We stayed in dug-in positions overlooking the Han for several more days, sometimes with The Tanks approaching and firing over our heads toward Seoul and sometimes we would go on patrols across the River to view the damages from the Tanks, returning with reports to our Company CP. Other times our patrols would be just to make contact with the enemy, sometimes we would engage and have a brief skirmish, returning with the location report depending on the orders we received. We did this several times with no casualty loses and after several weeks we were moving out again, this time we were directed to to skirt the City of Seoul, making a north-western sweep fighting our way through small suburb villages with mediocre resistance. I would always be directed to Fire my AR (Automatic Rifle) at the building doors and windows as the rest of the squad advanced. I would than pickup and hurriedly advance to join them as the squad behind us would advance and do what's called "clean-up work". After a days work we would head up a nice high point on a hill and dig-in. During these small periods of rest I would always walk the perimeter to see where and who we were tying up with, hoping to see one of the other guys, most of the time I'd find Abel since he was in my Company C and some time I'd see Leroy, since B Company most of the time would accompany Company C on strategic moves.
After several days of this we were finally told we would be heading back to a "Reserve Position" What this meant was we would be replaced in our battlefield position by another Battalion and go back to our Battalion Rear for some much needed rest and recuperation, being given all our mail, a shower, fresh socks, cloths, hot meals and even "Movies" at night. These time were meant and scheduled for 30 days but hardly ever lasted a couple of weeks so tried to make the best of it.
We also got to get together with the other guys from Hawaii that were assigned to our Battalion, Leroy, Joe, Luey. We would bring all our packages from home and mail and go over he together, sometimes the packages that contained food would just be discarded for spoilage but some times we would get some canned or well packaged smoked or cured ethnic food and enjoy it together. Some how Leroy got a ukulele that made it through the travel and so he played it as we all sang Hawaiian songs and sometimes even drew an audience. We really, really enjoyed each other during these times.
I was issued a .45 Caliber Pistol with holster and so was Leroy since He too was a BAR Man, I guess they decided that we needed the small gun since we had to carry such a large and Heavy Rifle that was not suitable for close quarters combat in case we ever would get ourselves in one.
Several days later they sent my squad on a patrol, they did this and every one took turns doing it to make sure we were located in a secure location with no enemy activity that may have sneaked through our lines as they commonly did from time to time. One this day on patrol we came across an abandoned sand baged position and went inside to inspect. One of the guys suggested a break and our squad leader said ok. H e then noticed my brand new .45 pistol and asked, "Let me see that", I removed it from my holster and without removing the ammo magazine just checked to see the chamber was clear and handed the gun to him. He without thinking pulled the slide back, releasing it and "Bang" He accidently fired right at me. He looked at the gun and said dawn this thing's got a hair trigger". I looked down at my legs where he had the gun pointed and saw a hole on my pants leg front just below my knee and said, "You shot me" but upon inspecting the pants leg I noticed another hole behind the pants leg and couldn't believe that the bullet went right through the front and exiting the back just missing my leg. The Squad Leader said, "Gosh you and I both are so lucky", thank god, here take this thing back and put it away."