You sure did not mean the 5th RCT

[<Jwscpd8@aol.com>]

The early year of the war indicated that the US Army (NOT the Marines) were woefully unprepared for war. They suffered from a Lack of training, lack of modern equipment, and poor leadership, all the result of the cut backs after WW2.
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Lee N. Mead your statement about the army not having good leaders, does not apply to the 5th Regimental Combat Team, which was sent from Hawaii to join the 24th Inf. Div.  Most were WW II combat veterans. My Lt. was in WW II, my Capt. was in the South Pacific in WW II with the 24th I.D.

My Sgt. Kealoha was awarded a Silver Star on 7 Feb. 51 after being hit 3 times by a "Burb" gun.  Refused to leave the hill until after the fight.  Made sure we were all right.

Another of my Sgt.'s was awarded a S.S. when he took action to save me, as well as our Lt. and two others.

My machine gunner on 7 March 51 was awarded the DSC for his actions and giving up his life.  There were others that I cannot recall at this minute.

It was the generals I was afraid of, since a medal was more important to some of them, than not wasting men.  We took hills just to prove we could and then give them back.  You statement as to the equipment is true, as we were using equipment from WW II.  Batteries made in Japan that were dead when we opened the box.  No anti freeze for the vehicles or the water cooled machine guns.  C rations dated 1943, 44 and 45 were fed us.

Korea was a nightmare and still is for me as I had been in the Combat Engineers, then called back and made an Infantryman.

5th RCT is the 2nd or 3rd oldest Regiment in the Army, and still have two battalions on active duty.  Fort Lewis and Hawaii.  We were known as the "Ridge Runners".

               John Sonley Korea 1951