Korean War (11)

MacArthur watching the action

23 November was Thanksgiving Day in 1950 and the United Nation troops had special turkey dinners flown in, even for the New Zealand and Turkish troops who had never eaten turkey before. Some of the meals, including fruitcake and pumpkin pie, were delivered frozen. The cooks for the 7th Division worked to heat the dinners by the glare of truck headlights; but morale was high and the men up and down the peninsula talked of being home by Christmas. The festivities would be over quickly for the men as they began the Allied offensive once again the next day.

The CCF also had their plans and hit the 8th Army on 25 November with massive “human wave” assaults; a frightening experience for any soldier. Units were overrun by the enemy and the front lines turned into chaos. The Friday after Thanksgiving, when MacArthur met up with Generals Walker, Melburn, Coulter and Church at an airstrip just south of Chongchon River, Church told the general that if the resistance remained status quo, his division would make it to the border. MacArthur answered, “Well, if they go fast enough, maybe some of them could be home for Christmas. Don’t make me a liar.” The UP news service picked up the statement, but misquoted it as, “…if they get to the Yula – they WILL go home for Christmas.” Hence – the misunderstanding by the troops and the home front.

USS Leyte

To distract the enemy from MacArthur’s visit, the Far East Air Force beefed up its flight schedules and the aircraft carrier, Leyte bombed the Sinuiju bridges. Inadvertently, the Chinese People’s Volunteer HQ was hit and Mao’s eldest son was killed. (The chairman was not informed until a month later.)

1950 Korea map

On Monday, 27 November, X Corps and General Almond were convinced that the CCF presence above the dam’s reservoir were equal to that of their own. Their orders were to draw the enemy away from Walker’s right flank. The temperatures bottomed out at 25 below zero, making the weather as much of an enemy as the Chinese. General O.P. Smith kept his men moving slowly north up the western slopes of the reservoir while Arnold became increasingly aggravated at their pace.

Army 31st RCT of Chosin Reservoir

On the east side of the Chosin Reservoir, 3,200 soldiers of Task Force MacLean were cut off from making a retreat. The fighting continued for 4 days and Colonel Allan “Mac” MacLean, the commander, was wounded, captured and later died; as did his successor, Lt. Col. Don Faith. The surviving 350 men made their way across the frozen waters to the stronghold at Hagaru.

On the second day of the offensive, the Chinese seemingly exploded from everywhere in broad daylight; contrary to their usual tactics. The fighting lasted into the evening hours with the equivalent of 18 American divisions on the flanks and in the rear. Three divisions of ROK II Corps collapsed. The Turkish Brigade rushed in to assist and were ambushed; 770 of which would be buried on Korean soil.

28 November, MacArthur sent a message to Washington that was said to compare with that sent after Pearl Harbor. General Omar Bradley said it sounded “rather hysterical” and he doubted that it was much of a catastrophe as it sounded. Later that evening, MacArthur issued Communique No. 14, “Consequently we face an entirely new war…” He then called Almond and Walker to Tokyo for an emergency meeting. Admiral Joy and Generals Stratemeyer, Hickey, Willoughby, Whitney and Wright were also present. Quartermaster packers, C-119s, C-46s and C-47s were sent to Yonpo to prepare drops of supplies to the cut-off troops. Walker and Almond were back at their command posts (CPs) 29 November and ordered a discontinuing of offensive action and to withdraw. All over North Korea the reports were the same – the Chinese were everywhere and only visible when their guns flashed; the mountains looked like Christmas trees.

Chow time in a Korean winter.

Casualties were heavy as they retreated on routes laden with ice and snow. Frostbite victims were added to the wounded lists. Lt. Col. Roy Davis had his head grazed by a sniper, but lived to win a Medal of Honor and later became Commandant of the Marine Corps. Bob Hammond remembered, “… the Chinese were coming out of everywhere, all lined up…” The Americans tried to hide in caves, but were flushed out by the enemy. Able Battery was overrun and the 2nd Division was trapped between Kunu-ri and Sunchon. MGeneral Keiser was sending out “HOW ABLE” (Haul Ass) messages over the radio, but there were no discernible front lines.

Yet, according to two former members of the Recon Company (the Chosin Few), the unit was receiving reports from pilots all along and knew of the “trap.” In one night alone, a report that 500 sets of headlights were headed for the Chosin Reservoir – “They sure as hell weren’t going to a ski resort,” one said. They also commented that Old “Blitzen Litzen,” (Colonel Homer Litzenburg of the 7th Marines) was not up to date on how to utilize a Reconnaissance Company.

Click on images to enlarge.

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Farewell Salutes –

ambulance arrival at a MASH unit

Lawrence Wigbels – Washington DC; U.S. Army Colonel, WWII ETO, 101st, 902nd Engineer HQ CO, 101st & 82nd Airborne Div.

John Levender, Sr. – Lindenhurst, NY; USMS Sgt., WWII

Paul Lozowsky – Massapequa, NY; U.S. Navy, WWII

Richard Lee Reed – Covington, KY; U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII

George Cavanaugh – Laurel, MD; U.S. Army Air Force, WWII

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Personal note – This coming Tuesday, 10 September, Judy will be posting my article on the Women of WWII. I will re-blog it here and sincerely hope you all enjoy reading.

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Resources: “Hey Mac, Where Ya Been?” by Henry Berry; “Rakkasans” by E.M. Flanagan; “Korean War” by Stephen Badsey; Kiki’s place.com; Wikipedia; “MacArthur’s War” by Stanley Weintraub; Army Archives; National Archives