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
[497] Spoonbill Bridge was submerged under 11 feet of water and
destroyed by the pressure against it on 7 July. Flood
conditions existed again on 14–15 July when the Imjin
crested at 26 feet at Libby Bridge. Roads in the vicinity
were impassable for three days. Resupply of forward
companies was made via Freedom Bridge. One command diary
writer, discussing the elaborate series of six moves made
by 1/1 during July, added a touch of unconscious humor
when he observed, “During the month, it seemed as if the
Battalion was constantly on the move.... Rain hampered
these moves considerably. The weather between moves was
generally clear and dry.” 1/1 ComdD, July 53, p. 1; 1st
TkBn ComdD, Jul 53, pp. 5, 11–12, 23; _PacFlt EvalRpt_
No. 6, Chap. 9, pp. 9-68, 9-136.
The same could not be said for their mines. One 7th Marines
reconnaissance patrol located a new minefield staked out with Soviet
antipersonnel mines (POMZ-2) of an unfamiliar type with both pull and
tension fuses. It appeared that mines which had lain dormant during the
winter months had suddenly come to life with the warm weather, or else
been recently re-laid. Nearly a dozen were uncovered by 5th and 7th
Marines patrols, soon after their return to the front, and sometimes
the discovery came too late. Probably the worst day was 12 July when
four Marines were killed and eight wounded as a result of accidentally
detonating mines.
At the same time, in the 5th Marines sector near the vicinity of truce
corridor COP-2, the persistent voice of the Dragon Lady taunted Marines
with such lackluster gambits as “Surrender now! What is your girl
doing back home?” in the stepped-up pace of its midnight propaganda
broadcasts.
The regular nightly patrols checked in and out, performing their
mission routinely. Even during this last month of the war, when word
of the final truce agreement was expected daily, fire fights ensued.
On 12 July, a 5th Marines 13-man reconnaissance patrol clashed briefly
north of COP Esther, while a 7th Marines platoon-size combat patrol
brushed with a Chinese squad west of Elko in an 18-minute fire fight.
The same night the 11th Marines reported increased enemy sightings of
318 CCF soldiers--the most seen since the Berlin probe of 7–8 July.
No follow-up was made. The Chinese were busy with major offensives
elsewhere along the UNC front, devoting their primary efforts to ROK
divisions on the central and eastern sectors of the Eighth Army line.
Apparently they fully intended to demonstrate to the South Koreans that
continuation of the war would be a costly business.[498]
[498] Hermes, _Truce Tent_, p. 470.
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