United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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93.1 Wongu Reproduced by permission from the Marine Corps Gazette. -17- Rf Andong Uisong

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,JV -,t Q., .-WNV, L, ar, A. - .ex nw .,, ,A , L W-, ,.f,,.., -aw, .-.-f -'1.r.,-.ea..,.,- 4----1 e '- . X 5 V, - xx A6509 Yi W e , , SEA OF JAPAN Chem L sam PARALLEL 'Q ' Seoul - lncho 1 POINT CALIFORNIAA Q ifff' 4-A l O Q- ?f o In ix '57 7' A w 5.4 Q YEL Lou' - l XXQAQW 2 Q c r 4 1 -2- K ' P x el J N ' 5 1 ' 1 tw 4 fi X X X Y Ii 4 X LZ is Y li Tae u Toky 1. SEA. Yokohomo Q V Puson 7' I Kobe ,xy f .-Ol i A ef at Sw f ' 1? N 7 Q rQJ1NT ARKANSAAW 9 Q gcnqm XQIHQWA 5 ,ff Moy E M H N1T1 'row .A EA ST CHIAC4 X f TH fe QQi?fT1l 1 - X Z I 41 E 5 X ti Z o so :oo uv-uso Jo 1 O J NAM :AL Lis . nl V, .. ,,, rpra ,,,, , ,.,,. ,, ,,,.,,.,, ,,.,. , t it ,.,,, ,f.f.,.AL,,,. , . -- . .. ,,. 1 .,,.. VL, .,..,.-. A-..,,. ., ,.,.,,,.,,.,,.,---.,..1-,,-. - tm .-,e,.,.,,.,,.,u.,-gum , ,f 1 -'54-zu The Reproduced by permission from U.S. Marine Operations- in Korea. chart shows the rendezvous pattern for the elements making up the Inchon attack force. Wide dispersal of units, the importance of surprise, and the absolute necessity of making the assault on the high tide made planning more than usually diflicult. The imminence of Typhoon Kezia in the East China Sea and Tsushima Strait complicated planning immeasurably more, since it was expected to arrive just in the path of the outloaded attack force. The main body of the lst Marine Division embarked from Kobe, the former lst Provisional Marine Brigade from Pusan. fSee Montross and Canzona, U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, Vol. II, pp. 793.1 -.16,

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On to Inchon. Marines and sailors embarked and on the way to Inchon for the invasion take time out to attend divine services led by Chaplain Hickey. 13 September 1950. Inchon Harbor. This photograph was taken a few days after the invasion. 19 September 1950. The area pictured is west of Wolmi-Do Island. 5, I ........a units pressed forward towards the Han River.5 Seoul, the capital, built around the base of tree-covered South Mountain, was enveloped from two directions by Army, Marine, and ROK Marine troops of X Corps. Supported by artillery and close air support, the operation at first met light resistance. It was even thought possible the city might be spared heavy de- struction. But the North Koreans were determined, and it was only after intensive street fighting during 25-28 September, advancing yard by yard, even foot by foot, that the city was at last secured. According to Marine Corps records, total casualties in the Inchon-Seoul operation included 415 killed in action or dead from wounds, 6 missing, and 2,029 wounded.6 About two-thirds of these were sustained in the hill battles on the outskirts of Seoul and in the bitter house-to-house and barricade-to-barricade street Hghting which took place within the capital city. According to oHicial records, the enemy's esti- mated casualties numbered 13,666 plus 6,492 prisoners. Throughout the Korean War, the number of casual- ties inflicted on North Korean and Chinese Commu- nist forces would be many times greater than that sustained by the United Nations forces. The Inchon amphibious assault was rated a sep- arate engagement, and service during the period 13-17 September rated an individual battle star on the Ko- rean Service ribbon. For its action in the Inchon- Seoul operation, the lst Marine Division freinforcedj was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation covering 5Montross and Canzona, op. sit., vol. II, chs. VIII and following. XIII details the fight for Seoul and the final chapter CXIVQ, the remaining Marine efforts around Seoul before being relieved by Army units on 7 October. dlbid., appendix J, p. 333. -13.-