United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

Page 204 text:

, ., 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-

Page 203 text:

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-

Page 205 text:

at the dedication of the new division chapel the pre- vious Sunday. On 25 July he writes: We hope we are just through winding up another hassel ' that started early last night. The 7th Regiment took another beating, along with some elements of the lst and the 5th Regiments. I was up all night visiting the medical com- panies and supervising the assignment and work of chaplains. A few casualties were expected to arrive late at the medical companies when I left at noon. The infantry chaplains are doing a superb job in their battalion aid stations. Chaplains attached to separate bat- talions are relieving the medical battalion chaplains to give constant coverage in the medical companies. These are the worst clobbered of any hassel since Iive been out here. We are having many head and chest casualties, and many arm and leg amputations. The last accounts of the battle action are given by several chaplains. Chaplain Peter J. Bakker, Ameri- can Baptist, tells something of the fighting as seen in his sector: On the 7th of July we moved on the line in the Chang Dang sector, just north of Seoul, and had our camp at the foot of Hill 229. Berlin and Esther were on our right flank. My opportunities were practically limitless. I held two or three services a day with the men right on the Main Line of Resistance, and in front of it on the Outpost. This re- quired a good deal of hiking, but that never hurt anyone. The services were small, but very profitable. The enemy-Luke as we call him-3 years ago we called them- Gooks apparently did not always appreciate the services. We had just finished a service in the Easy Com- pany area when 13 or 14 76 shells came flying in on us. The men holler: '6Chink on the wayn, and everyone ducks into a bunker, and it is quite an experience . . . especially with a large quantity of Napalm stored near by. Some may say that it just happened that way, but I be- lieve it was God's guidance and protection. Early one after- noon my driver, Pfc. B. Holloway, and I were on our way down the Panmunjom road for a service when I noticed an outpost some distance in front of the MLR, and wondered who was up there. We investigated, and found a group of Korean Marines, and a group of Marines from another regi- ment. They said that they did not have a service for 3 months. We had a wonderful time-including songs by the Koreans, and preaching to them through an interpreter. We then proceeded to our original point, and found that while we were at the service, many rounds landed on and around the bunker where we were going to hold our service. Our first Marine to be hit last month was the result of a mortar blast-hitting the man, Private CFirst Classj Hansen in the chin, neck and left arm. One of our corpsman was hit about the same time by a mortar. Our first KIA fkilled in actionj was a Lieutenant Stumbo from Lancer, Ky. A mortar blast hit right over him, and a deep gash right be- hind the ear did the damage. I had a memorial service for him by the Battalion Aid Station, just after he was hit, with his commanding ofiicer and fellow officers paying their last respects to a fine Marine. 1 Boulder City. Land mines proved to be a continual source of trouble. Our patrols were continually stepping on them, and the terrific blast that it gives a man in the legs is anything but pretty. We lost quite a few legs because of them. I had the opportunity on several occasions to help carry some of these men back up the hills after they were wounded. God was merciful in particular with two of these men-one Al- fred Kalinowski, sergeant, had his leg in a horrible condi- tion. The corpsman did a wonderful job in stopping the flow of blood, and even though he lost a leg, he is coming along nicely. Another lad, a big colored boy, stepped on a mine, and has lost both of his legs, but is coming along in good shape. One of our patrols going out to hill No. 90 was ambushed about 10 p.m. Reinforcements were sent out, and another group had to be sent out to retrieve that angel squad. We were busy ministering to the wounded all that night, and on through the morning. We only were able to get two of the KIA's, and I had the privilege of taking them back to our C.P. During the next day we spotted five more dead lying on the hill, but were unable to go out and pick them up as Luke had the entire area zeroed in. That evening the funeral procession went to pick up the fallen Marines. We plastered the surrounding area with outgoing of various kinds. The men made a sweep of the hill, picked up seven valiant Marines. I proceeded with a squad of men to the bottom of the hill and helped carry those seven out to the Panmunjom road and safety. As you may observe, we were right adjacent to the Panmunjom area with its no fire zones, etc. As I rode back to our Command Post in an APC Car- mored personnel cargoj vehicle, I prayed for the next of kin of each one, and remembered that each one was dear to God, and to an entire circle of loved ones at home. Right behind our procession, Luke was blasting our trail with mortars. Late one evening we received the word that some men on our left Hank had received some mortar blasts. I carried one, George Hallabaugh, Jr., from Billings, Mont., into the aid station. He had just received a chest wound, and Dr. Roger Milnes asked for a copter to take him to the Medical Bat- talion. We carried George up the hill to the copter strip and waited for the helicopter. I was holding George's hand, talk- ing to him, and praying for him. After assisting him in the copter I gave him a parting prayer, and told him everything would be all right, and closed the door. We all skooted down a small bank, hid our eyes from the dust and heard the copter take off, only to sputter and then saw this horrible crash with several flashes of light. We raced the 20 yards to the copter, and I saw three people-two inside the plane, and one pinned underneath. I asked where the third man came from, and someone said, He's one of the guards. Two guards, who had just joined the outfit, were guarding the road, and the crash caught both of them, killing them in- stantly. We got George and the pilot, who were both un- conscious, out of the copter. George now had his forehead split somewhat. Another copter was ordered and George was flown out to Able Med. for treatment, and the pilot who was all right was sent out by ambulance fcrackerboxl. We had a memorial service for the two men killed: Pfc. Floyd McCoy and Pfc. Delton Mclnnis, the next morning which was Sunday. Concerning the helicopter accident and other inci- l87 -