Marine Intelligence Report

Prisoner taken

 

As I’ve mentioned in many previous posts, the United Nations tried to limit Korean activity to South Korean forces and guerrillas with the support of the Far East Naval vessels.  This should in no manner suggest that the UN ground forces remained idle.  Conflicts, especially along the Main Line of Resistance, occurred all throughout this period.  This post, in condensed form, will exhibit what some of the men were experiencing June 1952 as taken from the records of the 5th Marines/1st Marine Division Intelligence report for Operation Plan 8-52:

1st Marine Division

“From the 63rd CCF Army – 2 divisions on the front with one division in reserve.  This is supported by the 1st CCF Armored Division in the Taedoksan area to the Sami River for the enemy 187th Division and the area north of Panmunjon for the 189th Division.  Both of these groups were in contact with the UN forces.

flight-line, observation planes, 1952

“According to intel sources, these are 3 battalions of Organic Artillery directly opposite our lines as well as 6 artillery battalions and one battery of 76mm mountain guns.  Their arms closely available to the enemy included 76mm howitzers; 37mm AA guns; 60mm, 82mm, 120mm mortars; hand guns and recoiless rifles.

“The CCF were in the front in well-dug trenches extending well into the rear positions with constantly improving communications.  The armored vehicles were spread across the front.  Anti-tank trenches and minefields were across the roads entering their positions. The enemy has recently been creeping forward and occupying high ground.  Enemy patrols have gone out (all activity at night) to capture prisoners and supplies.

face of the enemy?

“The combat efficiency is excellent. (The text of the Marine record states in caps:) DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THIS ENEMY.  HE IS A HIGHLY SKILLED AND DANGEROUS ADVERSARY.  His supplies are distributed, no stockpiles and the reserve units – 2 regiments 2 miles away and one division is 10 miles away.  The enemy was quite capable of attacking complete with fighters and light bomber aircraft, airborne operations with 3,000 men and employing chemical and/or biological weapons.

terrain of North Korea

“The analysis of this information is that the enemy to our front is capable of attack at any time.  The 1st CCF Armored Division is capable of immediate deployment anywhere along the front.  Hills 137, 147 and 126 and the Imjin River are logical objectives.  Terrain in area is suitable for the enemy.

“The enemy air force is expanding its activity to include hit and run attacks on troop movement, CPs, bridges, supply areas and front lines.  Paratroop drops are capable.  POW interrogations indicate the enemy is very interested in chemical and biological warfare and the flat terrain areas are favorable for the employment of gas.”

1st Marine Div., early September 1952

The report continues on, stressing advisement that Marines are looking at a huge force of CCF with reinforcements directly behind them.  Patrols from the enemy are a constant threat, especially at night, but all of this must not distract them from their mission.  Since parts have been censored from the de-classified documents, I can not relate exactly what that mission was outside of defending the MLR.

Click on images to view actual size.

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Farewell Salutes – 

Purple Heart

Kenneth Brisbane – Canby, OR; US Army, WWII

Lou Brissie – N.Augusta, SC; US Army, WWII, ETO, Purple Heart

John Dameron – Fredericksburg, VA; US Army WWII

Edward Galante – Brockton, MA & W.Palm Beach, FL; USMC, WWII, PTO, Sgt., Marine Squadron VMSB-343 Gregory’s Gorillas, Midway

Frederick Hawkes – Toowoomba, Australia; Royal Australian Army (213361), SSgt, WWII

Dean Miller – Van Meter, Iowa & Fairfax, VA; US Air Force, 1st Lt., Korea

John Satterfield – Columbus, GA & AZ; US Army, WWII, Sgt.M, 24 years retired

Paul Squirlock – PA & AZ; US Army, WWII, ETO, Purple Heart

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