Alfred Groos and Laura Kirby

00:03 My name is Laura Kirby. I'm 56 its April 17th 2019 and we're in Pensacola, Florida. I'm interviewing my father.

00:16 Now like oh, my name is Alfred J. Gross gross age 88

00:28 Today's date is April 17th, 2018.

00:33 I'm in Pensacola, Florida being interviewed by my daughter Laura.

00:44 Okay, so let's start dad. Tell me about how you felt when you enlisted in the Marines at age 17 and why the Marines and not another line of duty. Well, I always wanted to be in the Marines.

01:03 I guess when I was at

01:05 Young youngster. I guess I was felt that they represented what I wanted.

01:14 I try to get in.

01:19 Even though it's early High School.

01:22 Where do you like 15 when you first tried to get in bed?

01:28 They laughed at me and told me to come back. So I did I kept coming back finally at 17. They took me in.

01:36 And I've always say Marines have been the best thing that's ever happened to me. I bet your mom was not happy that you wanted in with she wasn't happy because she came from a bad situation. That's why she came to this country.

01:52 And she's from Germany. And your dad is to write German immigrants. So tell me a little bit about that. Well, he said it was fun or should a lot of people went there and they all said man that's going to kill you that's going to I loved it. I thought I was on vacation.

02:17 Every day was a new experience constant driving, you know get you in shape that got to get you physically fit to do some of the choices you have to learn and the whole process. I think we went to it took about three months, I guess to get through that the

02:44 But I tell you someone you feel you get done before you feel good. You like your key in the best light message to aesha in the best shape as you ever been in your life. And of course we had opportunity and ended up as an opportune, which was good. We we had a good unit together. We did lose some people because of one reason or another some people couldn't take it, that people got sick or something like that and had to be backed up into it the back to a different Batoon, you know, but I'm not most of us got through.

03:21 So you thought it was a lot of fun but I would say that it was I enjoyed it was a great experience for my life. Good. Well you were in you enlisted in 1948. Right? Right. And then the Korean War started in 1950.

03:47 The Korean War started yet, but I went to China first.

03:57 And of course we were assigned to different parts of the country that the Marines were in charge of and that's basically what we did and I control the Chinese place. They were fighting between the Communist and nationalist which was Chiang Kai-shek and mail to sing. I think his name was and things were not comfortable. You had to be very careful where you went and where you worked because things were desperate and the country people were hurting there was starving a lot of more on drugs opium was rampant that point by the question if you stay away from the drugs, you'll probably a lot better off. So a lot of people did you know, but it was a good experience learning the Chinese people they work hard.

04:57 Women mostly

05:00 Yeah, they did all the work you do primarily, you know tell me about when they brought together. So we had to pull out of China right now. We went back to the States and of course, they sent me two different schools that I had to specialize in different programs.

05:34 And of course 1950 I wish they would got back in 49. So I've spent one year in schools and Parris Island and stuff back to Parris Island and then

05:48 We went back to Pendleton Camp Pendleton, California. And then we got all of a sudden the Korean war broke out. And of course, they had a formal group which they call the 5th Marine Brigade and they pushed everybody they grabbed everybody they could and of course I can stare at it off. We went into a career with one across the Pacific. Once again, it was my second trip across and we stopped at your pants aforesaid Hawaii and then it's your pan and then we got to organize there and then we got down to pusan where the perimeter was the weather.

06:37 The North Koreans had pushed everybody back Quest we didn't know exactly what was going on. But we knew that we had to get there so they landed us we set up a perimeter and I think the Chinese what kind of astounded I thought anyway, I mean my toilet cuz we were not falling back where the army officer or whatever the previous outfits always fell back after they attacked we didn't so we saw that form a good for a minute. And then from there we we I guess we were able to take charge and then of course they took us out of there. I got to know I got reassigned to the 1st Marine Division.

07:26 How old were you then?

07:28 About 18 maybe I'm sorry. How old were you then 78 time and they pulled us out and I know we had got reassigned and I was able to join the 1st Marine Division and the quest we they pulled us out and we went to

07:54 Incheon does the cutoff to the North Koreans Retreat which was very successful.

08:04 And I worked out real. Well, it was it was kind of a crazy experience because you just follow Direction and orders and and that's what you did and I just keep moving on you though. It was

08:21 Crazy better. Wish I remember we landed at night. It was pitch-black. You couldn't see a damn thing in front of you. We got on the wrong. They dropped us off at question right there.

08:34 And a n n a tight said they can make it to the tiger go down like a tiger go up whatever was because I didn't know that at the time so they had to get us on that. Unfortunately with the tide was going out and we were going in and they landed us at the wrong. Let's say the wrong Island at that time. So we had to work our way through that and which at least we got on land and then we had to work through our way through the islands and get through to the insurance so we could take take it over head and we did so it was I don't think they expected us, but I don't know. So, like I said, I just followed orders and I forgot I was only a Corporal at the time.

09:20 So you told me a little bit about some of the troops from

09:24 Throughout the world and from different countries. Well, we didn't meet any of those. I never met any of those till I guess it was when we got pulled back just before we got pulled back from in China and put us back. So we were once we went out to the 30th proud. They they pulled us back and we got reassigned and off we went again.

09:55 But we got to meet at Melinda and the English Marines. I guess they were they were absolutely superb, you know, they were experienced but there was not too many of them. They wear a good group. But whatever they were they were very efficient and adequate State. We'd sort of Blended very nicely together. So worked out real well that way and then of course after we got that

10:20 Perimeter set up they pulled us back again.

10:25 And they decided to go around and bring us back to Mesa and I believe it was and we kind of regroup there again cause a lot of time has gone by you. No one in this point in time goes by fast and the conditions were not the best. I mean, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, if you didn't learn what to do a lot of guys were in trouble a lot of guys were reserved us and a lot of these reservists. We're not well-trained, you know, and a lot of these guys I'm going to help them a little bit and get him going on a thing. So we did that and then and then we pull us out and if we came out and they had one to bring us into pohang.

11:19 And we went out to pohang which is on the west coast of Korea and then we advance to go up to North Korea. And what happened there was I guess it's hard to remember exactly what happened there, but they pulled us back again.

11:39 And we went aboard ship and we went out and we went up to what they call one son. And of course before we got the one Tonda the mutt the harbor was mined and we didn't know that and of course they had to clear the mines before we can land. So that's why.

12:04 Now it's before the Chinese came that was before that. We saw at their dads up into North Korea and that's and we got the ham hock and ham holiday. Ham. And then from there we can brief reorganized and of course we Advanced up into the mountains and and they were mountains. Let me tell you they were

12:29 Really challenging then. There's snow May remain road. So to speak you you really had to have a lot of endurance stuff to work through that data be in good shape. The other thing was the we got up there and of course we got up to the mountains and we could see the Yellow River actually see the Yellow River go across and and we had playing said that they that Marine pilots were coming across and they will sort of helping and we used to set out flag so we can tell him where the enemy was so to speak and we finally thought we had it all set and then all of a sudden we seen all these troops coming across the Alamo like ants, I mean, they were thousands and thousands hundreds, but then I'm like that if I'm coming from China.

13:22 And they they all come down and then we we so ugly suits in and of course, we had a good Colonel Abdullah his name was and he try to report that the world we're getting into a situation here, which is not very perilous in the quest. I've read about this afterwards. I could tell it you know, where we going to do with this thing and time but a lot of people didn't know the Japanese when they occupied North Korea, they built a lot of tunnels and a lot of troops actually hit in these tunnels and then wait till we pass them by then. They would come up behind you and try to just like they did the same thing in Vietnam for what I understand. And so we had to look for these tunnels and make sure that we took care of them. So to speak to know.

14:15 And as best we could tell and then with the Chinese became an overwhelming and pull up gave us orders to pull back. So we went back to the chosen. Don't ask me how I got that because man I tell you there was no directions you had to find a way. But anyway, we got back to the chosen. We set up a perimeter and the Chinese came on and on and on and

14:43 And you pretty much pulled back if that what happened.

14:46 It was a it was not a good time. It was a crazy. It was wild it was and then finally we got a little control.

14:59 I know we started to move out. So we got back to ham hung ready to take the trucks in the parade. So I got assigned to the mountains and I was sort of sodas look out for Sharpshooters and things like that. So so watch out if we decide and we climbed over the mountains and we worked our way back to ham hung and then of course, we we were able to get out and most of the troops got out pretty good with many people.

15:35 Who the heck would listen?

15:40 But do I want nobody nobody care, you know you came back today. If you want if you wanted to jump ahead and you want to talk to people that I wanted to you know, what the heck it is just that they just could not conceive it unless you experience that. There's no way you you can explain it.

16:05 Yeah, so we definitely want to hear your stories. Dad. Would you say?

16:11 Experience has helped you later in life without a doubt.

16:18 But I did that you can never let anything get you down cuz it matter how bad it is.

16:28 There's always a way to make it better but a lot of good advice which I didn't understand at the time, but I surely understood as I got told that he says never let anything get you down.

16:51 There's nothing you can overcome. Thanks. Hope that's what you know, and this true. There's nothing in this world. You can overcome if you want to really put your mind to it and that's it life is not fair and and that's just the way it is. And so you make the best of it always do the right thing and they're got no problem.

17:15 Catholic school apps to absolutely the best thing I ever had in my life.

17:22 Altar boy I was very active with the church is very active with the sisters. I was like that very active with the brothers and also to me they were like

17:39 Fred's

17:42 I'm back, you know.

17:45 They're scary. Were you kind of like worry and intense situations or did you realize it at the time? You're only 17 18 19 here and North Korea was a faithful who wasn't happens. You don't know what happened. You still keep going. You don't have to stay there. That's where the training comes in. That's where the Marines I think I tremendously different that that you never had to watch the guy next to you because the guy next to you was right there and you are where they with him. So we're always together. So it wasn't like you you were alone send the Marines were like a brother Bond and always I always felt that way with them and end you could always depend on him. You know, that's my favorite at what makes them different from the other services.

18:45 I think it's a discipline and and the training they get and the end the end of the work together always bite you there's a lot of people you're getting can't get along with but if you got a job to do you get the job done I do and I think it helped me and my career later on because I had to deal with many many crazy stupid and sometimes idiotic people and I got them right I got to straighten out, you know.

19:15 Will Dad tell me tell me what you think was your most proud moment in the military. What made you the most proud of being a nurse being part of it?

19:30 The only reason I got out of it is because I'm with my mother weren't sick.

19:43 I've got out.

19:46 So I took care of it.

19:48 Well, it sounds like you you had your own Band of Brothers right there in the military. And in the in the Marines you tell me story about when you were injured in Korea and a lot of people got hurt and

20:15 Boyz II Men. I got out and then I got transferred out to your crush your Naval Hospital took me to three months. That was okay and they get stationed in their kruszka and I got out of there was a wrong with the year. So, you know, it wasn't like I was right and I get stationed in Japan was a great experience for me for that. I like the Japanese people. They were very respectful. They were almost felt you could trust them that they were the word was that bought I made to make my experience with the Japanese people were extremely good.

20:54 And I had to deal with him or what you're not because that was part of my job then.

20:59 And that fine. So what happened was?

21:03 They transmit back to the States.

21:06 I ended up there.

21:08 Back in that panel in the necklace. They ask me where I want to go and I said I want to go to east coast and they sent me to the two.

21:18 Zota Main and the Kittery Maine where the the naval prison was tonight we came and they promoted me by the way to Sergeant and they promoted me to Sergeant at the time and and then I became a charge and I work with the colonel bharara. His name was I don't know how to spell it. Don't ask me that because you were going to be close to home to write well was closer to home and not as close as I thought it would be but it was still a pretty good clothes that California was it was good was good Duty and I had about six months to go and I finished my training and and then was discharged and then you know what? You're such a great father.

22:09 I said you're such a great father. You're always caring about your family. But dude, how do you feel like your past help form your role as a husband and a father?

22:24 Say that again. I said your

22:27 How did your excuse me? How do you feel your past helped your role as a husband and father?

22:35 That's a good question. I'll close to give you a beard with having two brothers and a sister and I had a father that was irresponsible.

22:46 But you were you were such a great dad to all of us who have six children. That's amazing. You've raised six children sick successful children. You had a successful career. You're so strong. You really are.

23:01 I think your past did life is a challenge and you have to keep working ahead. You can't you're going to make mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes, you know makes makes bad choices. Sometimes show you made a bad choice, and we will correct it or you keep going in you if you can do something about you do it. If you can't just can't just keep going.

23:33 You can't let things bother you but the main thing when you take a response me of a child you you make sure that they get that taken care of that they have a good bed.

23:46 Place to stay feel comfortable grow up Peter real person.

23:52 Be there only man.

23:58 Tell if your life as it goes on you know, but I also spent a lot of time with each of you. Yeah. Yeah, I think a lot of parents don't don't pay the spend enough time with their children. They they they don't take him like Mom would take you someplace sometimes him. I would take you someplace so you get to know us and you know, and it it's Commando more went on trips. We always talk to you. I mean when I went to conference has a lot of

24:30 Felis went in the business. They were things what they said the one that got away from their children. I took what are you kidding me to take it? So it was a great experience down there because of the expense because she how can you fly show how good you look great travel is great everything. I was very fortunate. I was blessed. I was just really are you think about it? How do you want to be remembered dad?

25:09 How would I weigh? How do you want to be remembered?

25:17 Ever thought about it. I just said he was a good guy. That's it. I'm just like anybody else is awful lot of people that's out there. That's just as good or better that. I have some type some people, you know, I don't know it's hard to explain. I think it's your family is

25:42 It says it's a tough life out there right now. I mean, I don't know if people realize how tough it is out there. It's it's it's this things going on that we don't know about or understand. So how would I would be remembered? Well, like you said that my responsibilities I took care of it and every day is a good day. That's the way I look at it. I don't care how bad it is strictly back.

26:13 That's so classic you dad. That is so classic you was there anything else you want to tell us about the military that we didn't talk about?

26:24 Well

26:26 I think I've always felt that everybody should serve at least two years.

26:32 In the service whether that's an offer. I don't know what that's not my answer but there's many areas that they can give to their country. And unfortunately the system is not scared that way and it's not going to go that way. So a lot of people that that doing list to go in a service.

26:53 They don't have a lot of them don't have I hate to say this, but I really don't think they have the education and the end the end the end the driving abilities.

27:05 That they should have because I think of education system is lacking tremendously because we're moving kids I had before they even learn what they got to learn here and they going here so they can't learn this so they come out and I push the bull on their way through school and they get out and they think they're smart cuz they street smart but they really don't know they haven't got education. I mean when I went I went to Anna parochial system and and the course we had 80 kids in a class. I mean they talk about 25-30 being too much for a trip teacher my goodness. You could hear a pin drop it all class case with that. But anybody that fell behind the brother order since that would say, okay, you stay you stay you stay at and we'll catch you up and then the next time tomorrow you'll be ready for tomorrow. But how many teachers do that today? You know what I'm sure there's a few.

28:03 But how many do we get out and how many kids try to take the shortcut? There's no shortcut and wife education is the whole

28:13 Is is life itself and you can't stop you. Can't stop you got to keep reading your try to keep staying at it. You can't say okay. I did my you're not you never done cuz life changes every day. And now I think your education helped you when you were in the military and getting in the military, don't you think that

28:36 Manuel went to a class if we had classes we had different things you had to learn but you know, they they gave you a test. I don't know if you want me to talk about that. This is before you go and they gave you a test at the two-day test. It tells you it it's it talks about you and your feelings and you kind of is Rome honestly and it's a long it's a long drawn-out process. It's not simple and that test qualifies you to what your intelligence is and what you able to to learn from what you already learned. And if you're this here, you can't go this far because you got to get through here to get the here and a lot of times because I read a lot. I guess I didn't have to read even in school and I read everything. I don't care what it is. And what happens is

29:33 Tara they just keep so they grade your so for example, they know what you're capable of. So, let's say I think they mock you I like I had I like a 21 or 22 and I think the low part was maybe 12 or 13 or something like that number my ACT score, but you said that you got along really well with the guys that were in your platoon and Grandma make sure to make sure I check it out, you know it when we set up perimeters and things of that sort, you know yet yet you have to make it go, you know, it's

30:31 It's it's something you do. You don't think about it. You just do it, you know and there's somewhere I mean dinner differences. There are some guys.

30:41 I'm in a few fisticuffs. You might say to some extent but I was Street Fighter. So it really wasn't fair for him. But the fact is that they can I sometimes hear you got to get to it. But once you get it and they realize it you got no problem anymore meeting up with guys from Georges in Louisiana. Is that a lot and I have to laugh.

31:19 Because

31:21 They were still fighting the North or the South. I didn't know that what the heck do I know? I'm a New York City boy street street guy that lived on the streets and the Cubs in hell you are talking about you. I could talk to you all these different people and they come in and it took you two sides but you know something that's where the marines coming good. They Blended everybody they put everybody finally got the message and they all became a unit and that was the important thing and that what they would try to to to find out who the best leaders are by now. They would let us say get together how they grasp each other and how they the guys begin to respect.

32:21 One another in that type of thing, you know, and that's the messed up. That's the trainer's job in the in the boot camp to make sure even though he's dry, but he drives him to no end. I mean when I tell you I never saw a rattlesnake's I never saw alligated. I never saw any of this kind of things coming from the city and then I learned how to take care of it and how did it go through swamps and how to go through a different lens by that. I mean,

32:55 And carrying a pack and going for 2010 Twenty Mile 10 miles when they maybe 20 miles and next day and your blood is your your skin is shaved and all that stuff done. You feel good. A lot of guys collapse. They couldn't take it. I don't think I'd rather go to Disney World. A lot of people don't take it that way. You know, it's a it's a whole different. It's not easy was an easy and I didn't feel bad and all that kind of stuff. But this is what I want. This is what I want to be the best and that was it.

33:42 I'm so proud of you. And in the end you guys were an honor platoon in the end. You were an honor platoon.

33:51 And another 14 opportunity came on up until we were one of the shop a spittoon in that particular time are unit.

34:02 Was surprised you don't sound like I was the only guy I went to China. I don't know why why everybody they were different places cuz they reassign you I ended up going to I mean, I got to travel to Hof contest 17 years old. I was all over the Pacific, you know, it's hard to believe you. Think about it you guys again not a single one even in Korea same thing you get reassigned and move on you're going to different outfits to get different. Everybody was every all over the country. So these guys are all not just from meeting they off they were you know, they had people from Mississippi Louisiana do people go in today at home. So to speak it out. So I never really got to know anyone although I did made a lot of Marines.

34:57 And one thing about that is when you working with guys that wear ex-marines and we work together. It's like this. We bombed all the time. No question or what nothing. It's a good relationship with with the future with a lot of

35:14 My feeling anyway.

35:19 Marines have any that it's it says was successful man that at the drive and the and the game of completing and not let anybody it's just like like being in the insurance business. I mean, I just don't want to be an insurance the best in the insurance business and I wasn't the best the worst that I did very well, but I can't complain. I think you were definitely the best and that you're the best dad ever.

35:55 Pictures of the other thing I wanted to say, you know where we need to wrap it up but today and I'm trying not to cry.

36:07 When I made the reservation for storycorps, I did not realize it was 5 years ago today that mom passed away.

36:22 I just want to tell you I know she is our Angel. She's watching over us.

36:29 And you're the best thing that ever happened to Baby?

36:35 She knew what I was thinking before I was thinking it. How do I tell you I didn't do it alone. So she would want you to be happy and that you have a good life.

36:56 Everyday is a good day. I don't worry about it. Tomorrow is going to be better, you know, so I don't worry about it that people complain when they complain about it's mostly nonsense things anyway, so why didn't we are happy and I just want to thank you for the interview Dad. Thanks. Thanks for coming all the way to Pensacola to talk on storycorps think so it said most people don't listen to anybody. You know what they really had. A lot of people don't really be honest with themselves. That's another can of worms. You know, I remember I was talking to I had a very good friend. His name was Phil the Achilles and he's a I was forcibly

37:45 He had retired and he went out to celebrate with his wife and they got hit with a car and it got killed.

37:52 That's why I say you never know, but he hadn't the ability of reading people.

37:59 And you back so, you know and he was unbelievably had an instinct for people and helpful and he was always getting someone and he could turn people around he had this amazing ability to get people to work with him and give him a lot of credit as well inspiration to me and we were very good friends. Who would Bonnie could come here depend on me I can depend on him there though.

38:30 Then you know what you're an inspiration for all of us all of your kids. I just want to make sure you knew that you don't have to worry never have to get on I have to do everything else. That's it. And be honest with yourself. That's most important. I don't know what else I can say about.

38:58 Trains were very good to me. They said the man up in the Catholic church and being a part of it to a certain extent was wonderful for me and gave me good inspiration. And then I guess they gave me something to believe in and and and work with and the practice it everyday, you know, it's not just one day a week or a month to self box everyday. Thanks Dad. Like driving a car some guys drive a car. Okay, and they drive at the speed limit is 60 miles an hour. How do I send you could cause going 70 miles an hour?

39:38 The next thing I know you're doing 70 miles an hour and I just see cars going 80 miles an hour and then you know, so you back off, you know, so you and get back in your back in your own track because she get caught up in that web and that's that's that's it's it's it's not good, but that's the way I look at it. Sometimes I was pissed. So what the hell am I doing pullover time? I get there a little later I get there a little later. So what's the difference between a point and it's a mindset? Everybody wants to get somewhere. You going to get there eventually if you work hard enough and you get there?

40:24 What you can and can't just do a short cuz I think the good Lord says okay find you might have got away with this one will catch you the next time the way I see it. Anyway, maybe I'm wrong, but that's the way I do, but that's a wrap up anyway, dad.

40:51 Thank you so much for being here. Love you.