I found this story written by Capt Shifflette about dad in korea , great story.

1st Marine Division, Operation Ripper 1951 Korea

For the 1st Marine Division, Operation Ripper, the Chinese~ Spring Offensive, the drive to capture the Punch Bowl as well as the last battles of mobility for the Konmubong Ridge above the Punch-bowl were second phase operations. After September 1951, the static war of attrition - enemies locked in place - began.

Indeed, it was during spring 1951 of this second phase when PFC John Ontiveros of Houston, Texas, joined the 1st Platoon, Able Co., 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, FMF. Being from Houston, he was familiar with "western" songs. Actually, 50 years ago, the term "country western" had not yet been coined. "Cowboy" music was the "western" genre and the "singin' cowboy" was in vogue. Ridin' high in popularity were the likes of Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers.

One of John Ontiveros' boot-camp buddies was even a passable cowboy balladeer, playing his guitar and singing in that western nasal twang. Naturally, Texan John was more familiar with "songs of the plains" than old Korean folk songs or love songs about yo-yos; however, there was that similarity in the nasal twang of both… Not that it mattered, he learned those "gooky" songs, too; He heard them early around the time that his platoon entered Chunchon on tanks and his boot camp buddy, riding on the lead tank was blown off when the tank hit a mine.

PFC Ontiveros became familiar with the folk tunes around the time when he, serving as a fire team leader, "displayed outstanding courage, initiative and devotion to duty" and was awarded the Bronze Star. The award documented that, "On one occasion when seriously wounded during an attack on heavily defended enemy positions, he refused evacuation and continued to designate targets and direct the advance of his fire team until forced to be evacuated."

John was evacuated to the hospital ship, The Haven, and then to the Yokosuka Naval Hospital in Japan for three months. Now, he could "singing" a passable "yo-yo" and "Ah-de-dong" as well as "Back in the Saddle, Again, No doubt about it, he had become an aficionado of twang.

RETURN TO BATTLE

Rejoining his company in late September 1951, PFC John Ontiveros discovered that all of his former squad had been casualties. Thus, being the seasoned survivor, he was selected to be the acting squad leader of the 1st squad of the 1st Platoon, Able Co. 7th Marines. Although a squad leader should have been a sergeant, this PFC veteran led the squad of all new replacements including a corporal. John had no problem with this. He, like all Marines had been trained in boot camp to lead; of course, under certain conditions, a PFC may command a platoon.

A few days after Ontiveros' return, his new squad was sent out on a patrol - actually a raid into enemy territory for reconnaissance - an intelligence operation. The importance of this patrol was defined, quickly, when the platoon leader (lieutenant) and the company scout joined the raid.

In late September, the Konmubong Range of mountains north of the Punchbowl and above the 38th parallel began to show the signs of fall along with pleasant days and cool nights. On the east coast range, many peaks rising more than 3,000 feet, the mountains exhibited an ancient formation. Ageless paths trailed around and over it; always following the ridgelines, these archaic ribbons were highways for tribes from eons past. The latest great battles for dominant territory had been fought there in earlyo September before John returned to battle. As dusk brushed the mountains, his patrol formed and set out upon an old ridgeline trail, north. These Marines could make no noise. Although difficult to discern in the gloom, now was the time for hand and arm signals.

Perhaps on that particular night the North Korean lines did not connect. Perhaps the enemy forces had been depleted so badly in the bitter battles in prior weeks that there were not enough troops to cover the rolling territory. Reasons are not clear. Important, however, is the fact that somehow the patrol did penetrate deeply behind the North Korean lines. Suddenly, the scout detected a campfire and singing to the front. The lieutenant signaled the patrol to deploy. At that point, the squad was struck dumbfounded as a Korean guitarist struck up a cowboy tune and the "gooks" sitting around the campfire began to sing.

PFC John Ontiveros knew the Korean songs. This was not "yo-yo" or "Ah-de-dong." He knew "twang." THIS, no doubt, was "COWBOY." "1 will never forget coming onto these gooks sitting around a campfire with a guitar singing

what sounded just like cowboy songs. It was really weird! "The lieutenant must have choked up from shock (or maybe he liked the song) because he waited for a long time. But finally he gave the order to open fire and we did. All hell broke loose. Then as soon as they were all killed, we were running for our lives to get back to our lines. I didn't stop shaking for about two days because we had been deep in dangerous enemy territory."

Oh, well, after all, Marines experience war as both weird and brutal. But, they always triumph. Semper Fidelis. This article was written by Burton F. Anderson of Morgan Hill, CA. Published in the Military Magazine May 2005.

John C. Ontiveros was with the 1stPlt/3rdSqd 5/51 - 4/52. He passed on to his final duty station on 11 January 2003.

Survived by 4 wifes and 9 children, John II, Martha Ann, Ruth Marie, Pauline, Gloria, Francis Jean, Steven Onti, John Micheal,Joe Angel.

written by Captain Leonard "Shifty" Shifflette USMC (Ret)

John C Ontiveros