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
Whether the sacrifice of Siberia in favor of the seizure of Bunker
justified the outcome can be determined, in part, by looking back
to the division commander’s reasons for this decision. He had cited
three advantages in seizing and occupying Hill 122 instead of 58A.
One, tactical surprise achieved by an attack on the former, was an
unqualified success. That Bunker Hill would provide more defensible
terrain and at the same time add strength to the main line were two
sound judgments that the test of time would bear out. The third point,
that observation into the enemy’s outpost line would be increased from
the higher hill, also proved to be correct.
Only the inability to neutralize Hill 58A effectively from Bunker
cast any doubt on the considerations. At night the enemy could occupy
Siberia both for firing positions and flank security to attack friendly
forces moving down the corridor east of Hill 122. Action to counter
these two enemy actions came mainly from MLR forces.
One measure of the results of the Bunker Hill fighting is seen in the
price paid. Chinese losses were estimated by the 1st Marine Division
at approximately 3,200, including more than 400 known dead. Marine
casualties in the action were 48 killed and 313 seriously wounded.
Several hundred additional wounded were treated at 1st Marines medical
facilities and returned to duty shortly thereafter.
To replace combat losses in the infantry regiment, General Selden on
12 August directed that rear area service and support units fill the
vacancies. Two hundred Marines, nearly all of them volunteers, were
provided to Colonel Layer by the 14th. To offset other losses within
the division, its commander similarly had requested on 12 August
that the Commandant, General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., authorize an
air-lifting of 500 enlisted Marine infantrymen to the 1st Marine
Division as soon as possible. Pointing out that mounting battle
casualties had reduced the effective strength of the division, General
Selden also urged that each of the next two monthly replacement drafts
scheduled for the division be increased by 500 more enlisted men. After
some debate at the next senior administrative headquarters,[197] the
request was granted by General Shepherd, and the emergency replacements
were made available from the 3d Marine Division at Camp Pendleton,
California. The initial replacement of 500 Marines arrived on 21 August.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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