General Almond declared the city liberated on September 25 even though Marines were still engaged in house-to-house combat.