Korean War (32)
1 August 1952, the Japan National Security Law became effective and the Coastal Security Force was established, independent of the Maritime Safety Agency. This was an important legal step in turning over American patrol vessels to Japanese operators.
4 August, the 187th RCT prepared to move to Chipo-ri and be put back on the front lines. Once again, just as in WWII, they removed all patches, etc. that designated them as a paratroop unit. Secretly, they would travel as the “Blackjack” RCT to an area known as the Iron Triangle.
The ROK Naval MTB-27 received fire from machine-guns on land in the Tanchon area. The USS Porter (DD-800) returned that fire causing approximately 75 enemy casualties.
6 August, a F9F Panther jet exploded on the USS Boxer causing gasoline and ammunition to ignite; 8 enlisted and 1 naval officer died. Helicopters and destryers of TF-77 rescued 63 from the sea, 12 other planes were destroyed. The USS Pierce (DD-753) received 7 hits from about 100 rounds of 105mm fired from shore in the Tanchon area. This caused 10 casualties, damaged the torpedo director, a 5″ mount and put holes in both stacks.
9-10 August, 4 Sea Fury aircraft from the HMS Ocean were attacked by 8 MiG-15s north of Chinnampo; one MiG destroyed.
Enemy guns in the Wonsan area fired about 250 rounds at the USS Barton & Jarvis from 9 guns ranging from 75mm to 155mm. Barton suffered one man killed and 2 wounded; 2 guns destroyed.
14 August, the 187th was dug into their defensive positions in the Hanton-Chon-Namdar River Valley. Hundreds of Chinese were spotted through the fog surrounding a patrol. Captain John Fye III was operating the Fire Direction Center (FDC) and had given the order, “Fire the Battalion in Effect.” They landed right on the enemy, but now they couldn’t see the CCF or their own men through the smoke. Faintly, word came from a radio in battle for them to continue firing the FDC. More CCF were spotted and more firing ensued; the enemy appeared either dead or disorientated. A new message said they were receiving machine-gun fire from a hill. No sooner than the gun was silenced, the battle appeared to be over.
A team went in to meet up with the lost patrol and more CCF attacked. In 102º weather, the fighting carried on. The team radioed back as to where the mortar support should begin firing. As if by some miracle, a P-51 with a South African insignia showed up and began bombing the enemy, who immediately retreated to their caves. The entire patrol received Purple Hearts, Sgt Payne got a Silver Star and Cpl Hammond Jr. – a Medal of Honor. (It was discovered later that the P-51 was scheduled to bomb Kunhwa Valley, missed the signal flare, but saved the men here.)
28 August, while on patrol in the Hungnam area, the USS Sarsi (ATF-111) struck a mine and sank within 21 minutes. Of the 97 men on board, 92 were recovered. The Sarsi‘s publications were reported to be weighed and sunk, but it was not known if the bag was sealed. Operations plans were in a locked safe; 8 bags of mail were lost. A ship remained in the area to prevent the enemy from salvaging the material.
During operations, until 2 Setember, the Guided Missle Unit (GMU) 90 on the USS Boxer launched 6 F6F drones against land targets. Results were one hit, 4 misses and one operational abort.
29 August, was the the largest raid in the war to date. TF-77 carriers coordinated with the US Air Force, Marines, British and Australian air forces launched a strike of well over 1,000 aircraft against Pyongyang. They destroyed warehouses, gun positions, rail cars, trucks and damaged a rubber factory and oil tanks.
30 August, salvage operations began on the USS Sarsi, discovered upright, below 10′ of water. The USS Boyd fired on the enemy’s 20 guns and tanks on shore as they fired on the boats conducting the operation. Due to this action, the decision was made to demolish the Sarsi rather than attempt salvage.
During August 1952, the enemy shore batteries scored hits on 9 United Nation vessels; this was their best achievement to date.
################################################################
Farewell Salutes –
John Ansley – Portland, OR; US Army, Colonel, WWII ETO, 2 Bronze Stars
James Ball – Summerville, SC; US Army, Lt. Colonel (Ret.)
Richard Darnell – Toronto, Canada; RCAF, WWII
Francis Gruver – Akron, OH & Fort Lauderdale, FL; US Army, WWII, Purple Heart
Donal Jacobson – Washington DC; US Army, MSgt (Ret.), WWII, Korea & Vietnam
George Munro – Toronta, Canada; RCAF, WWII
Edward Skube – Front Royal, VA; US Navy, Captain (Retired in ’77)
#################################################################
WWII –
Click on images to enlarge.
###################################################################
Posted on December 19, 2013, in Korean War and tagged Army, family history, History, Japan, Korean War, Military, Military History, nostalgia, veterans, war. Bookmark the permalink. 54 Comments.
Your blogs is so informative! For some reason I feel like you know more about the Korean War than the Korean military man myself. Haha, cheers!
LikeLike
I doubt that, Daniel. I’ve just simply put in order the information left from the military and historians. Thanks for the compliment and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
LikeLike
GP – The team radioed back as to where the mortar support should begin firing. As if by some miracle, a P-51 with a South African insignia showed up and began bombing the enemy, who immediately retreated to their caves.
What a great, though probably little known, story. Again, you’re research amazes me.
LikeLike
Thank you, I need that sort of encouragement now and again.
LikeLike
Great reading my friend, enjoyed reading the Brissie story as well,cant figure out the scenario of a South African p-51 being in involved in the Korean conflict, excuse my lack of history in this regards.
Regards
Ian
LikeLike
So. Africa was a member of the United Nations and the Korean War was a UN action; hence their contribution.
LikeLike
And once again 😀 Merry Christmas gpcox to you and all those who surround you with love and peace; have a terrific New Year!
LikeLike
Thank you very much.
LikeLike
😀
LikeLike
And I thought drones were something new! Read and learn! 🙂 Not being into sports so much, I didn’t know who Lou Brissie was. What an inspiration.
LikeLike
I’ve learned a few things already today – isn’t it great!? Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas.
LikeLike
Hi GPCox,
I’ve nominated you for the Awesome Blog Content Award. Check the nomination post here
http://notesonaspanishvalley.com/
Enjoy!
Sandra
LikeLike
I am truly honored, but as with other nominations, I am afraid I must decline. This site is not written about me, just the men involved who deserve all the credit and tribute. I hope this does not offend you.
LikeLike
Certainly not, I quite understand. SD
LikeLike
Brissie obviously had a dream and drive and quite a lot of resiliency! Wow!
LikeLike
I’m glad so many people liked the article on Brissie. Thanks for reading and commenting.
LikeLike
Drones in the 1950s? I loved the clip about Brissie. Sadly, there’s another generation now who need his example.
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed the post, Hillary and thanks for stopping in.
LikeLike
Hi again. Just saw that another blogger friend of mine posted on her dad’s involvement during the Korean War and thought I’d share the post with you. http://wordpress.com/read/post/id/40531473/1882/
LikeLike
I am an avid reader of Current Descendant, but thank you for including the link for others to read.
LikeLike
I was wondering if a salvage operation was planned for the Sarsi…too bad they had to destroy it…curious as to whether the op plans and letters had remained intact before it had been destroyed.
LikeLike
Farther down the post, on 30 August, salvage was tried, but due to enemy attacks, they were forced to demolish the wreckage rather than recover.
LikeLike
I was intrigued by the use of F6F drones in your article. I did a quick search and found this information: “In late 1952, Guided Missile Unit 90 used F6F-5K drones, each carrying a 2000 lb bomb, to attack bridges in Korea; flying from USS Boxer, radio controlled from an escorting AD Skyraider.”
This is quite amazing use of technology for that period.
LikeLike
I was surprised to learn it as well, Mike. I hope to keep learning too.
LikeLike
Believe it or not, it was old hand by 1952. The first radio controlled event was a US Navy destroyer in the 1920’s. It was done well out to sea, no crew aboard. It was remotely steered to maneuver like an attacking warship for battleship gunnery practice using their defensive 3 and 6 inch guns. Any cruise missile, whether a German V-1, or a US Tomahawk, is simply an aircraft with no pilot. Germany used the first wire guided “pilot-less aircraft” (cruise missile) too attack Allied and later on escaping Italian naval vessels in 1943.
LikeLike
Thanks for the historical facts, Kevin. A good addition to the post. I learned something today myself.
LikeLike
Even after having been in the Navy and then a Navy contractor for a combined 25 years, I didn’t even stumble across the radio controlled destroyer until I was doing some research as part of my last project in 2010. 😉
LikeLike
That’s why I love to hear from everyone – we ALL keep learning from our curiosity and each other.
LikeLike
Very true!
LikeLike
Oh, just posted something you’ll be interested in, considering your current series of blog posts.
LikeLike
Got it – very good.
LikeLike
Cool.
LikeLike
Every time I read, I learn, thank you.
ted
LikeLike
Tnue researching each day. Thank you.
LikeLike
I thought the clipping on Brissie was a wonderful side note to your post, gpcox.
Now just what were the F6F drones? Radio guided one-way trips loaded down with explosives? And PINK? 🙂
I had to look up Cpl. Hammond, Jr. Cpl. Lester Hammond, Jr. He gave his life to accurately bring in artillery fire on his position. He was 21 years old.
LikeLike
Sacrifice for country and ideals was strong on both sides. This world lost a lot of good men.
LikeLike
Loved the newspaper clipping you included. Wow, Lou Brissie was one strong, determined guy.
LikeLike
I thought it deserved including here and everyone is affirming that idea. How you feeling, Trapper?
LikeLike
Decent. Had to to a clot removed from my knee and am now rather anemic, but well on the road to recovery. Thanks for asking.
Merry Christmas to you and yours and a very happy New Years.
LikeLike
Ditto – the best of the Christmas Season to you.
LikeLike
I enjoyed the piece about Lou Brissie I had forgotten about him.
Lillian
LikeLike
You and me both, Lillian; or I would have included him in my guest post on sports to Judy’s Greatest Generation Lessons – he was still alive when I wrote the article.
LikeLike
Sgt. Smykowski looks so young. But, they all were.
LikeLike
Unfortunately, you’re right, Jacqui. Thanks for commenting.
LikeLike
I enjoyed the Brissie newspaper clipping.
LikeLike
I’m glad. Saw the mention in “The Week” magazine and thought a few people might like seeing him mentioned.
LikeLike
I am struck in your first paragraph by how fast enemies become allies and vice versa. Handing over American patrol vessels to Japanese operators less than a decade after WW2.
LikeLike
Most of the people could see just how much reconstruction the US was giving their country and after so many years of war, strife and hunger – they were eager for peace.
LikeLike
Japan was able to take over coastal patrols in August 1952 because the country had just become an independent nation again. Until May of 1952 Japan was under US Occupation and patrolling Japanese waters was a US responsibility.
LikeLike
Thank you, Night Owl. Always good to get some of your first hand knowledge.
LikeLike
Love the baseball story, and of course the airplane pictures.
LikeLike
Of course, I would expect nothing less.
LikeLike
This seems to have been rather a good period for the enemy. Spot of luck that South African P-51 missing the flare, though, and deciding to mix in there instead!
LikeLike
Yes, it would seem a higher command had a hand in that that rescue.
LikeLike