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
Impressive as these figures are, they almost pall in significance
compared with the meticulous planning and precision logistics required
by the week-long move. It was made, without mishap, over main routes
that supplied nearly a dozen other divisions on the EUSAK line and
thus had to be executed so as not to interfere with combat support.
Although the transfer of the 1st Marine Division from the eastern to
western front was the longest transplacement of any EUSAK division,
MIXMASTER was a complicated tactical maneuver that involved realignment
of UNC divisions across the entire Korean front. Some 200,000 men and
their combat equipment had to be relocated as part of a master plan to
strengthen the Allied front and deploy more troops on line.
Upon its arrival in West Korea, the 1st Marine Division was under
orders to relieve the 1st ROK Division and take over a sector at the
extreme left of the Eighth Army line, under I Corps control, where the
weaknesses of Kimpo Peninsula defenses had been of considerable concern
to EUSAK and its commander, General James A. Van Fleet. As division
units reached their new sector, they moved to locations pre-selected
in accordance with their assigned mission. First Marine unit into
the I Corps main defensive position, the JAMESTOWN Line, was the 1st
KMC Regiment attached to the division, with its organic artillery
battalion. The KMCs, as well as 1/11, began to move into their new
positions on 18 March. At 1400 on 20 March, the Korean Marines
completed the relief of the 15th Republic of Korea Regiment in the left
sector of the MLR (main line of resistance). Next into the division
line, occupying the right regimental sector adjacent to the 1st
Commonwealth Division, was Colonel Sidney S. Wade’s 1st Marines with
three battalions forward and 2/5 attached as the regimental reserve.
Relief of the 1st ROK Division was completed on the night of 24–25
March. At 0400 on 25 March the Commanding General, 1st Marine Division
assumed responsibility for the defense of 32 miles of the JAMESTOWN
Line. That same date the remainder of the Marine artillery battalions
also relocated in their new positions.
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