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
Each Marine prisoner was met by a 1st Division escort who gave
him physical assistance, if necessary, as well as a much-prized
possession--a new utility cap with its Marine Corps emblem. Recovered
personnel received a medical examination. Waiting helicopters stood
by to transport seriously sick or wounded Marines to the hospital
ships _Haven_ and _Consolation_ riding at anchor in the Inchon harbor.
Chaplains chatted as informally or seriously as a returnee desired.
Newspapers and magazines gave the ex-prisoners their first opportunity
in months to read unslanted news. And a full set of utility uniforms,
tailored on the spot for proper fit, were quickly donned by Marines
happy to discard their prison blues.
Although returnees received their initial medical processing at
Freedom Village, no intelligence processing was attempted in Korea.
Within 24 hours after their exchange, returned personnel were flown to
K-16 (Seoul) and from there to Haneda Air Force Base at Tokyo. Upon
arrival at the Tokyo Army Hospital Annex, a more detailed medical exam
was conducted, including a psychiatric interview by officials from
the newly formed Special Liaison Group of Commander, Naval Forces,
Far East. Lieutenant Colonel Regan Fuller, USMC, was designated by
ComNavFE as OIC of the detailed briefing of all returned personnel at
Tokyo. Other Marine officers participating in the debriefings included
Lieutenant Colonel Thell H. Fisher and Major James D. Swinson, of
FMFPac headquarters; Major Jack M. Daly, representing the 1st Marine
Division; and Captain Richard V. Rich, of the 1st Marine Air Wing.
Each Marine returnee was interviewed by a two-man debriefing team
that consisted of a Marine and a Navy officer, the latter usually a
counterintelligence expert. The three-phase interrogation averaged 9–12
hours and covered personal data, counterintelligence, and a detailed
military questionnaire. The latter, particularly, sought information
about UN personnel still held captive by the enemy. Since all of the
15 Marine POWs had been captured relatively recently (either in the
October outpost contests or the Vegas battle the previous month), the
information they had about the enemy was of limited intelligence value.
From debriefing reports of Marine returnees, many of whom brought
address books with them, it was learned that at least 115 more USMC and
Navy prisoners were alive and still held in POW camps.
Upon completion of counterintelligence processing, returned personnel
were available for press interviews. Long-distance telephone calls to
parents or other family members were arranged by the Red Cross. Summer
service uniforms and campaign ribbons were issued, pay provided, and
administrative records updated by representatives dispatched by Colonel
John F. Dunlap, Commanding Officer, Marine Barracks, Yokosuka.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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