Sidney Montecino
Korean war memorial service 2018 with Parish President Mike Yenni and Korean consul General Kim.
To Korea- Aug. 1, 1951 , Left Korea- May 13,1952
Sidney G. Montecino US Marine CorpsSergeant /10th Infantry Battalion/ 1st Marine Division / H&S Company
Sidney was born in New Orleans. His father died when he was young, and then his mother died in a car accident in 1944 when he was only twelve years old. Four boys were orphaned, but Sidney’s Aunt Florence Chateau took them in and raised them as her own sons.
By the time that Sidney was 17 years old attending Warren Easton high school, in New Orleans, he had already enlisted in the Marines (on June 2, 1949) and was in the Marine Reserves. His two older brothers, Lawrence and Paul, were also in the Marine Reserves. When the Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, the Marine Reserves were activated and his two brothers were sent to Korea. Since Sidney was still in high school, they let him finish his senior year before sending him to Korea on August 1, 1951. He was 19 years old.
Sidney was sent to Kobe, Japan on USNS General M. C. Meigs. At first he was assigned to Infantry 5th Marine, Easy Company. Then he was sent to the ammunition and supply division. Since two brothers were already in Korea, Sidney was able to join his brothers Lawrence and Paul. Three Montecino brothers were together until Lawrence and Paul were sent back to the States on November of 1951.
Sidney was relocated to various areas above the 38th Parallel. He performed many guard duties. In the winter the creaking sounds of the frozen river were like someone was walking on the water coming towards him. Sometimes enemy did cross and different sounds of breaking ice put him on high alert, fearful, thinking that in the pitch dark the enemy was coming at him. But mostly it was the cracking sound of the frozen river. Even to this day, he can hear that cracking sound of the ice.
Enemy forces were always trying to locate the ammo dump to blow it up, and he saw and heard many explosions by the enemy trying to hit his ammo supply units.
Sidney met with other Louisiana Marines in Korea, like John Fury, Jerry Galliano, and Ray Adams. On May 13, 1952 his two years of duty were over and he was sent home on the USNS General William Weigel.
As told to Sun Kim on February 6, 2020 and July 2021
Sidney, Sun Kim, Don Lasserre, Carol Insook Park, 2018