-----Original Message-----Walter,
From: owner-KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu [mailto:owner-KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu] On Behalf Of robert guertin
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2003 6:26 PM
To: KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu
Subject: Re: Truman and the Marines
I saw no slur on the bravery of the Army in any posts I've read. If you have a copy of such a post please post it.
Robertwalter e wallis wrote:
No argument on MacArthur and Almond. Don't slander my boys, I will leave yours alone. This all started with a slur on the bravery and competence of the army.Inspire 28-----Original Message-----Walter,
From: owner-KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu [mailto:owner-KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu] On Behalf Of robert guertin
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2003 7:53 AM
To: KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu
Subject: Re: Truman and the Marines
You seem to have a parallax view of reality. Chosin was no victory for the Chinese, and if the 5th Provisional Brigade of Marines hadn't been committed at the Pusan Perimeter the UN Forces would have been pushed into the sea and this discussion would be moot.
No one would argue that there were outstanding Army units that performed in an outstanding manner. One that comes to mind would be Col. Michaelis 27th Inf. Reg.[Wolfhounds]
It would seem appropriate to remember that if Gen. Almond, MacArthurs perfumed prince, and Gen. Willoughby in Japan, had believed the battlefield commanders reports of the Chinese formations they were encountering in late October and early November 1950, the U.S. 2nd and 25th divisions would not have been defeated by the Chinese, handing the Chinese their greatest victory and forcing their retreat (26 November-1 December) and exposing the First Marine Division's
flank leaving no option but the fighting withdrawl (retrograde) of the Marines from Kot'o-ri.
walter e wallis wrote:
I guess you are right. The marine withdrawal handed the Chinese their greatest victory of the war, while Chipyong Ni saw a reinforced army infantry regiment stop the Chinese advance. The French were with us, of course, but that was back while they still could fight. Even then it was 5 or 10 to one. Inspire 28-----Original Message-----Inspire,
From: owner-KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu [mailto:owner-KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu] On Behalf Of robert guertin
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 7:24 PM
To: KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu
Subject: Re: Truman and the Marines
No comparison.
Robertwalter e wallis wrote:
I never said the marines did not deserve the glory for the reservoir retreat, I merely pointed out that they were not the only ones in the war, and that a few soldiers were just as deserving of honor. As for odds, check out Chipyong Ni.Inspire 28-----Original Message-----Walter,
From: owner-KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu [mailto:owner-KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu] On Behalf Of robert guertin
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 9:36 PM
To: KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu
Subject: Re: Truman and the MarinesWhat a flaming pity.......my Marine squad had no Photographer. The Army and Marines have separate and distinct missions and Force Structure. The Marine Corps is comprised of three Divisions, while a single Army within the US Army has three Corps. Of all the men who served in our Military Forces, only 2% are and were Marines.
The Marines had their own Heartbreak Ridge in Korea, and it was a hell of a battle zone.
Those Marines you think didn't deserve the Glory for the retrograde from Changin Reservoir, were ONE Division being attacked by Two Chinese Field Armies who were specifically tasked with destroying the First Marine Division. No other US or UN Unit faced those odds.
The Marines you describe as "Convalescing in the rear", were hunting and destroying bypassed NKPA elements and Guerrillas while receiving resupply and replacements for the over 4,000 casualties they suffered during their retrograde movement, and battles at the reservoir.
You seem to infer that it was only the Army that stemmed the Chinese advance during Operation Killer and the rest. Check the record.........the Marines were there."Walter E. Wallis, P.E." wrote:
I have avoided getting into this discussion up to now because I have
always considered it to be in poor taste to slur fellow services. This
delicacy has, apparently, not permeated all branches.
Every winter, we are blessed with tributes to the noble marine
"advancing in another direction" from some reservoir while us West Coast
boys either rode greyhounds home from Kunu Ri or just fell to pieces. In
spite of our collapse, we were back in the line in less than a month,
first stemming the Chinese advance and then handing the war over to the
politicians, and in the meantime the marines were convalescing on rear
area security duty. The hardest blow of all was when I went to see
"Heartbreak Ridge" only to find out it was a marine epic, even though
the closest marines to Heartbreak were in the Pusan PX.
I have to be careful what I say because my grandson is going into the
marines, but since an army squad did not include a photographer, someone
occasionally has to raise a voice lest the word go out that we don't
really need an army since the marines can handle it all.Inspire 28