United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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CHAPTER TEN KOREAN DEFENSE Summer and Fall 1953 l May-27 July 1953 After the prisoners had been exchanged in the Little Switchi' Operation the UN representatives on 26 April began full negotiations for an Armistice. The problem had been made difficult by the refusal of 114,500 Chinese and 340,000 North Koreans to return to their homeland. It was further complicated by the Communists insisting that they be returned to them even if force had to be used. The war was stepped upf' late in May and by the first of June whenever truce prospects brightened the enemy would increase his efforts to gain ground along the MLR fMain Line of Resistancej. A number of outposts changed hands with no appreciable change occurring in the territory held by either side. The attacks ranged from company to division size with the heaviest concentration located in the eastern sector. Anchor Hill and Hill 812 passed into enemy hands in late May and early June. Heavy action followed in the central sector. The ROK forces were pushed back in several areas, and the Fleet was called to sup- port them. The ships involved in this support action were the BOXER, LAKE CHAMPLAIN, PHILIP- PINE SEA, and the PRINCETON. One of the heav- iest bombardments of the war occurred in the effort to recapture Anchor Hill. The NEW JERSEY, BREM- ERTON, MANCHESTER and the ST. PAUL as- sisted in this action. It was evident as early as the end of the first week of June that the anticipated terms of the Armistice which involved a divided Korea did not please Presi- dent Rhee. He asserted that the South Koreans would fight to the bitter end for a United Korea. This feeling of discontent erupted in demonstrations staged by the South Koreans on 26 June. Seemingly in reply to these demonstrations the Communists launched one of their heaviest attacks of the war. They struck with 6 divisions on 13 July using 80,000 troops against 60,000 ROK soldiers on a 20 mile front. The South Koreans were pushed back as much as 7 miles. In support of the ROK forces over 500 sorties were flown daily by the Fleet aircraft. The East Berlin attack occurred on Sunday night, 19 July. It was preceded by a Communist concert of Chinese and American music after which at 2030 the Chinese attacked with 1,500 troops. Rather bitter fighting followed. On the 24th Boulder City was under attack. The next day what was called a flare- up took place at Outpost Esther and at the Berlin complex. It was on this occasion that the 5th and 7th Marines repulsed a 3,000 man attack. Fleet action continued until the cease fire with the ST. PAUL firing the last round of the war at sea at 2159, 27 July 1953. Peace had come but only after 136,862 American casualties of which 24,386 had been killed or died of wounds. A bugler sounded Taps at the 1st Marine Division. The Ist Marine Division The lst Division was removed from the line 4 May 1953 after 20 months of fighting. On the 29th they returned to repulse a 2-day attack by the Communists. They were again returned to reserve on 5 June and remained there until 8 July when they were ordered into the sector previously manned by the 25th Infantry and in time for Berlin It was about 2 weeks later that Boulder Cityf, the last major action of the war, took place. The Chief of Chaplain? Visit One of the important events during this period of Korean Defense was the visit of the newly appointed Chief of Chaplains. On 16 May Chaplain Edward B. Harp, Jr., Rear Admiral, left Washington for the Far East. He was accompanied by Chaplain Joseph P. Mannion, Assist- ant Director of the Division. At Pearl Harbor Chap- lain Warren F. Cuthriell, Fleet Chaplain, joined the group. Most of the 200 chaplains in the Pacific Ocean area were visited. Chaplain Harp brought the Me- -185-

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Aboard each ship my primary duty was to provide for the spiritual welfare of all embarked personnel. To this end I conducted Sunday and daily Protestant Church services un- derway with one Communion service each outbound and inbound voyage. In addition Sunday and daily Roman Catholic Rosary services were arranged for personnel of that faith whenever there was no passenger Catholic chaplain available to hold Mass. Furthermore, services were ar- ranged weekly for personnel of the Latter Day Saints and Jewish faiths. Finally, since I am a member of the Chris- tian Science Church, I also conducted Sunday and midweek Christian Science services. Chaplain of the Year, B'nai B'rith On 12 February 1953 Chaplain Robert D. Goodill was serving on the GEORGE CLYMER when 75 miles away the SS PRESIDENT PIERCE was shaken by a blast after which fire broke out on the vessel. While the CLYMER was hastening to assist the stricken ship the chaplain asked for and received per- mission to board the vessel upon arrival. It took 5 hours to arrive on the scene. Meanwhile some of the injured had been transferred to the BARRETT. The PIERCE was determined to continue on course but requested a Fire-Fighting party. At 0300 Chaplain Goodill was the first to board the vessel. He headed to the scene of action where a hatch had been blown completely open. He assisted in fighting the Hre which was consuming' part of the cargo of oxygen tanks, rubber tires, and other inflammable material. Learning of casualties he went to minister unto them. Later he attempted to go to the BARRETT as he was informed that one of the men taken aboard had died. He notified the Captain of the PIERCE of this loss and returned to the wounded. He offered spiritual consolations to the sufferers regardless of their religious aHiliations.,' He subsequently was des- ignated as Navy Chaplain of the Year, for 1953 by the Chaplain A. D. Goode Lodge of B'nai B'rith. -184-

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, ., l, . HI.:-1 Chief of Chaplains Visits. A number of chaplains accompany the chief of chaplains on his visit to the lst Marine Division, on 29 May 1953. Pictured here are Cleft to rightj Chaplain Bak Jong Won, Korean Marine Corpsg Chaplain W. F. Cuthriell, Pacific Fleet, Rear Adm. E. B. Harp, chief of chaplains, Chaplain J. P. Mannion, assistant, Chaplains Division, Chaplain Kim Dok Son, Navy chaplain with Korean Marines, Chaplain D. J. Silvers, COMNAFE, Chaplain J. A. Whitman, COMNAFEg and the division chaplain, L. W. Meachum. morial Day Message at the lst Marine Division. These words of Chaplain Harp deserve attention: . . . let me hasten to say that there is ample justification for your presence here in Korea. No-itls not for political or economic reasons, as we might be tempted to feel at times. This conflict here is not an isolated incident far removed from the rest of the world. On the contrary, this might be one of the last bastions upon which hangs the very fate of our western civilization. You are here because Communism is endeavoring to engulf the world. It is no more or less than that. For a long time too many of us have maintained a stubborn blindness-too many have gravely underestimated the diabolical forces which the Communists have let loose upon our world. It's hardly necessary for me to tell you that we are not up against some- thing superficial, but something that is critical and profound. We are up against a way of life, a philosophy, yes-a reli- gion, if you will-which seeks to destroy the very concept of God-all personal freedom and thereby enslave the whole human race. And no where are we in closer grip with this force than right here in Korea. What happens here and the ultimate decisions that will be made, may very easily determine the very fate of our civi- lization-of our way of life, possibly for generations to come. It is for this that our departed heroes-those whom we are now honoring-have fought and have died. Chaplain Harp was told by General Pollock, the commanding general, that the chaplain is one of the most important persons in the Division. The Chief of Chaplains returned to Washington on 10 June, expressing his gratitude for the fine work of the chaplains he had visited and for the keen interest in and support of the programs of chaplains on the part of commanding ofhcers. He found an increased emphasis being placed upon the Character Education program. He felt that the morale of military person- nel was excellent. Battle Reports Chaplain Meachum in a letter of 23 June notes that General Pate cut the ribbon and made a speech 186-