[Illustration] [Illustration: CCF 5th PHASE OFFENSIVE 1st STEP 22 APRIL 2d STEP 16 MAY ] U. S. MARINE OPERATIONS IN KOREA 1950–1953 VOLUME IV _The East-Central Front_ by LYNN MONTROSS MAJOR HUBARD D. KUOKKA, USMC and MAJOR NORMAN W. HICKS, USMC [Illustration] Historical Branch, G-3 Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps Washington, D. C., 1962 Preceding Volumes of _U. S. Marine Operations in Korea_ Volume I, “The Pusan Perimeter” Volume II, “The Inchon-Seoul Operation” Volume III, “The Chosin Reservoir Campaign” Library of Congress Catalogue Number: 55-60727 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D.C.--Price $2.25 (cloth) Foreword Americans everywhere will remember the inspiring conduct of Marines during Korean operations in 1950. As the fire brigade of the Pusan Perimeter, the assault troops at Inchon, and the heroic fighters of the Chosin Reservoir campaign, they established a record in keeping with the highest traditions of their Corps. No less praiseworthy were the Marine actions during the protracted land battles of 1951, the second year of the Korean “police action.” The 1st Marine Division, supported wherever possible by the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, helped stem the flood of the Chinese offensive in April. Then lashing back in vigorous and successful counterattack, the Marines fought around the Hwachon Reservoir to the mighty fastness of the Punchbowl. The Punchbowl became familiar terrain to Marines during the summer of 1951, and the Division suffered its heaviest casualties of the year fighting in the vicinity of that aptly named circular depression. The fighting waxed hot, then cold, as the truce teams negotiated. They reached no satisfactory agreement, and the fighting again intensified. Finally, after a year of active campaigning on Korea’s east-central front, the Marines moved west to occupy positions defending the approaches to the Korean capital, Seoul. The year of desperate fighting, uneasy truce, and renewed combat covered by this volume saw the operational employment of a Marine-developed technique--assault by helicopter-borne troops. Tactics were continually being refined to meet the ever changing battle situation. However, throughout the period, the one constant factor on which United Nations commanders could rely was the spirit and professional attitude of Marines, both regular and reserve. This is their hallmark as fighting men. [Illustration: (signature)] DAVID M. SHOUP _General, U. S. Marine Corps,_ _Commandant of the Marine Corps._ Reviewed and Approved 20 Nov 1961. Preface