U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 5 (of 5): Operations in West KoreaUnited States. Marine Corps
History
U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 5 (of 5): Operations in West Korea
United States. Marine Corps
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Campaigns; United States. Marine Corps -- History -- Korean War, 1950-1953
Although the immediate danger of the enemy onslaught had ended for
the time being, Marines to the rear of the JAMESTOWN Line stepped up
their defensive preparations. Division, regimental, and battalion
operational plans were put into effect to prevent a Chinese victory.
The seriousness of the situation on the 1st Marines right flank at
Stromboli early on 13 August had resulted in the movement of one
company of 5th Marines into blocking positions behind the MLR near
the left regimental boundary. To the south of Bunker Hill, relief
and replacement units from the division reserve, ordered into action
late the previous day, maneuvered into position to strengthen the
regimental front. One of these relief units, G/3/7, under command of
Captain William M. Vanzuyen, had just deployed from its assembly area
to pass through the ranks of an MLR company and take over the Bunker
Hill positions. The Marines’ situation on Hill 122 had deteriorated so
rapidly, however, that the 3/1 commander rushed two reinforced squads
forward from I/3/7, the nearest MLR unit.
The Company G reinforcement unit jumped off from JAMESTOWN and arrived
at Bunker shortly after sunup, where it reinforced Captain Connolly’s
positions during the height of the battle for possession of Hill 122.
Not long after, the Chinese initiated their withdrawal under cover of
increased artillery and mortar barrages. As they left, the Communists
policed the battlefield in their typically thorough manner. A Marine
platoon that swept the northern slope of Bunker failed to find any
enemy bodies in this area so recently abandoned by the Chinese, but did
take under fire and kill seven enemy that had remained on Hill 122.
Before I/3/1 had sent one of its platoons to reconnoiter the far side
of Bunker Hill, Lieutenant Colonel Armitage ordered H/3/7, under
Captain John G. Demas, forward to relieve friendly forces at the
contested height. The exchange of units was completed before noon
of the 13th. By late afternoon, except for Company H, all 2d and 3d
Battalions, 7th Marines units that had moved up to reinforce the 1st
Marines were on their way back to the regimental reserve area. At this
time the 1st Marines CO, Colonel Layer, reported to General Selden
that the Bunker Hill action during 12–13 August had resulted in 24
Marines killed and 214 wounded. On the right, in the 2d Battalion
sector, an additional 40 Marines were listed as casualties, including
7 killed in the Stromboli defense. Chinese known dead numbered 210,
plus an estimated 470 killed and 625 wounded.[184] Artillery and aerial
observers reported that between 1500 on the 12th and 0600 the following
morning an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 rounds of enemy fire had fallen
on 1st Marines positions, the “heaviest incoming fires received by the
Division since coming into the present sector.”[185]
[184] 1stMarDiv PIR 658, dtd 14 Aug 52.
[185] Selden, _Div Staff Rpt_, p. 19.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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