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Memories of a Lance Corporal

Team Spirit 89- 3rd Battalion 1st Marines was taking part in an annual exercise with the South Koreans.  I was a Lance Corporal assigned to the sniper platoon at the time.  We had just received a mission to set up an observation post overlooking a road.  In Korea that means one thing, going up.  I and my observer headed out on the long climb out of the valley our unit currently occupied- The Korea I remember was cold and had an endless series of deep valleys and high ridgelines.  Up we went for what seemed hours, passing through little villages along the way.  Finally at the top, we executed a well known military maneuver called the rucksack flop.  While we rested we started to hear a faint noise, almost like chimes.  It grew louder and louder, until a grey covered head came into view.  The old man didn’t speak English or us Korean.  He just smiled and started laying out cups, tea and some sort of little cakes.  When he was done he motioned for us to sit with him, which we did.  We sat for close to 2 hours sipping tea and eating cakes.  Once we were done, after much smiling and head nodding, the old man packed his cups, waved and headed back down the mountain.
All I can think of is that this old man had an encounter with Americans before, perhaps during the Korean Conflict.  Whenever it was it had been positive enough to elicit a positive response.  I imagine a young Marine walking through a war torn village and handing a young boy some food, or a drink of water, we have done it in countries around the world for years, and that young boy grew old with the memory of gaunt, battle wary Americans who had shown a little kindness when none was expected.
Relentless in Battle, Compassionate in Victory,
Semper Fi