Re: How about eats?

[<ChosinMead@aol.com>]

Excuse me for being presumptuous enough to answer a question that was not directed to me. In my experience, every man had two pair of socks and two felt inserts for his snopacs. Unless experiencing dysentery, only the last outer garment got dirty, which usually could be replaced by the supply Sgt- in the dead of winter, it was usually windbreaker trousers.
You asked if "the higher ups knew how bad it was or didn't they care." That question cannot be answered with a broad stroke. I believe that some of the higher up's didn't they were only concerned with their images-not there troops. Others chose to die with their men. Initially, on 9/15 during the final briefing prior to the Inchon Landing we were told that there were 100,000 Chinese massed on the Manchurian border, but we didn't know what there intentions were. MacArthur acted surprised when the crossed the Yalu, I don't think he was, I believe he wanted to expand the war to China so that he could be the Modern Caesar. Generals Hoge and Almond helicoptered into to Task Force Faith, looked around and got the hell out of there, McLean and Faith died with their men. Conversely, General OP Smith, never left his men, he was prepared to die with them. The JCS never made any attempt to add the people at the Chosin. An interesting read is the account of the events East of the Chosin by a Private Ransom-it is his experience and evaluation of the Army leadership at the Chosin. Hope I have been of some help.