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
By 7 January the UN forces had pulled back to a modified Line D
extending from Pyongtaek on the west coast to Samchok on the east and
taking in Yoju and Chechon. General Ridgway sent telegrams to all corps
commanders expressing dissatisfaction with the personnel and material
losses inflicted on the enemy during the withdrawal. “I shall expect,”
each message concluded, “utmost exploitation of every opportunity in
accordance with my basic directive.”
That evening, foreshadowing the offensive operations he was
contemplating, the commanding general ordered a reconnaissance-in-force
by a reinforced infantry regiment north to Osan to search out the
enemy and inflict maximum punishment. No contacts were made, nor did
strong patrols sent out by U.S. IX Corps flush out any sizeable groups
of Chinese. But the Eighth Army had served notice that it intended to
regain the initiative at the first opportunity.
One more blow remained to be absorbed. On the 8th the Communists struck
in the Wonju area with an attack of four divisions. Elements of the
newly reorganized 2d Infantry Division were forced to give up that
important highway and rail center after counterattacks failed. The
enemy now directed his main effort along the Chunchon-Wonju-Chechon
corridor, and North Korean guerrilla forces infiltrated through the gap
between the U.S. X Corps and ROK III Corps.
The salient created by this CCF attack caused Line D to be modified
again so that in the center it dipped sharply downward to Chungju
before curving northeast to Samchok (Map 4).
_Marine Aircraft in the Battle_
The pilots and aircrewmen of the three carrier squadrons and the
land-based jet squadron were the only Marines in a position to take an
active part in the battle. With but one TACP per division, close air
support was out of the question for the ROKs on New Year’s Day.
Control facilities were severely strained when scores of UN fliers
made use of the frequencies which the Mosquitoes employed for tactical
air direction. The voices were all in the English language, but with
more than one person doing the sending, shrill side noises sliced in
to garble the whole into a cacophony of jungle sounds. A Mosquito
trying to coach a fighter-bomber attack at the crossings of the Imjin
might be drowned out by a distant pilot calling up a controller in the
Hwachon Reservoir Area.[31]
[31] USAF Hist Study No. 72, _U. S. Air Force Operations in
the Korean Conflict_, 1 Nov 50–30 Jun 52, (hereafter
cited as AHS-72) pp. 188–196. The term “net” denotes a
network of radio stations, all on a single frequency for
a specific purpose.
As a consequence, there was no coordinated air-ground attack in
direct support of the man in the foxhole. Most of the JOC effort was
directed to the enemy’s rear in an effort to block supporting arms,
reinforcements, and supplies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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