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
It was ironic that 3/5’s reserve company should encounter the angriest
hornets’ nest on Wolmi-do. Landing in the fourth wave at 0659, Captain
Robert A. McMullen’s Company I moved through North Point in trace of
the How Company detachment which supposedly had cleared the area.
Suddenly a flurry of hand grenades clattered on the rubble, and the
surprised Marines scattered for cover. Regaining their composure after
the explosions, the infantrymen determined the source of trouble to be
a by-passed string of enemy emplacements dug into a low cliff at the
shoreline facing Inchon. There appeared to be about a platoon of North
Koreans, who would rise from their holes intermittently, fling grenades
inland, then disappear from sight.
Item Company’s interpreter crawled toward the cliff during a lull,
bellowing to the Reds that their predicament was hopeless and
exhorting them to surrender. When the Communists responded to this
advice by throwing more grenades, McMullen signalled Sweet’s tanks
into action. The M-26s and Marine riflemen took covering positions,
while the dozer tank, directed by McMullen himself, rumbled into the
troublesome pocket and systematically sealed the die-hard Reds in their
holes.
Another bit of drama unfolded before the reserve troops when they
closed on the causeway terminus in the wake of How Company’s advance.
From one of many caves drifted noises indicating the presence of
several occupants, hitherto unnoticed. While riflemen covered the
entrance, a Marine tank drove forward and fired two rounds into the
interior.
Muffled explosions shook the area, and billows of black smoke streaked
with flame rolled out of the cave. Wide-eyed, as though watching ghosts
emerge, the Marines of Company I saw thirty enemy soldiers stagger out
of the blazing recess and throw up their hands.
Less than an hour after landing, 3/5 controlled half of Wolmi-do.
Company H, having cleared the causeway terminus, was pivoting southward
to clean out the ruins of the industrial area. Engineers, close on the
heels of the infantry, advanced 25 yards out on the pavement leading
to Inchon and laid an antitank mine field. George Company had advanced
about 400 yards and was clearing the northern crest of Radio Hill.
Action up to this point is best summed up in Taplett’s message to the
_Mount McKinley_ at 0745:
“Captured 45 prisoners. Meeting light resistance.”
Nor did the situation change as Company G occupied the dominating peak
of Radio Hill, some 105 meters high. The enemy lacked the will to
fight, despite the fact that he had sufficient weapons and a formidable
defensive complex from which to fire them. Frightened, dejected Red
soldiers continued to surrender singly or in small groups, and Taplett
exulted over the amazingly light casualties sustained by his battalion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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