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 enemy immediately took possession of evacuated ground which enabled
him to fire into the front lines of Easy Company. At 0500 another
Marine counterattack began, with Easy Company making a frontal assault
and the 2d Platoon of Fox Company striking the enemy flank. It was
the same platoon that had delivered the flank attack resulting in the
capture of Hill 812. Again 2/Fox struck the decisive blow with grenades
and automatic weapons. The surprise was too much for enemy troops who
hastened back to their own side of the Rock, leaving 60 counted dead
behind.[293]
[293] 1st Marine Division losses of 33 killed and 235 wounded
during the three-day attack were incurred for the must
part by the 5th Marines in general and 2/5 in particular.
Enemy casualties of this period were reported as 972 KIA
(265 counted) and 113 prisoners.
This was the last action of a battle that had occupied all three Marine
regiments from 11 to 20 September inclusive while the KMC Regiment
patrolled aggressively on the Division left flank. Three of the four
Division objectives had been secured after savage fights, but Objective
CHARLIE (the ridgeline northwest of Hill 1052 in the KMC zone) had yet
to be attacked when Division OpnO 26-51 put an abrupt stop to offensive
movement.
Not only was the fight west of Hill 812 the last action of the 1st
Marine Division’s nine-day battle; it was the last action of mobility
for Marines in Korea. As time went on, it would become more and more
apparent that 20 September 1951 dated a turning point in the Korean
conflict. On that day the warfare of movement came to an end, and the
warfare of position began.
CHAPTER X
The New Warfare of Position
_Sectors of Major_ EUSAK _Units--Statement by General Van Fleet--Hill
854 Secured by 3/1--Helicopter Troop Lift to Hill 884--Helicopter
Operation_ BLACKBIRD--_“To Organize, Construct, and Defend”--Marine
Operations of November 1951--The Second Marine Christmas in Korea_
Two and a half weeks of hard fighting had taken place along the X Corps
front when General James A. Van Fleet paid a visit on 16 September
1951. The commanding general of EUSAK wished to inspect the operations
and determine the morale of the 1st Marine Division and 2d Infantry
Division, both of which had suffered heavy casualties. He found the
morale of these X Corps units good and had no adverse criticisms of
their operations. While on this tour of inspection, however, he issued
the following three directives to X Corps:
(1) That replacements would be integrated into units only when
the battalion or larger-sized unit to which they were assigned
was in reserve;
(2) that certain ‘choke points’ [General Van Fleet pointed
out the locations on the map] be interdicted to prevent enemy
reinforcements or withdrawals through these points;
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