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I don't know about the rest of y'all, but once our company
literally ran for our lives.
The advance to the Yalu was swift. Large units moved quickly
up the road, often by truck, leaving pockets of North Koreans behind. It was our
job to fight these overlooked enemies. We never knew if we were going up against
a squad or a battalion.
Once we marching up the road, and we saw a small group of men
coming down a hill toward us. We were ordered to drop our packs on the road and
advance to meet them. It turned out this wasn't just a squad, they were point
men for a larger unit. A MUCH larger unit. When we came under fire our officers
realized we were badly outnumbered, and ordered us to retreat. We were
literally trotting along a ridge, while the enemy was trotting along
ridges on either side of us, trying to head us off, and encircle us. Machine
guns and mortars, along with their tripods and base plates were passed up and
down the line, so we all took our turn carrying them.
To make a long story a little longer, we made it back to where
some Marines in a tank, mounted with twin forty millimeter guns, and a jeep
mounted with quad fifty caliber machine guns had set up a road block. When those
jarheads cut loose on them with with that fire power those that lived quickly
found other places to be.
Sure we ran. The object of retreating is to prevent the waste
of lives. With only one man wounded, we achieved this objective. Had we been
ordered to stand and fight, I have doubt we would have done
so.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2002 12:20
PM
Subject: Re: Rewriting History
Mr. Mead,
Per your
request that I present info concerning the involvement of the 65th in the
Chosin Battle outside of the perimeter: please see map at -----
"http://www.chosinreservoir.com/chosinwithdraw6-11.htm"
In addition to the location of the 2d bn. 65th, please note
location of TF Dog and the arrows noting their attack northward. Hungnam
is a few miles south. I will go through my collection of materials and
pull up portions that describe the actions of the 65th, especially the 2nd bn.
The role of TF Dog has long been overlooked.
As to the
Treadway Bridge, I believe that I said that TF Dog was just south of said
bridge. I apologize if I said otherwise. The 65th was further south at Sudong.
The various divisions of X-Corps began their orderly retreat towards
Hungnam after the Marines march through their lines. Units of the 3rd
div were the last to embark.
My reference to men retreating at
various times was in reference to tactical situations, not entire regiments or
divisions. Veterans in Korea often speak of more than often facing superior,
in numbers, enemy forces. In some situations it was prudent to retreat. I am
talking about a retreat which enabled then to consolidate and then attack
again. I still have a question as to what really happened at Jackson
Heights. My understanding is that the 90+ men did not run from an enemy
attack. The just turned around and walked back, I know this will be
unacceptable explanation. But I can't offer a better one because I am still
trying to understand what happened. You also have to know what was
happening to the unit around that time. You should also be aware that
shortly before Jackson Heights a company of 100-men of the 65th were whipped
out in their attempts to hold a position. A few wounded were able to
roll down the hill to safety.
You better than I should know that
sometimes things are not as they appear, especially in war.
Take
of yourselve.
Jose
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