Prisoners

[<Jwscpd8@aol.com>]

I have been reading all the E Mail regarding the Chinese/NK as to prisoners.

What I am about to write about, took place on the evening of 22 April 1951 on 
the "over run" of the front line.

My unit, the 5th RCT USA went up on the line at about 12 noon and dug in.  My 
company, M,  CO, set up his tent in a draw, just about 100 yards from the 
MLR.  While the rifle companies were also digging in, it was now about 1500 hrs, 
when our patrol came back with two Chinese prisoners, which were then kept 
under guard in the tent, until some officers came up to interview them.  They 
looked to be younger than I was.

When my CO Capt. Lincoln came out of the tent, I asked him what they had to 
say and was told, that there was to be a big attack going to take place 
sometime this day.

In the mean time, the kitchen of one of the rifle companies set up just 
across from us and men were coming down the finger to eat.  Two trucks pulled up, 
made U turns, discharging brand new replacements, who were to be fed, then go 
on the hill.

While this was taking place, I was told by the CO to go to the base of the 
MLR where 3 tanks were sitting and get a head count for breakfast, as the crews 
were to be eating with M Co..  

I took one of the Jeeps, headed to the tanks, parked the Jeep facing the 
company area.  Just as I was talking to the lead tank commander, an artillery 
round went over our heads and landed just in back of the kitchen.  The next round 
landed in the middle of the chow line, followed by another round that landed 
in the group of men who had just gotten off one of the trucks.  It was a scene 
I still cannot forget.

In the mean time, I crawled under the lead tank, when the commander told me 
to get the hell out, as he had orders to move out and back to another area.

I made a run for the Jeep as the tanks were turning, when an artillery around 
landed near the lead tank where the Jeep had been parked.

I made the mistake of getting in-between two of the tanks, thinking I would 
be protected by the armor, except as I was headed back to the CO area, another 
artillery round landed in back of the Jeep.  I was lucky in that I was hunched 
over the steering wheel, as shrapnel and dirt went over my head.

The scene at the kitchen was a total mess, as bodies and wounded were being 
loaded on to the two trucks which had just brought in the replacements.

One of the Sgt.'s asked me if I saw the back of the Jeep and at this time I 
noticed it was full of holes.  We were told to get out of the area fast as 
possible and start a leap frog action on a set of hills in back of us.  I rejoined 
my 50 cal. machine gun squad and set up a short distance away on the orders 
of Capt. Lincoln.

A Lt. from one of the rifle companies was with us, said he was leaving the 
hill to go down where some wounded were.  He left, taking his radio man.

We now could not fire, as we had "people" out in front us.  We watched as the 
Chinese were running up to our people, unable to fire.

We now had Chinese in front and on the ridge lines on our left and right 
sides as a Capt. came up and ordered the gunner fire at the persons just below us. 
 We tried to tell him that was our Lt. and etc., but he again ordered the 
gunner to fire.  The gunner fired, but into the ground.  The Capt. then took out 
his 45, put it at the head of the gunner, saying shoot or be shot as I see 
what you are doing.  The gunner again fired, but into the ground again, when the 
Lt. got on the radio, saying we had taken the toes off one of the men and to 
stop.  Just then, a Chinese soldier took the handset from the LT. The Capt. 
heard what was said, saying, "my God, those are our men" and took off running 
down the back of the hill and to the rear.

We broke the gun down, as the Chinese were now on both sides us and about 60 
feet from our position.

We left the hill when we spotted a parked 2 1/2 with the driver sitting in 
the cab and headed towards him, taking with us, walking wounded as well as KIA's 
being brought off the hill.   We unloaded the 81 MM ammo, throwing it into a 
shell how, we filled with gas.  As we were loading people, we noticed that the 
Chinese on the ridge line had now stopped, standing there watching us, as a 
group of Chinese came down the finger towards us, but no one was shooting.  I 
really thought we were going to be eating rice for a long time.

The Chinese got to the road, stopped and sat down, using the stocks of their 
rifles as we continued to load up, with the KIA's being put on last as a 
buffer for any bullets that might hit the back of the truck should the shooting 
start.

A BAR man and I were the last to get on the truck and as we started pulling 
out, the Chinese stood up and waved good bye to us.  

If I had not saw that, I would not have ever believe it  The BAR man pointed 
the weapon at the Chinese on the road, saying he was going to give them the 
full clip.  Two of us grabbed the rifle, pushing it up into the air, saying he 
was going to get us killed.  We pointed out all the Chinese on the ridge line 
just standing there, watching.  As we drove away, there was an odd quietness in 
the air, as if the war had stopped for a few minutes.

Needless to say, we were the last truck to get through  to the rear, as the 
road was closed off after we went through.  At no time were we fired on and I 
still do not understand as to why.  I thought later, it was because we were not 
firing at them and were trying to get the wounded out.  

The Regt. Col. had to fight his way out on the next road, as well as some 
other men in vehicles.  We were not able to find our company for two days.

    John Sonley  Korea 1951