U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 3 (of 5): The Chosin Reservoir CampaignMontross, Lynn
History
U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 3 (of 5): The Chosin Reservoir Campaign
Montross, Lynn
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Campaigns; United States. Marine Corps -- History -- Korean War, 1950-1953
[21] CinCFE msg C 64805, 28 Sep 50; Truman, _Memoirs_, II,
361; Whitney, _MacArthur_, 397–398.
Within three days, he received word from the Joint Chiefs that they
approved his plan.[22] On 2 October it became the official operation
order for the attack.[23]
[22] JCS disp 92975, 29 Sep 50; Truman, _Memoirs_, II, 361;
Whitney, _MacArthur_, 398. All dates in the narrative and
in footnotes are given as of the place of origin of the
action. Thus, 29 September in Washington was actually the
30th in Tokyo.
[23] UNC _Operation Order_ (_OpnO_) 2, 2 Oct 50.
_Logistical Problems of Advance_
On 29 September, the day before he received the JCS endorsement of his
plan, General MacArthur arrived in Seoul to officiate at the ceremony
restoring control of South Korea to the legal ROK government. During
the visit, he met with the principals named in the Task Organization of
OpnPlan 9-50:
Eighth U. S. Army LtGen Walton H. Walker, USA
Naval Forces Far East VAdm C. Turner Joy, USN
Far East Air Forces (FEAF) LtGen George E. Stratemeyer, USAF
X Corps MajGen Edward M. Almond, USA
Missing from the top-level conference, Major General Walter L. Weible,
USA, of the Japan Logistical Command, probably was already aware of
things to come.[24]
[24] LtGen E. A. Almond, USA, (Ret.) ltr to Col J. Meade, USA,
14 Jun 55.
MacArthur outlined his concept of operations in North Korea to those
present. He set 20 October as D-Day for the Wonsan amphibious assault
by the 1st Marine Division, which, with all X Corps Troops, would
embark for the operation from Inchon. The 7th Infantry Division, also a
part of X Corps, would motor 200 miles to Pusan and there load out for
an administrative landing behind the Marines.[25]
[25] _Ibid._
Initial overland routing of the 7th Division was made necessary by
problems arising out of Inchon’s limited port facilities. General
MacArthur gave EUSAK the logistic responsibility for all UN Forces in
Korea, including X Corps. To carry out this charge, General Walker
could rely on only two harbors, Pusan and Inchon. There were no other
ports in South Korea capable of supporting large-scale military
operations. Meeting the tight Wonsan schedule would require that X
Corps have immediate priority over the whole of Inchon’s capacity, even
with the 7th Division being shunted off on Pusan. And it still remained
for Walker to mount and sustain Eighth Army’s general offensive
_before_ the Wonsan landing!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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