U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 4 (of 5): The East-Central FrontMontross, Lynn
History
U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 4 (of 5): The East-Central Front
Montross, Lynn
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Campaigns; United States. Marine Corps -- History -- Korean War, 1950-1953
The pressure, which had been building up for several days, reached
a new high on 10 June. Late that morning Colonel Brown met General
Almond and the Division G-3, Colonel Richard G. Weede, at a conference.
By 1100 the entire 2d Battalion of the 1st Marines was committed. On
the left, Lieutenant Colonel West had to hold up the 1st Battalion
until 1330, when the ROKs completed the occupation of the high ground
dominating the route of advance.
For several hours it appeared that the Marines had met their match
this time. A tenacious enemy defended log bunkers expertly, refusing
to give ground until evicted by grenade and bayonet attacks. At every
opportunity the Communists counterattacked. So effective was their
resistance that at dusk the two Marine battalions were still short of
their objectives in spite of casualties draining the strength of both
units.
Colonel Joseph L. Winecoff, commanding officer of the 11th Marines,
remained on the telephone for hours with Colonel Brown. He gave all
possible artillery support, not only of his own regiment but also
nearby Corps units. By nightfall, with the attacking battalions
still held up, the atmosphere was tense in the regimental forward
CP. Lieutenant Colonel Adelman, commanding the supporting artillery
battalion, 2/11, helped to coordinate air strikes and artillery with
Lieutenant Colonel Donald M. Schmuck, executive officer of the 1st
Marines, and the air liaison officers.
“Everything I had ever hoped to see in years of teaching such
coordination of fires seemed to come true that night,” commented
Colonel Brown at a later date. “I stayed in my regular CP until I was
sure all I could do through Winecoff was done, and then went forward to
see the finale. It was a glorious spectacle, that last bayonet assault.
In the last analysis 2/1 had to take its objective with the bayonet and
hand grenades, crawling up the side of a mountain to get at the enemy.
It was bloody work, the hardest fighting I have ever seen.”[236]
[236] MajGen W. S. Brown, USMC (Ret.), ltr of 8 Jun 58. Other
sources for this section are the _HD_s of 1stMarDiv,
1stMar, 1/1, 2/1, 3/1, and VMF-214.
This was no small tribute, coming from a veteran officer whose combat
service included three major wars, not to mention Nicaragua and
China. It was nearly midnight before Mabry’s battalion took its final
objective. Casualties for the day’s attack were 14 KIA and 114 WIA
exclusive of slightly wounded, who were neither counted nor evacuated.
West’s battalion, which seized Hill 802, overlooking the Soyang River,
had won its all-day fight at a cost of 9 KIA and 97 WIA.
Unfailing support had been given throughout the daylight hours by
aircraft of VMF-214. VMF(N)-513 took over on the night shift, and
planes came screeching in as late as 2200 to attack moonlit targets a
hundred yards ahead of the leading infantry elements.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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