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
During the Company H defense of the hill, enemy losses, caused mostly
by friendly artillery and mortar fire, were placed at 350, including 40
counted dead. Captain Demas’ Marines suffered 35 casualties, of whom
7 were killed. En route to the MLR after relief by B/3/1, the company
suffered four more casualties, including two KIAs, all the victims of
Chinese mortars.
It was not long before these weapons inflicted casualties on Company B,
which had six of its men wounded even before the H/3/7 unit had reached
JAMESTOWN. Another Marine at Bunker was wounded by enemy mortars later
that morning. At 1640 the Communists again probed Bunker Hill, this
time in company strength. Striking in daylight during a thunderstorm
and without any preparatory fires, the Chinese attackers failed to
achieve any tactical surprise. The defenders fired both infantry and
supporting weapons; some threw grenades at the few Communists who did
manage to get close to the fighting positions. At 1750, the Chinese
withdrew, this time leaving 35 of their dead in the attack area. Four
Marines had been wounded; five others suffering from battle fatigue
were later evacuated.
Exactly when the enemy would strike next at Bunker Hill was not known
by the Marines. Most believed that the Communists would return but only
speculated as to when. Although the battalion felt that “the enemy was
not expected to attack again for some time,”[188] events were to prove
otherwise. In any case, the battalion was prepared, having an adequate
force on Bunker and sufficient local reserves to absorb an attack up
to the strength of any received so far. Division supporting arms were
readily available for commitment at critical points.
[188] 3/1 ComdD, Aug 52, p. 4.
The Chinese soon put an end to the conjecture about the next attack.
At 0040, 16 August, an enemy force, later estimated as a battalion,
came out of positions to the west and north of Hill 122. Supported
by mortars at first, and later on by artillery, the battalion sent
one company against the Marine outpost. Several attacking elements
were able to penetrate the defensive fires. These Chinese reached the
crest of the hill and began using their rifles, automatic weapons,
and hand grenades against the defenders. Captain Scranton called for
reinforcements. A platoon from I/3/7 was dispatched promptly from the
3/1 sector. The reinforcements departed JAMESTOWN just as the fire
fight on Bunker began to subside. By 0315, the enemy had begun his
withdrawal, and another reinforcing element, I/3/1, had moved forward,
this time from regiment to Lieutenant Colonel Armitage’s CP.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account