Korean War (39)

Korea 1953

 

19 March 1953, (still from the official Marine reports and diaries), George Company’s responsibilities included the defense of outpost Esther which the Chinese had given notice they were about the make trouble for.  When the “quiet time” mortar fire began, Pfc Gale Coultard began to organize a stretcher team.  Pfc Robert Cress said that smoke was put down to conceal the Marine movements, “Daylight evacuations had proven extremely hazardous.  Due to the location of outpost Esther, the evacuation trail was almost entirely under close enemy observation and fire.”  Pfc Cress earned a Bronze Star for his actions that day.

Nevada complex

A recon patrol was sent out around Ether.  About midnight, the patrol detected Chinese movement of approximately a company size approaching.  Pfc Richard Adams was wounded early, but continued firing.  A grenade landed in the trench line and he rushed to cover it with his helmet.  Although injured again, he fought hand-to-hand combat with several enemy soldiers and returned to his position until relieved the following night.  Adams received the Navy Cross.

Navy Cross

Pfc Frank Cross, in a different trench, fought the CCF until he ran out of ammunition.  When the enemy jumped into the trench, he fought them off with his rifle butt until he could reach a wounded Marine who had a loaded rifle.  He killed several of the enemy and the rest withdrew.  He also remained at his post until the following night  despite his injuries. (This is a summary from his Navy Cross citation.)

Marine at outpost Vegas

Pfc Robert Cress was certainly in the thick of things at Esther.  His second Bronze Star citation for the medal read:

“Although suffering with pain from multiple wounds sustained in the attack, he fearlessly carried out his mission of protecting a machine-gun emplacement.  Expressing complete disregard for his personal condition, he steadfastly continued to deliver a devastating hail of rifle fire upon the enemy who was determined to knock out the position.  When the savage assault was repulsed, he searched the trench line for possible enemy troops and cleared the position of unexploded hostile grenades.  He accepted medical treatment only after he was assured that his task was complete.”

G.I.s & Koreans stack the enormous pile of empty shell casings at a collection point. This represents 4 days of fighting on the west coast.

Pfc Cress remarked, “This citation is not too bad, but we were just doing what we were supposed to do.”  He gave credit for the success to the Recon patrol, Sgt. Red Jones and his mortar crew.  The records show that the attack coincided with assaults on How Company’s Marine outpost Hedy and the MLR. (Hedy is not far from outpost Carson).

I believe this picture is self-explanatory.

The main thrust of Chinese forces opened up on the night of 26 March in an area known as the Nevada Cities defended by the 5th Marines.  The key outposts were Carson, Reno and Vegas and each was manned by a reinforced platoon, 40-50 Marines against as many as 800 of the enemy at each outpost.

The CCF appeared to have unlimited supplies of ammunition and did not hesitate to use them on any probable target.  During the night outposts Reno and Vegas were taken by the enemy and the 5 Marines captured were the only survivors.  The battles to regain the outposts raged on for 5 days; an estimated 45,000 rounds of artillery and mortar fire fell on the Marines with a loss of about 1,000 killed or wounded.  Carson was never taken, Vegas was eventually regained and Reno remained in enemy hands.

The view from a trench.

Click on images to enlarge.

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Farewell Salutes – 

187th RCT

Robert Courant – Deerfield Beach, FL; US Navy WWII

Benjamin Greenberg – Cincinnati, OH & Boca Raton, FL; US Army, WWII

Joseph Hanus – Chicago, IL; US Army, Korea

Alexander Harrison – Potomac, MD; US Army, WWII, POW Purple Heart

Frank Hope – Granby, Canada; Royal Canadian Air Force, WWII, ETO

John White – Columbia, MS; US Army, B Co/187th/11th A/B, WWII, PTO

William Nagle – NYC, NY; US Army, Colonel, WWII, ETO

Richard Valdes – New Castle, DE & Pembroke Pines, FL; US Army, Korea

John White – Columbia, MS; US Army, B Co/187th/11th A/B, WWII, PTO

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