Korea -- 50 years ago this week, March 8-14

[Mike Davino <mdavino@yahoo.com>]

Korea -- 50 years ago this week, March 8-14 
Operation Ripper advances by phases 

by Jim Caldwell 


WASHINGTON (Army News Service, March 6, 2001) -
Operation Ripper began in earnest 50 years ago this
week in Korea. 

On the first day of the campaign, March 7, I Corps'
25th Infantry had attacked across the Han River. On
the north side, their advance was held to about two
miles a day by antipersonnel and antitank mines, as
well as enemy mortars and small arms and machine gun
fire. 

On March 10, all opposition faded away. Four days
later, all of I Corps was on the Albany line. The 24th
and 27th IDs hold the heights of Yebong Mountain,
overlooking Seoul and close to the Seoul-Chunchon
road. 

In the central area, IX Corps' advance straight north
squeezed out the ROK Corps forces and leaves them
holding the east coast region. The 1st Cavalry
Division, ROK 1st and 6th Divisions and the 1st Marine
Division are on Albany by nightfall of March 12. They
are in the heights dominating Hongchon, the corps'
objective, six miles north. 

A recovery team from the 2nd Infantry Division,
attached to the 1st Marines, searches for men and
equipment lost during the Chinese February attack. By
March 12 the team has found more than 250 bodies. They
also recover five 155mm howitzers, six M-5 tractors,
four damaged tanks and several trucks that can be used
for spare parts. 


March 9, 1951 -- The Senate passes the Universal
Military Training and Service bill, which includes
provisions for drafting 18-year-olds, by a 79-5 vote.
The bill goes to the House. It requires that all men
over 19 must be drafted before taking 18-year-olds.
One provision allows the president or both houses of
Congress to instate six months' training for all men
if international situations require immediate service.
A draftee will serve for 24 months, but can't be sent
overseas without four months' training. Before he can
be sent to combat, he will receive an additional two
months' training. All men drafted before age 26 will
serve eight years military service, either active or a
combination of active and reserve duty. 

The Defense Department announces that the 54,694
American casualties to date in Korea include 9,123
dead. Among the dead is 1st Lt. Harry E. Sutton, a
30-year-old black man from New York, who was killed
near Suwan Feb. 3. He became known when his rifle
platoon held "Sutton's Ridge" while Hungnam was being
evacuated in December. 


March 12 -- It appears that Eighth Army Commander Lt.
Gen. Matthew Ridgway is correct in thinking enemy
forces will abandon Seoul if they feel they will be
encircled and trapped there. 

Aerial observers see large numbers of communists
heading northwest out of the city on March 12. Over
the next two days, U.S. and ROK patrols probe the
outskirts of Seoul. They find abandoned defensive
positions on the north bank of the Han River. Patrols
from the ROK 1st Division move into Seoul March 14.
One goes completely through from east to west, while
another reaches the capitol unmolested. On the same
day other patrols find strategic heights above the
city are also deserted. 

Ridgway is still concerned over Gen. Douglas
MacArthur's March 7 statements that have become known
as "die for a tie." He fears that they will affect the
morale of his troops. He holds a press conference and
tells reporters that it will be a "tremendous victory"
for his troops to get back to the 38th Parallel. "We
didn't set out to conquer China," he said. 

Driving the Chinese and North Koreans out of the south
will meet the U.N. mandate, Ridgway says. Besides, he
says, the Chinese failure to back up their boast to
drive the U.N. out of Korea has released "a lot of hot
air from the balloon." He repeats many of the things
contained in a "What We Are Fighting For" statement
issued to troops when he took command of Eighth Army
in January. 


March 13 -- In the ROK region to the east coast, the
NKPA 10th Division that had been stranded behind U.N.
lines during the fighting in February is sighted in
the rear of I Corps When the I Corps commander sees
them, he dispatches two regiments of the 9th Division
to deal with the reds. The two forces clash briefly
and that started a 10-day series of fights in the
highlands. 

With all of the designated Eighth Army units on line
Albany on March 13, Ridgway orders the next phase of
Ripper to begin. 

The 25th ID leads I Corps in the west to line Buffalo
four miles north of the Seoul-Chunchon road. 

The 1st Cav and 1st Marines are to clear Hongchon for
IX Corps and move to line Buffalo to block Route 29. X
Corps with the ROK III Corps are to move to the Idaho
line. 

U.N. delegates say they have given up efforts to
reunite South and North Korea. They predict the war
will end in a stalemate along the 38th Parallel,
followed by lengthy talks to reach a political
settlement. 





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