United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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CHAPTER 7 SECOND KOREAN WINTER 28 November 1951-30 April 1952 The closing months of 1951 witnessed a return to the stalemate that had settled over the Korean con- flict in July and early August, when the peace talks had first begun at Kaesong. Now that they were re- sumed, at Panmunjom, both sides adopted a largely defensive posture, content for the most part to rein- force established positions or capture others for the purpose of straightening or strengthening a front line? General Ridgway ordered the UN front stabilized and an outpost line established three to five thousand yards forward of the main positions. The main line of resistance CMLRD stretched for 155 miles, from the Yellow Sea to the Sea of japan, manned by the fol- lowing Qin west to east orderj : U.S. I Corps, from the confluence of the Imjin and Han Rivers to a point between Khorwon and Kumhwa, along the base of the Iron Triangle, IX Corps, northward to Kumsong and thence east to the Pukhan River, X Corps, includ- ing the lst Marine Division, eastward up and over the mountainous backbone of the Korean peninsula down to the Nam River, and, as eastern anchor, the ROK I Corps, whose line extended northward from the Nam to Kosong on the east coast.2 DivChap Slant The situation at the beginning of this period, as it affected the work of the chaplains, may be high- lighted by the following extracts from weekly letters from Division Chaplain Peck to the Chief of Chaplains. 28 NOVEMBER 1951. Winter is here and is complicating living and supply prob- lems. The front ahead of us is stable, with military activity confined to aggressive patrols and mortar and artillery ex- changes. This results in daily casualties but not great num- bers of casualties. The chaplains still have the lines to walk, - . 1 Miller et al., op. cit., p. 206. 2 Ibid. the hills to climb to reach their men, and the cold when on their rounds. The chaplains are in high spirits and they are a continuing inspiration and source of pride to me. I have a helicopter trip scheduled for next Thursday to visit Chaplain Ruleman up in his isolated area. It is 3 hours by trail from the farthest jeep point and, due to infiltrators, one is allowed to go up and back only with a large convoy, so to visit by foot is a case of up one day and back the next. 5 DECEMBER 1951. This week I covered all the infantry battalions on the line, and in regimental reserve behind the line, plus the regimental CPs on the line. To get to Chaplain Rulemanls position on top of a mountain, I took my first 'copter ride .... It was quite an experience. The officers and men to whom I talked praised their chaplains without exception. The chaplains are especially busy with the Christmas season here. Some things which seem simple enough nor- mally, like obtaining decorations, getting out special bulletins, getting a Christmas music program together, all become major projects under conditions out here. The chaplains are not easily discouraged and keep plugging until they get them. 13 DECEMBER 1951. This is not an easy time, however, from a morale stand- point-standing by, as it were, for these Cease Fire Talks is proving a strain. I think everyonels nerves would be more relaxed if the talks would go ,one way or the other. Strangely enough the nearness of Christmas seems to aggravate the situation in many ways-the men have time to think, and the Christmas season with its rich memories of home only adds to the burden. Some of the chaplains are restless themselves, I counsel them to dig into the Christmas season and give the men the spiritual gems from the season to counteract the men's nervousness-and their own. Christmas, 1951 This second Christmas in Korea was considerably different from that of 1950, when the last elements of the Division were still being brought into rest areas following the terrible withdrawal from the Chosin Reservoir. True, Marines were on the front lines, but combat was limited and the situation was relatively quiet. Special Services had distributed decorations and each unit has lighted Christmas trees. Those -110-

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October Peck again commented on conditions in the frontlines: The approach of winter is the main concern here. The men and officers, including the chaplains, in the infantry regiments are having an increasingly difficult time. The stable lines mean less moving around and in cold weather that means long cold hours in the night and dreary days in the unheated bunkers. Keeping warm is diiiicult and posi- tions must be kept. The 1st and 7th Regiments are on the line now. A week later, he wrote: Chaplain Brooks is in a forward battalion whose position requires his living in an earthen bunker and since it is high in the hills, he has had an uncomfortable time of it, but is in good spirits, has no complaints and says he is getting along fine. On 10 November two more chaplains reported in: Melvin E. Torstrick and Arnold P. Spohn, making a total of 30, but orders were expected for 6 then on board, 5 of whom were detached by 21 November. On 14 November the 5th Marines relieved the 1st Marines in the front line and Chaplain Rulernan found himself occupying the earthen bunker formerly used by Chaplain Brooks. Back at the. Headquarters Battalion, Chaplain Peck succeeded in winterizing the chapel by securing two stoves. Squad tents were secured to use as chapels in each of the three battalions in the reserve area with ordinary planking for pews. As usual, the chaplains were adjusting their lives and ministry to render the best possible service under what- ever conditions might prevail. Following the Punchbowl engagements the chap- lains were busy, as they and their units prepared for the coming winter, writing letters to the next of kin of service personnel who had become casualties. It has been mentioned earlier that an SOP was estab- lished whereby no unit chaplain would write such letters until he had received from the Division Chap- lain's Ofhce fRearj amplifying information on each casualty, which was secured from the Division Casu- alty Ofiice. In practice, while hopefully the unit chaplain's work was thus simplified, the results were not satisfactory. Peck issued a Memorandum to the Division chaplains on 24 November 1951, pointing out that in many cases letters had been received in units from next of kin in reply to the commanding oHicer's casualty letter before the unit chaplain had been able to secure the necessary infonnation to write his own letter of condolence. Therefore, Peck directed the chaplains to obtain the needed' information directly from the Amplifying Reports furnished his unit com- mand. Where letters of inquiry should be received from next of kin before amplifying information was obtainable, chaplains were to reply, stating simply that the situation f not the deathj was being investi- gated and another letter would follow when further information became available. Talks Resumed While X Corps, including the Marine division, had been moving forward in the east, elements of IX Corps had secured the eastern point of the Iron Triangle.15 Farther west elements of I Corps had established the Jamestown Line along a 40-mile front from the vicin- ity of Kaesong eastward to Chorwon, the Western pivot of the Triangle. Successful offensives during August to October had thus given the UN forces a firm hold on commanding positions all along their front. Perhaps because of this pressure the Communist indicated a willingness to resume negotiations. After preliminary sparring by liaison officers, finally, on 25 October 1951 the chief negotiators resumed their talks, but now in a tiny village, Panmunjom, on the Seoul highway north of the Imjin River. For the fighting man the war went on, though the military picture remained essentially unchanged through the following months. Patrol activity was stepped up on both sides, and occasionally the Com- munists threw a battalion, and once a regiment, at the United Nations line. Guerilla harassment continued, and occasionally Marine. units were ambushedg but nearly as serious as the enemy's opposition was the hardship entailed by the onset of winter. 15 Miller et al., op. cit., p. 117. 109-

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desiring them had been furnished Christmas greet- ing cards to mail home. Incoming mail brought not only greetings and gifts from families, but from in- dividuals and groups who had voluntarily provided gifts for Korean troops, among them the Armed Forces Wives Club of Boston, the Womenls Division of the Jewish Welfare Board, and employees of the Kiplinger News Agency in Washington. A USO troupe provided entertainment, in addition to movies. President Truman's Christmas message was screened. Tons of hot turkey with trimmings were iiown by helicopter to forward positions where men relieved one another from the line long enough to eat Christ- mas dinner. Cardinal Spellman was in Korea for a Yuletide visit to the U.S. forces in the Far East. He celebrated Mass at the Division Command Post on Christmas Day, with an estimated 3,000 in attendance. Division Chaplain Peck wrote to Chaplain Salis- bury: The Christmas coverage was tops. Things were quiet enough, militarily speaking, that a full religious observance could be made. The chaplains really put out, I am proud of them. For men in bunkers on the line, the infantry chap- lains walked the hills to take the message of Christmas to them. One chaplain had 8 services, another 11. Chap- lains Felder of the Engineers and Stamper of the llth Marines had laymen, oliicers and enlisted, conducting Christmas Eve services throughout their units-19 such lay- direeted services were held. Felder had prepared a mimeographed Order of Service which was used in each of four simultaneous services in outlying companies of the lst Engineer Battalion, with laymen reading a sermon prepared by the chaplain. F elder took his own congregation, augmented by Korean personnel, out on a mountain- side where, as they sang Christmas carols in both English and Korean, two loudspeakers were directed out over a valley holding several thousand troops. Truly the welkin rang as the valley echoed Glory to the new-born King. At the suggestion of his commanding oliicer, Chap- lain R. C. Fenning of lst Signal Battalion conducted a 10-minute service nightly during the week preceding Christmas. Consisting of carols sung by a 12-man choir and a brief talk, each service was broadcast throughout the entire battalion area, reaching about 1,000 men. On Christmas Eve a songfest followed by coffee and cake was held in the mess tent of each of the 23 batter- ies of the llth Marines. Regimental Chaplain R. L. Stamper had arranged with line officers to organize Christmas Decorations From the States. Chaplain Henry C. Duncan assisted by Sergeant Beeson opens a shipment of Christmas decorations sent to the chaplain by Beeson's mother, who belonged to the Navy Mother's Club the chaplain had contacted for such items. - carol-singing and to read the Nativity story. Protes- tant services were held in two battalions and midnight Mass celebrated in two, with further services on Christmas Day. Christmas in VALLEY FORGE The VALLEY FORGE spent its second consecutive Christmas on the line. Many of her personnel had been aboard both those holidays, away from home and all it means at that season. Chaplain Abner R. Cook, one of those, was determined to make it as cheerful as possible, and his captain heartily concurred. With the good help of a sailor named Wheeler, who had been a choir director in a Presbyterian church in Los Angeles, a small choir had been trained. Instead of the usual bugle for reveille, on Christmas morning the crew was awakened with appropriate music by this group. During the day, when they were not singing in one of the several Divine Services, they went to many sections of the ship, from the Admiral's cabin to sick bay, and sang. Usually the oflicers and men joined in. By night everyone wanted to sing so all hands, except those on watch, crowded on the hangar deck and in total darkness.