Of the many US Marine Corps reservists called up for duty in the Korean War, two were already household names, being as they were famed Major League Baseball stars
MAJOR LEAGUERS IN KOREA
In January 1951, the US Marine Corps was authorised to increase its number of active-duty squadrons from 18 to 21. Eight days after this, nine marine reserve fighter squadrons were activated for regular service. Six were mobilised for personnel only, to be distributed as needed into the regular squadrons.
Three — VMF-131, -251 and -451 — were established as squadrons, preserving their designations. The recall of the reserve squadrons was due to the small number of marines that had been trained as aviators between 1945-50.
The most famous marine reservist to serve during the Korean War was baseball legend Ted Williams.
Chosen as professional baseball’s Most Valuable Player in 1946 and 1949, the year he became the last man in the sport to have a. 400 hitting record for the season, Williams had been a marine aviator in World War Two, though he did not receive a combat assignment before hostilities ended. He had remained a member of the unorganised reserve and by 1952 he was a 33-year-old captain.
Like many others in the un…
