Korean War (34)

opposing ridges

The communists, in spite of the pressure of the Allied air campaigns, remained stubborn in the truce talks.  On 8 October 1952, the UN negotiations at Panmunjom recessed the talks because the Chinese would not agree to non-forced repatriation of prisoners of war.  As winter approached, the UN forces remained mired in conflict and accumulating casualties.

general area of interest

6 October, with the US presidential election in its final stages, the CCF launched their biggest attack since Heartbreak Ridge against the I and IX Corps.  Van Fleet’s response was Operation Showdown on 14 October.   This was also known as the Battle of Triangle Hill, Battle of Hill 598 and/or Sniper Ridge and would last 42 days.

The 187th RCT participated in Operation Feint as a diversion.  They made assorted jumps and then would return and be put in isolation.  On 15 October, the Navy and Air Force, also participating, launched mock amphibious landings to fool the enemy as to where the action would actually take place.  The ruse went as planned.

aerial view

The 7th Infantry Division going against the CCF would now be considered the bloodiest of battles on the right side of the Iron Triangle near Kumhwa.  The communists lost 11,500 KIA and the UN troops lost 8,000; this was listed as a failure in the archives.

22 October, the 40th Infantry Division, assigned to X Corps, moved to relieve the 25th Infantry Division in the center of the sector (Paen-Ihyon-Ni) and defended between Heartbreak Ridge and to the Punch Bowl.  The CCF bugles announced their nightly attacks from the 22nd to the 25th of the month.

A battle erupted in Wonsan harbor on the same date.  The ROKN AMS 501 and 503 (minesweepers) were fired on by 4 to 6 75/76mm guns from Hapchinni.  The USS Lewis returned fire and the enemy turned their attention to them.  The Lewis was hit in the fire room, disabling the No.1 boiler.  A second shell hit the fantail; 7 men were killed.

Medical corpsmen

26 October – 1 November, the Marine history recorded the Battle for the Hook.  At 1830 hours, the enemy engaged the outpost at “Ronson” and 29 minutes later heavily attacked “Warsaw’s” MLR area;  Charlie Company 1/7.   Within two hours, the enemy succeeded in penetrating the Hook area.  A  Company 1/7 counterattacked with one platoon from Hill 121.  It came down to hand-to-hand combat on the slopes.  The possession of the Hook was restored.  They enemy lost about 532 with 216 WIA.  Air strikes on 27-28 Oct. took out another 70 KIA and 386 WIA. (The Hook area was basically charged in 3 waves of the enemy.  This coverage will be followed up in future posts.)

The Hook, Korean War, Oct. 1952

Attacks on the Reno, Carson and Vegas outposts went on for days.  At the height of the battles, the Reno outpost was almost encircled by the CCF.  The blocking platoon was not detected and the enemy set up right in front of them; the CCF was taken by surprise.  This heavy combat caused 60 more KIA.  The Marines lost 9 men and 49 WIA.  For 3 days, the line of outposts on the left, KMC troops, were subject to continuous shelling of all calibers.

31 October, the CCF, in battalion strength, overran the eastern end of outpost 39 and 31 and reinforcements were sent onto the MLR.  At the same time, Outpost 33 was attacked and sustained heavy casualties.  After a 2nd platoon of reinforcements were added, the enemy finally broke contact just after midnight.  The 4th simultaneous attack was on Outpost 51.  Here, the artillery set up planned fires and ambushes were prepared and after 2½ hours of fighting, the enemy withdrew.  They were pursued by the extremely aggressive company of the KMC (Korean Marine Corps).

Oct. 1952, Korea

During the night, radio intercepts of the enemy transmissions indicated extremely heavy casualties and disorganization.  Thirteen of 15 CCF artillery positions were put out of action, 3 fire tanks were and an artillery ammunition dump of 4000 rounds were destroyed.  In a second intercept, the UN forces learned that the enemy general directing the attack was wounded and his driver killed.  Ten enemy prisoners were captured.

Click on images to enlarge.

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11th Airborne Association news – 

The 11th Airborne Division lost both their own Chaplain, Charles A. Bailey (HQ Co 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, WWII) and his wife, Chaplain Juanita Bailey of the 11th Airborne Angelettes.  They are survived by their son, Chaplain Brigadier General Charles “Ray” Bailey.

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Farewell Salutes – 

Caecar Abate – Sacramento, CA; US Army, WWII 187th Reg. Co.C, PTO

Alton Benson – Portland, OR; US Army, Korea

A face of war

Roy Caseley – New Zealand; 1st 5th Welsh Battalion, WWII # 14756316

Alfred Hamlyn – Dargaville, New Zealand; WWII, # 263715

William Leck – Rockville Center, NY; US Air Force, Korea

Walter Morris – Orlando, FL; US Army, Ist Sgt., 2nd Lt., WWII; 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (1st US Army black enlisted paratrooper) “Triple Nickels” unit assigned to extinguish fires from the Japanese balloon bombs.

Stephen Ptak – Stoneham, MA; US Army, WWII PTO, 11th A/B Div.

Victor Weith – W.Seattle, WA; US Army, WWII, PTO

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