Wholesale Blood

By Dan Rasmussen Jr.

It all began with what Dan Rasmussen Jr. calls an "unsolicited invitation"—a draft notice calling him to serve in the United States Army during the Korean War. Through his eyes, we learn about the fear, hardships, devastation, and trauma of war that can only be described by someone who has experienced it firsthand. Written in narrative poetry form, this book provides a unique glimpse inside of the mind of a Korean War soldier for a true tale of tragedy and humanity's resilience in the face of extreme circumstances.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493166848

Dan Rasmussen Jr.

I was born in Grand Island, Nebraska on the 16th of December, 1929, to parents of Danish descent. Both of my Danish grandparents, had emigrated to the United States around 1885.I was born in Grand Island, Nebraska on the 16th of December, 1929, to parents of Danish descent. Both of my Danish grandparents, had emigrated to the United States around 1885. I was the 5th born of six kids. Four girls first, and then my brother and I. I was born the year the stock market crashed and the 10 year depression set in. So, it was a tough 10 years as my Dad was a house painter, no work in the winter time. On graduation from H.S., in 1948, I went to work as a helper, putting up big green bill boards, at 35 cents an hour. Three of my sisters had migrated to California. The husband of Maxine, worked on the trucks of the biggest outdoor advertizing company in Southern California, Foster and Kleiser. They needed a bill poster, so he threw my name out to their management. “Bring him out”, was the call. In 4 days, I went from 35 cents an hour to $1.25 an hour. A union job. The next 3 ½ years were pretty dam exciting. The ocean, Hollywood, and everything in between was way beyond Central Nebraska. Then it happened. They drafted me and sent me to Korea. I was 21 years old. Thank God, for the GI Bill. I went to the Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for two years and was hired by General Electric to work at their Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Richland, Washington. This is the plant that made Platonium for our Atomic Bombs. A 37 year career at the plant was rewarding and I am still here in Richland. My wife died 2 ½ years ago. We had 2 kids. I wrote a book in 2001 that was “divided” between the years above, and the Korean War. It is still being re-sold on Amazon, 12 years later. A lot of people liked it. It was titled, “Come Along And See”.

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Copyright © 2014 by Dan Rasmussen Jr.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 01/27/2014

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CONTENTS

DEDICATION

SEQUENCE

KOREA 1950-1953

INTO THE BUNKERS

EPILOGUE

Dedication

UNCLE SAM REQUESTS YOUR PRESENCE, JANUARY 21, 1951, AT 1PM, AT THE LOS ANGELES. CALIFORNIA CIVIC CENTER, FOR FOURTEEN WEEKS OF BASIC TRAINING.

DEDICATED TO ALL THE GUYS, WHO GOT A MESSAGE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND WHO ARE NOW, INTO THEIR EIGHTIES, AND STILLNOT OVER IT!

(Uncle sam can ruin a perfectly good pair of ears in fourteen weeks)

I received a personal invitation, from the Defense Department, to come to Washington DC for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. (June 1953-June 2013)The invitation had a list of hotels/shuttles over to the ceremonies.

I didn’t go, as I had been to DC in 1982 and saw all the memorials; Arlington Cemetary (my boss’s son is buried there) President Kennedy’s eternal flame, and all the wonderous things in DC. (Those guys on patrol in their rain slicked ponchos, really drove it home!! That was us) I left there then, with a feeling that I belonged to a very, very special country! I more then appreciated, that special invitation. It made me feel like they do remember, sending us over in harms way!

Edgar, who›s that rapping at our front door?  The great poet Edgar Allen Poe, was born October 7th 1849. He died in Baltimore at the age of 40. (October 7th 2013 is his anniversary)

As old Edgar might say: (The Edge Is Just