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 left battalion area was the center of attention in the
1st Marines line early on 5 September, the far right sector was not
entirely neglected either. Five minutes after their initial attack
on Bunker, other Chinese units also lunged at the Hill 48A outpost,
Stromboli. An estimated reinforced platoon, supported by three active
machine guns on Hill 104, 850 yards to the north, employed submachine
guns, rifles, and grenades in their attack. This battle lasted for
nearly two hours, until the Chinese soldiers withdrew at 0240. There
were no Marine losses. No tally or estimate was made on the number
of enemy KIA or WIA. It was presumed that some of the Communists did
become casualties since the three machine guns that had been chattering
away to support the attacker’s ground action suddenly went silent after
Marines called down mortar and artillery fire on the Hill 104 positions.
The probes of 1st Marines positions at Bunker Hill and, to a lesser
degree, at Stromboli were repeated in the 5th Marines right regimental
sector. At almost exactly the same time Colonel Eustace R. Smoak’s
regiment[216] was struck at five of its forward outposts. In the case
of OP Gary, on the right, the enemy merely shelled the position for
40 minutes. Against the four other outposts, known as Allen, Bruce,
Clarence, and Felix, the Chinese employed both fire and assault
troops. (See Map 12.) At Felix the action had begun at 0130, a half
hour later than at the adjacent outposts. The difference was probably
due to a C/1/5 ambush[217] which had engaged an enemy force operating
between Donald and Felix. After a brief five minute fire fight the
Marines broke off the action, pulling back to Felix. The other three
outposts, clustered to the left of the 3/5 sector, received the brunt
of the enemy thrust which lasted for an hour and 20 minutes before the
Communists withdrew.
[216] Colonel Smoak had relieved Colonel Culhane on 15 August.
[217] Although 1/5 (Lieutenant Colonel Alexander W. Gentleman)
was the regimental reserve at this time, the regiment had
assigned one company to 2/5, manning the right sector.
[Illustration:
MAP 12 K. WHITE
COMBAT OUTPOSTS AND AMBUSH SITES
5TH MARINES SECTOR
(Division Right)
Early September 1952]
Employing a squad against both Allen and Clarence, and sending a
reinforced company against Bruce, the enemy alternately assaulted and
shelled the positions until 0420, after which the Communist units
policed the battlefield for casualties and withdrew to the north.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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