The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the July 2024 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of Korean War Veteran, United States Marine, Staff Sergeant Norman Persing. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Staff Sergeant Persing in the Summer of 2023.

Staff Sergeant Norman Persing began his interview by reflecting on factors that led to his decision to become a United States Marine. He was a sophomore at Wilkes College in Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania and the 109th Field Artillery was activated during the Korean War. Many of the men in the 109th were classmates of his. As the 109th was traveling by train for field exercises, there was an accident and 33 of his classmates were killed. His memory of the funeral procession and loss of those he knew, prompted Persing to leave college and enlist in the United States Marine Corps. He recalled, "that's a move that changed my whole life for the better, it helped me see my fellow man in a better light. The guy next door was depending on me and I was depending on him. That was the basis of our service. We were so well trained in the Marine Corps, we felt we were undefeatable, and we were."

Staff Sergeant Persing spoke of the process of becoming a Marine at Parris Island in 1950. He shared, "You go from a carefree teenager to one day you’re a kid and the next day you’re a gentleman with responsibility. Your responsible for someone else's life and they are responsible for yours." Parris Island equipped Persing with the necessary tools to train others in the field, provided impactful lessons which would be battle tested and last a lifetime.

He was then ordered to Camp Pendleton and was assigned to learn the 4.2 mortar after landing a direct hit using a 81 MM mortar. His also continued training with the M1 Garand rifle and antitank weapons. Weapons were not the only element to his training. He shared, “We all knew where we were going, we volunteered, we knew we were going to Korea, part of our training was to the mountains for snow training.”

The trip to Korea encompassed a 22-day voyage by sea, arriving in Japan, and then flying to Korea to link up with the 7th Marine Regiment. Persing said, “all of a sudden it was my war. The guy that was shooting was shooting at me.” Not long after his arrival, Operation Mousetrap was underway, with the objective of locating the Chinese and North Koreans, and drawing them in. Persing’s reflection of the operation was clear and vivid, he shared, “we annihilate them.” The fighting was fierce and would be the first of many harrowing experiences Persing would face. Persing’s use of the 4.2 mortar would have devastating impacts on North Korean and Chinese Forces.

His reflections of the loss of fellow Marines and forging lifelong friendships speak to the meaning of brothers in arms and illustrates the motto of the United States Marine Corps. Staff Sergeant Persing would return home following his experiences, lead a successful civilian career, and would never forget the winter in Korea and unrelenting enemy forces he helped rout, capture, and defeat, while defending democracy and freedom.

Words cannot do justice to the detailed accounts shared by the Staff Sergeant. Watching his interview segments bring to life a chapter in United States and World history that should never be forgotten. Staff Sergeant Persing’s invaluable memories bring to life the realities of the Korean War from the perspective of a Marine who found himself on the front lines, often facing live and death situations, and defending his fellow Marines.

The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Marine, Staff Sergeant Norman Persing, featured within this series titled, Tales from the Navy Log, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at https://www.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service

To view this interview please visit the Vinson Hall Veterans Collection on the Navy Memorial Stories of Service page.