United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Yearbook

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Wonsan Pastor. 'he Reverend Han June Myung of Jesus Church, Wonsan, after preaching to Marine airmen, received the offering contributed to his work from Chaplain George W. Cum- mins. The Korean minister survived the masacre of 300 civilians in a cave where they were machinegunned by re- treating Communists. November 1950. iand had taken over a large amount of barley and eans when the city was captured. Some of these ipplies were turned over to the Relief Society for dis- 'ibution to the hungry people, regardless of religious Hiliation. The situation in the 1st MAW had been extremely uid during the Hrst months of the war. Besides its eadquarters base at Itami, Japan, operational fields tKimpo and now Wonsan had to be covered. Chap- lin George W. Cummins QSouthern Baptistj was at- iched to Marine Air Group 12, which gradually was stablished at Wonsan. At Kimpo, in the vicinity of eoul, Chaplain H. Markley was still with Marine ir Group 33. Since Roman Catholic services were vailable at Itami, Murphy divided his time between ie two operational groups. Protestant services were inducted by Markley or Cummins whenever they ere able to get over to Japan. Cummins earned for himself the reputation of being regular Humphrey Bogart of a chaplain. Accom- inying official photographers to an ROK command Jst, where they sought information about the scene of reported massacre of hundreds of political prisoners 535332 O+60+4 '- by the retreating Communists, the chaplain attempted to explain their purpose. When words proved un- successful, Cummins resorted to pantomime, holding his arms as if handling a machine gun, he emitted a vocal imitation of rapid fire. It seemed to work, the ROK captain's eyes lighted up in understanding, and he turned into the command post-to emerge bearing a captured burp gun, which he thrust upon the astonished chaplain. Doubtless proud of himself, he stood smiling after the departing jeep, in which Cum- mins sat holding gingerly his unexpected and un- wanted weapon. Chaplain Charles E. Webb fRoman Catholicl ar- rived on 15 November, but before he could report to Marine Aircraft Group 33, his assigned duty station, the Chinese offensive had forced a withdrawal of United Nations forces, and Webb operated in Japan until January when he joined Marine Aircraft Group 12, now relocated at Pusan. Chinese Intervention The 7th Marines, the most recently formed regi- ment of the lst Division, with the largest percentage of Reserves, spearheaded the thrust northward from Hamhung toward Chinhung-ni, about 35 miles dis- tant. On the night of 2-3 November this advance force engaged a full Chinese Communist division in the gorge country in the Sudong area a few miles south of Chinhung-ni? Thus the 7th Marines had the dis- tinction of being the first American unit to be engaged with a Chinese Communist force in large-scale combat. A furious 5-day battle followed, during which the enemy's casualties were estimated to have run as high as 9,000 with over 660 killed. The Marine casualties included 46 dead and 264 wounded. During the battle, two battalions of the 7th Marines were attacked from the front and on both flanks for about 24 hours. With these two battalions were Chaplains Grifhn and Kester M. Hearn. Here Chaplain Griffin so distinguished himself that he was recommended for and later received the Silver Star. A part of his citation reads as follows: During the late morning of 3 November, the same units of the 7th Marines were subjected to heavy small arms fire. Chaplain Griflin left the comparative security of the battalion sick bay where he was rendering aid to the wounded and moved back to the front lines. Here he repeatedly exposed himself without regard for his personal safety to render what aid he could to the wounded men in the attack. Chaplain Griffin served as a veritable pillar of strength for the men of the organization and served as an unforgettable inspiration to all who observed him. 4 Montross and Canzona, op. cit., vol. III, chs. V, VI. See also Cagle and Manson, op. cit., ch. 6, pp. 165-169. 35-

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The reception by the people was unbelievable. They fell all over me when they learned I was a priest and begged me to come and celebrate Mass. Several hours afterwards I did-my first High Mass in the Navy. In that- time more than 500 villagers had assembled at the Abbey. Lt. George Balzer of San Diego and Brother Pincentius, O.S.B., a Korean, led a hastily assembled choir of more than 100 in the Gregorian music of the Mass. Nothing has ever sounded more beautiful to me. Practi- cally everybody there received Communion. Here the Marines were seeing at first-hand some evidences of the way the Communists were persecut- ing the Christians. They learned how the Commu- nists, when they retreated from the Wonsan area the first part of October, had spread straw through the beautiful Abbey church, poured on gasoline and set it afire. Many other examples came to the attention of the Americans of the repressive measures practiced by a Communist-dominated government against Christians throughout North Korea. Air Wing Chaplains When elements of the lst Marine Aircraft Wing arrived at Wonsan, Chaplain John P. Murphy soon discovered that out of a Catholic civilian population of about 3,000 in Wonsan, only 2,000 remained. Roman Catholic Christians had suffered a loss ofnone- third of their number under the Communist regime. The leaders had been methodically eliminated. Priests and seminarians had been killed or carried off to the North, never to be heard of again. Of the 50 Benedictine brothers and 80 nuns, only 10 brothers and 12 sisters remained. The monastery in Wonsan had been turned into a People,s Agricultural Col- lege? The cross had been sawed off the top of the church and the interior desecrated. Chaplain Murphy took on a double load. In addi- tion to his duties with the Marines, he tried to help the civilian Catholic population, now led by a candidate for the priesthood in deacon's orders. Beginning with a small room in a private home, he celebrated Mass for the poorly clad, hungry, but devout Koreans who Crowded in for his ministrations. The room over- flowed and the civilians crowded the dingy hallway and winding stairway. In addition to helping the local church, Chaplain Murphy set up the North Ko- rean Catholic Relief Society. The local military com- Food for the Needy. Liberated grain is being passed out to all returning destitute Citizens of Wonsan. Chaplain John P. Murphy Cat rightll arranged the distribution. He, in predawn services, resumed celebration of mass for the parish. -34-

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From Chinhung-ni, which lies at an elevation of 1,000 feet, the narrow, tortuous road climbs steeply for the next 10 miles over a 4,000-foot pass to Koto-ri, situated on a high plateau just over the hump. After the decisive defeat of the Chinese Communists at Sudong, the Marines met little resistance on their march northward through Koto-ri to Hagaru-ri, an- other ll miles distant. Hagaru-ri, 56 miles from Hamhung, was located at the foot of the Chosin Reservoir. The Marines reached this point on 15 November.5 Maj. Gen. O. P. Smith, in command of the 1st Division, felt considerable misgivings about his posi- tion and about alternate operational plans being con- sidered by General MacArthur. He wrote to Cen. Clifton B. Cates, Commandant, as follows: I believe a winter campaign in the mountains of North Korea is too much to ask of the American soldier or marine, and I doubt the feasibility of supplying troops in this area during the winter or providing for the evacuation of sick and wounded. And in conclusion he expressed concern over 'fthe prospect of stringing out a Marine division along a single mountain road for 120 air miles from Hamhung to the border. Small streams were noticed to be frozen over. Rice paddies had been glazed since October. And on 15 November when the 7th Marines occupied Hagaru, the temperature was 40 below zero. Already the Ma- rines, though equipped with winter clothing and sleep- ing bags, were reporting cases of frostbite. An ominous calm had ensued following the battle with Chinese Communists at Sudong. Taking a dim view of the possibility of a successful race against time, weather, and unknown enemy, the Marines neverthe- less made preparations to fulfill their mission. Reports were received from local Koreans of the presence of many Chinese troops in the vicinity, yet temporarily the enemy refrained from offering further resistance. 995 Thanksgiving Day, 1950 In the lull before the storm, the chaplains attached to the lst Division were able to carry on most of their usual duties in spite of many difficulties. Writing to the Chief of Chaplains on 1 December 1950, Chap- lain R. M. Schwyhart, the Division Chaplain, sum- marized: During the month of November 1950 the Division took positions covering an area all the way from Wonsan to Hagaru-ri. In spite of this, communication with the chap- 5 Montross and Canzona, op. cit.,vol. III, ch. VII. 6 Ibid., pp. 132-134. lains has been relatively good, furthermore I have person ally seen all but three of them during the month. All o the chaplains are doing a most commendable job. Perform ing their tasks as chaplains amidst the barriers of the distance and shortage of transportation, subfreezing temperatures mountains and snow has not been easily done 5 nevertheless I have not heard or seen evidences of any complaints, onlj that this conflict cannot be brought to an end. Chaplain Kenneth D. Perkins, Force Chaplain FMF Pac, arrived at Hamhung for an oflicial visit or 18 November. Of this Schwyhart wrote in his lettei to Chaplain Salisbury: The next day, Sunday, he favored us by delivering thf sermon at the Division Headquarters Protestant Divine Serv ice. Later that day we attended, by invitation, a large meet ing of local representatives of all Presbyterian churches in Hamhung. The following day we drove by jeep to I-Iagaru ri to see the chaplains in the 7th Regiment. We spent Tues day morning visiting at the Division Cemetery at Hungnan at which time there were 93 Marine burials. He departei by plane for return to Pearl Harbor at noon, 21 Novem ber 1950. During the few days of comparative calm spent a Hagaru-ri, the chaplains gave great encouragement tc the native Christians who had suffered much at th+ hands of the Communists. Chaplain Sporrer reporter on his questionnaire: Two little churches, one of them at the Reservoir, were r opened for the first time since the Red forces closed therj The congregations had secreted the altar furnishings in thei respective homes, and candlesticks, pictures, and crucihxd appeared as by magic from all over the villages. One of the congregations, as a collection, placed thre eggs on a plate in the rear of the church for me to tak as I left. The native Christians looked upon the Marines their heaven-sent deliverers from the Communist. Several of the Navy chaplains who penetrated int+ North Korea with the Marines had thrilling exper' ences with the Christians. Chaplain Craven reporte one such incident in his questionnaire. At Hagaru-ri we met an old Presbyterian minister ani his saintly wife. They had been hiding in the caves ani rocks for several months before our arrival. The churcf had been destroyed but their parsonage was still standin with a small cross on the highest peak. We obtained pe mission to use the bombed out theater building for the first church service in several months. I returned the church bell which the Communists had used for an alar bell in the police headquarters. The tears of joy flower freely down the old Presbyterian pastor's face. He insistei that I preach to his people through an interpreter. Ne day I met in the pastor's home with 35 baptized believell for Bible study. Chaplain Schwyhart in his letter to Chaplain Salis bury of 1 December wrote concerning some of th -36-