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
CTF-90 assumed control of all naval functions on 10 December after
approving loading plans made at a conference of Navy officers
and representatives of X Corps. Colonel Forney, Deputy Chief of
Staff, X Corps, was appointed Corps evacuation control officer with
responsibility for the operation of the Hungnam port and was assigned
a small staff. Major Richard W. Shutts, of General Shepherd’s party,
was placed in charge of the Operations Section. Two more former TTUPac
Marines on the X Corps staff were assigned sections--Major Charles
P. Weiland, the Loading Section; and Major Jack R. Munday, the Navy
Liaison Section. Lieutenant Colonel Harry E. Moisell, USA, headed the
Movement Section, and Captain William C. Cool, USA, the Rations Section.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Warren served as Colonel Forney’s
executive officer until he was incapacitated by pneumonia and relieved
by Lieutenant Colonel Crowe.
The 2d Engineer Special Brigade, USA, was responsible for operation
of the dock facilities, traffic control in the dock areas, and for
furnishing Japanese stevedores, winch operators, cargo handling
equipment, and dunnage. A reinforced company from the 1st Shore Party
Battalion worked the LST and small craft beaches while controlling the
lighterage for ships loading in the stream.
It was decided on 11 December that 1st Marine Division staging to
assembly areas should commence immediately. Loading had to be expedited
so that ships could be used for a second and even third turn-around.
Embarkation Order 3-50, issued by the Division on the 11th, assigned
vehicle and cargo assembly areas to units, and an embarkation control
office was set up in the dock area.
As compensation for the cramped confines of the Hungnam harbor, the
tidal range was less than a foot as compared to the maximum of 31
feet at Inchon. And though the docks had space for only seven ships,
Major Weiland planned to double-berth four additional ships and load
them from the outboard side. In addition, 11 LSTs could be handled
simultaneously--seven at GREEN Beach One, and the others at GREEN Beach
Two.
Marine units awaiting shipping remained on a standby basis, ready to
begin loading at once upon assignment of space by the embarkation
officer. The Division rear CP at Hungnam had become the only CP with
General Smith’s arrival; and on the 11th General Craig, the ADC,
returned from emergency leave.
General MacArthur flew to Yonpo Airfield on the 11th for a brief
conference with General Almond and approved the X Corps plan. A date of
27 December was set for Corps units to pass under the control of the
Eighth Army in South Korea.
The outloading of the 1st Marine Division was making good progress on
the 12th when General Smith visited the docks on a tour of inspection.
That evening he and General Shepherd attended a dinner at the Corps CP
in honor of General Almond’s 58th birthday. The Army was represented
by Major Generals Barr, Soule, and Clark L. Ruffner, X Corps Chief of
Staff.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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