U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 2 (of 5): The Inchon-Seoul Operation — John Shaqi
U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 2 (of 5): The Inchon-Seoul OperationMontross, Lynn
History
U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 2 (of 5): The Inchon-Seoul Operation
Montross, Lynn
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Campaigns; United States. Marine Corps -- History -- Korean War, 1950-1953
There were instances of men seeking deferment by using political
influence or pleading physical disability. But such cases were rare
as compared to the great majority who reported promptly and declared
themselves combat-ready.
In the selection of reservists for the division, two categories were
recognized--combat-ready and noncombat-ready. The first applied to
men whose records proved that they had been members of the Organized
Reserve for two years and had attended one summer camp and 72 drills
or two summer camps and 32 drills. Veterans of more than 90 days’
service in the Marine Corps also qualified. All other reservists were
classified as noncombat-ready.
When lost or incomplete records complicated the equation, a reservist’s
own opinion could not be accepted as proof of his fitness for combat.
This ruling had to be made because so many men were found to have more
spunk than training. Officers of a reservist’s unit were questioned
before a decision was reached, and any man feeling the need of
further training could be removed without prejudice from immediate
consideration for combat.
Standards were so strictly observed that only about half of the
reservists qualified as being combat-ready. This group broke down into
the 15 per cent accepted for the 1st Marine Division and the 35 per
cent assigned to posts and stations to relieve regulars who joined the
division. The remaining 50 per cent consisted of men placed in the
noncombat-ready or recruit class.[45]
[45] Andrew Geer, _The New Breed_ (New York, 1952), 103–105.
The emergency found the Organized Aviation Reserve with 30 VMF and
12 GCI squadrons generally up to peacetime strength. Of the 1,588
officers, about 95 per cent were combat-experienced, and only about 10
per cent of the enlisted men stood in need of basic training. It was a
comparatively simple task, therefore, to comply with the order of 23
July calling for six VMF and three GCI squadrons to report to El Toro.
Their mission was to build up to war strength the units of the 1st MAW
which had been stripped to mount out MAG-33.
On 3 August the remaining nine GCI squadrons of the Organized Aviation
Reserve were ordered to El Toro.[46] By this time the build-up was so
well in hand that Major General Field Harris, commanding the 1st Marine
Aircraft Wing, conferred with General Smith about aviation shipping for
the embarkation.
[46] Giusti, III-2.
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