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
A week after the division’s June replacements landed at Inchon, General
Selden’s headquarters received a directive that would affect a number
of these new Marines. On 10 June CG, EUSAK ordered his corps commanders
to make continuous efforts to secure the identification and changes in
the enemy order of battle. Two days later I Corps followed the Eighth
Army order with a letter of instruction which called for each I Corps
division to “prepare plans for launching swift, vigorous, and violent
large-scale raids to capture prisoners, to gain intelligence, to
destroy enemy positions and material and/or strong limited objective
attacks to improve and strengthen Line JAMESTOWN.”[136] Large scale
was defined as an “attacking force limited to battalion or regimental
(brigade) size with appropriate armor and artillery support.”[137]
Divisions were required to submit detailed proposals for future action
by 21 June. Marine division plans for limited objective attacks during
July by units of the 7th Marines and KMCs were subsequently prepared
and forwarded to I Corps.
[136] 1stMarDiv ComdD, Jun 52, App. I, p. 8.
[137] _Ibid._
One operation conducted north of the 2/5 left battalion sector early
on 22 June was not, however, in response to this enemy identification
mission. Late the previous day, Company G had sent out a 16-man
ambush. Before the Marines reached their destination, a small enemy
force, itself lying in wait, began to pour a heavy volume of fire on
the Marines. At this point the patrol was ordered to pull back. One
group of 10 made it back to the MLR; the remaining Marines headed for
a nearby combat outpost in friendly hands. Reports to the company
revealed one Marine not accounted for. The outpost commander was
directed to search the area for the missing Marine. This reconnaissance
by a fire team failed, but a reinforced squad sent out later brought
back the body of the Marine who had been killed by Chinese artillery.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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