Boso, Kinsman

Click on thumbnail pictures for a larger view or on underlined text to go to a new location.

K4PYV

W4HBC K4BUJ W4NTR/N0ASM

Bo Boso circa 1984

Kinsman Boso joined the West Virginia Army State Guard at the age of 16, six months later he requested and received a discharge in order to enlist in the United States Marine Corps for 4 years on April 6, 1945, two months before his 17th birthday. He was anxious to do his part in defeating the Japanese in the Pacific. Joining up in West Virginia, he completed Boot Camp at Parris Island and was sent to the 8th Infantry Training Battalion, Infantry Training Regiment, Camp Lejeune, NC. As the war came to an end on 14 August 1945, with the formal surrender on 2 September 1945, Private Boso was assigned as a Rifleman, qualified with the M-1 and BAR as a Marksman and the Carbine as a Sharpshooter and was transferred to the Fleet Marine Force. As a Private he was assigned to the 89 Draft, Marine Training Command at Camp Pendleton "For Further Transfer". Boso left the United States on 6 November 1945 and joined the Replacement Battalion, TC MA FMF PAC "For Further Transfer". On 11 December 1945, he joined Battery B of the 10th 155mm Gun Battalion FMF PAC as a Rifleman. In January of 1946 Boso once again found himself in the Replacement Battalion and was assigned to as a PFC to Headquarters Company, H&S Battalion at 5 Service Depot, FMF PAC where he worked first as a Librarian and then a short stint as a Canvas and Leather Worker. Promoted to Corporal (E3) in March of 1947 he was once again assigned as a Librarian. December of 1947 Boso was transferred to Headquarters Company, H&S Battalion, 2nd Marine Division where he served as the G2 Librarian until his discharge on 5 April, 1949.

After a year of civilian life, Kin Boso decided he preferred being a Marine and once again enlisted in the USMC on March 30, 1950 as a Private, immediately promoted to PFC he was transferred the next day to Headquarters Company, H&S Battalion Camp Lejeune, NC where he was assigned to Duty under instruction at Norfolk as a Basic Training Support Man for schooling as a Motion Picture Operator. As the Korean War broke out in late June of 1950 Boso requested a transfer to a more meaningful MOS. and on August 12th, 1950 was assigned as an 1811 - Tank Crewman with B Company, 2nd Tank Battalion. Boso received some training and then was assigned to D Company, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, FMF where he participated in the assault and seizure of Inch'on on September 15th and 16th 1950. He next took part in the inland push to capture and secure Seoul until early October. Returning to Inch'on, Tanks embarked with the 1st Division for the assault on Wonsan. On October 26, 1950, the First Marine Division landed at Wonsan on North Korea's east coast. The Marines had been scheduled to attack the city but South Korean troops took the city by land and no assault was needed. With the Chinese entry into the war, things turned bad for a period and the Division is surrounded a the Chosin Resevoir. Boso fights with the Division until 50 miles south, they reach the Army perimeter at Hungnam on the afternoon of December 11, 1950. This completed the longest withdrawal in Marine Corps history. From there the division was shipped to Pusan. Continuing to fight with the Division, Boso participated in operations against enemy forces in south and central Korea including the Chinese 2nd Spring Offensive and the Punchbowl. Boso is once again promoted to Corporal (E3) in July of 1951. On August 9th he is transferred stateside and reported to the Special Training Battalion at MCRD San Diego on August 27, 1951 to be transferred again in 3 days to the Marine Barracks at the US Naval Base, key West, FL. He remained at Key West as a guard, being promoted to Sergeant on March 15th and in April of 1952 he was transferred to Instruction Company, H&S Battalion, MCRD Parris Island for schooling as a recruiter. After four weeks of Recruiting School Sgt Boso was assigned as a Recruiter (4341) in Chicago, IL from June 1952 until the end of March 1953 as NCOIC of a Recruiting Substation. He then was transferred to 5th MCR & RD, Henderson Hall, Arlington, VA as a Recruiter. Promoted to Staff Sergeant in June 1953 while at Henderson Hall, he was next transferred to the Recruiting Station in South Charleston, West Virginia.

SSgt Boso was Temporarily Assigned Duty to attend the Motor Transport Officers Course at Camp Lejeune North Carolina. On March 30, 1954 SSgt Boso re-enlisted in the Corps and on June 2, 1954 accepted an appointment as a temporary officer to Second Lieutenant of Marines. September of 1956 finds Boso at 2nd Motor Transport Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, FMF Camp Lejeune a First Lieutenant. Rising to the rank of Captain, Boso returned to the enlisted ranks as a Master Sergeant in 1960 serving at Headquarters Company, H&S Battalion, MCRD, Parris Island, SC where he became a licensed Radio Amateur. He was next stationed at Cherry Point, NC in mid 1960. Assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps in 1962 he became Chief Operator at W4NTR, the HQMC amateur radio station. His application to change MOS and serve as a First Sergeant was approved and he also began serving as a Company First Sergeant in Headquarters Battalion HQMC Henderson Hall. During the 1965 Dominican Crisis, 1stSgt Boso worked many hours in providing essential communications to civilian and military personnel Dominican Republic. For this and his everyday work ethic and efforts to portray the Marine Corps, his unit and himself as proficient, dedicated, resourceful professionals, 1stSgt Boso received many letters of commendation and thanks. His duty at HQMC culminated in a Meritorious Mast as he left N0AMS for Vietnam.

Top Boso's last assignment was as First Sergeant of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, FMF Pacific, Vietnam. He retired August 31, 1966, to live in Florida.

Orlando Sentinel, Feb 19, 1985 (pg B4)

Capt. Kinsman G. Boso, 56, Alexander Avenue, Deltona, died Sunday. Born in Akron, Ohio, he moved to Deltona from Sanford in 1981. He was retired from the Marine Corps. Survivors: wife, Virginia; mother Thelma E. Albers, Deltona; daughters, Nancy, Rhonda Sawyer, both of Orlando; stepsons, Thomas Campbell, Winter Park, Ronald Campbell, Christmas: one brother; two sisters, including Waynette Smith, Deltona. Stephen Baldauff Funeral Home, Deltona.