Up on Chorito Ridge

A song to honor my grandfather, PFC Richard D. Hixon, and others who served this Veterans Day.

There are many things in life we hope to eventually accomplish. Some come and go as our priorities change and others take on more importance as we age. Telling the story of my grandfather, PFC Richard D. Hixon, a decorated World War II Marine hero and my Grandpa Buddy, has become the latter for me.

Earlier this summer, I made a concentrated effort to find the right materials to tell his story and knew that the campgrounds of the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS, would be the perfect place to start pulling the narrative together through song. Surrounded by the aura of this amazing festival where musicians and storytellers go to be with each other, as well as being pretty darn close to the origins of his childhood in southern Kansas, would definitely be the proper setting to get this project headed in the right direction.

A few critical pieces of reference material had manifested days before I left so I knew I needed to chase this now. First, and foremost, an old hardback first edition copy of The Third Marine Division published in 1948 by the Infantry Journal Press.

Worn and torn, it’s full of handwritten notes from him. I remember this book from my childhood as my Grandpa Buddy would share stories of his service in an attempt for us to somehow comprehend his astounding journey. He’d often sit shirtless at the kitchen table with the radio broadcasting a Royals game on KOMB 103.9, a pack of KOOLs nearby, his bulldog tattoo full of pride upon his upper arm and a smile on his face always ready for whatever trouble my brother and cousins might want to create.

It was the recessed bumps throughout his back that probably amazed me more than anything at the time. All these craters in a somewhat scattered line across his upper back.  He’d let you run your hands over his back feeling the bumpy road he had traversed to get to this place in life. He was a war hero and an amazing grandad with some wild stories. One of the greatest characters I’ll ever meet.

In addition to his Marine book, I also found a compare-and-contrast paper full of verbatim quotes from him I had collected for a high school paper I did about him and my other grandfather, Frank Albright. The handwritten notes were from right before I moved to Iowa in fall of 1999. He had wanted me to know that his Commanding Officer from his time in Guadalcanal had Iowa roots and that I should keep my eyes and ears open for information about “Iron” Mike Enich who had an amazing football career at the University of Iowa before becoming a decorated Marine.

IMPORTANT STORY SIDENOTE: While I’d never meet “Iron” Mike Enich, who passed in 1978, I did meet his grandson and namesake, Mike Irwin. And not only did we meet but we’d already been close friends well before we knew our grandfathers served together. Mike and I happened to meet as co-workers and Mike has been the most incredible friend supporting me on this journey as a songwriter and encouraging me to write, share and play music. We were even already playing in a band together, The 1408 (named after the address 1408 Locust in Des Moines where we all worked together at Flynn Wright at the time) before we realized the super small world connection. I mentioned to him one day that I had inspiration to pull a song together about my grandfather’s life and started sharing with him some of the particulars when he quickly paused me to question, “Wait, did you say Iron Mike Enich? That’s my grandfather.”  

We were both flabbergasted and knew that we one day we’d bring this story to light.

These materials and inspiration, coupled with my upcoming journey to Winfield, felt like the ingredients needed to for the assignment. I quickly realized too that 2024 was the 80^th Anniversary of the Battle of Guam where he had been nearly mortally-wounded. So, now was the time. Could I find the words and chords to honorably share his story by Veterans Day 2024?

Driving a two-lane late out of Wichita after my show at Kirby’s provided some incredible wide-open imagery through the Kansas highways and I started thinking about the 1981 white Corvette Stingray my grandpa drove when I was a kid. It was a classic and he enjoyed taking my younger brother and me for some fast rides out on the Bourbon County blacktops enjoying the countryside. It was only a two-seater, but we all managed to fit just fine (as long as no one told Mom).

There I was, deep in the night surrounded by the stars, cruising in a white Storyteller Overland Camper Van that fellow Iowa singer-songwriter Jason Walsmith of The Nadas had graciously allowed me to take on this pilgrimage, and the imagery hit me. While his story revolves around trauma he endured during his service and before during the Dust Bowl, this is a tale of pure resilience. This is a story that needs a hopeful and meaningful ending from the start with a powerful image for a listener to grab hold of and go for a ride. I would build it around him in that car, smiling as he cruised into the sunset of his life while reflecting upon a full life earned through perseverance.

The juxtaposition of him in this pure white Corvette with an arm out the window and a wry smile upon his face knowing how much he overcame to earn such simple joy against the backdrop of war trauma from his past felt right to me. The concept is brought to life in the above cover art created by my talented wife, Jen.

The Battle of Guam took place 80 years ago. Guam is located in the Marianas Islands and had fallen to enemy control as part of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 (NOTE: Grandpa Buddy enlisted the following day with his entire senior class at Biggs High School in California). Guam stayed under Japanese control until the Battle of Guam (July 21 – August 10, 1944) that proved to be an American Victory.

Over 5000 American soldiers were killed or injured in this bloody battle alone and these soldiers knew it would be catastrophic before they boarded the ships for the attack. “The eyes of a nation watch you as you go into battle to liberate this former American bastion from the enemy” Lt. Gen. Roy S. Geiger III told these soldiers as they approached their landing spots.

The aforementioned Third Marine Division book sets the stage as these soldiers approached a mission they knew would be deadly for so many of them.

“Aboard other ships the Marine Hymn was the accompaniment to thousands of men who streamed down the sides of transports into landing barges. Sober faces watched the gigantic naval guns resume their hammering as the island fortress; nervous hands caressed weapons as the boats prepared to leave rendezvous areas.

At 0808, an air observer, flying over Asan Beach, announced by voice radio:

“First wave headed for beach.”

Twelve minutes later, the observer’s voice penetrated through the roar of gunfire:

“The rockets are landing and giving them hell. Good effect on beach. Landing craft seem to be about one thousand yards from beach.”

At 0827, another report:

“First wave two hundred yards from beach.”

Naval gunfire and aerial bombardment, now relegated to a supporting role, lifted their fires from the beaches and commenced battering relentlessly at the high ground inland.

At 0833, the air observer tensely announced:

“Troops ashore on all beaches.”

The fight was on! The battle for Guam was now in the hands of the Marines.”

In my grandfather’s notes, he referenced he was shot seven times on the Chonito (sic) Cliffs, where they had invaded amphibiously. He chewed on a root for survival while in shock. He was only 15 feet from fellow PFC and Medal of Honor recipient, Leonard F. Mason, who died heroically in battle that day.

Sadly, Mike’s grandfather took his own life in the late 1970s, before we talked more openly about PTSD as a society which continues to harm many walking with us today. One way to support today’s veterans struggling with PTSD is a donation to K9s for Warriors. This innovative organization is dedicated to ending veteran suicide through healing and recovery with rescue dogs. It was recommended to me from a veteran friend openly overcoming his trauma from service earlier this century and is a great way to honor those of the past by helping those with us today.

Thank you for honoring these brave soldiers with your time and thoughts today. You can continue the story by reading the lyrics below and listening to Up on Chorito Ridge released on November 11, 2024 on all major streaming platforms.

UP ON CHORITO RIDGE by Chip Albright

He drove a white corvette into the Kansas sunset

Never did forget that trauma he met

Shot seven times, shoulda died

Up on Chorito Ridge

It was Battle of Guam, summer of 1944

Out in the Pacific, full of bloody hellish gore

The 3^rd Marine Division charged ashore

Knowing grit and guts could win the war

And in the thick of it all was my Grandpa Buddy

Shot up and bleedin’ but holdin’ steady

Less than 15 feet from dying, he was ready

With PFC Leonard F. Mason, a Medal of Honor awardee

He enlisted December 8, 1941

Only seventeen but his time had come

Earned three purple hearts and a gold star in sum

This scout served heroically in the 2^nd Battalion

Admired his C.O., Iron Mike Enich

An Iowa linemen and a helluva leader

Talking about PFC Richard D. Hixon, one mighty Marine

aka my Grandpa Buddy

He drove a white corvette into the Kansas sunset

Never did forget the trauma he met

Shot seven times, shoulda died

Up on Chorito Ridge

Born a preemie to a mom with TB

They moved south where he became an Okie

Til the Dust Bowl had ‘em flee west to Camp Griddy

In search of some of that Cali milk and honey

Life stayed hard til an honorable discharge

When he made his way home to a Midwestern farm

Met sweet Betty Lou McGowan, fell for her hard

Started milking cows, to heal his hands and heart

Worked 41 years at the USPS

Had three daughters to love and caress

Suffered often but always said he was blessed

Even when that old shrapnel in his shoulder would start causin’ a mess

Loved his sports on 103.9

Rooting Royals, Chiefs and Tigers all the time

Talking about PFC Richard D. Hixon, one mighty Marine

aka my Grandpa Buddy

He drove a white corvette into the Kansas sunset

Never did forget the trauma he met

Shot seven times, shoulda died

Up on Chorito Ridge

Song Credits:

Chip Albright, Lyrics, Lead Vocals and Guitar

Jen Albright, Accordion and Background Vocals

Mike Irwin, Bass Guitar

Dan Tedesco, Production, Engineering, Mixing and Background Vocals

Find more music and merchandise at www.chipalbrightmusic.com and please subscribe to my Substack as I’ll be sharing more stories behind our songs and life as an independent singer-songwriter living in the Midwest.

Please scroll down for more pics of PFC Richard D. Hixon aka my Grandpa Buddy.

Richard and Betty Hixon, Then and Forever.

My mother Barbara Hixon Albright and Grandpa Buddy with Daryl and Christy Roller at a Mercy Hospital Gala event honoring veterans in Fort Scott, KS. We lost Daryl earlier this year but will always remember these great men for their honorable service and friendship.

Thank you Buddy! We love you.