|
In a message dated 12/16/2003 5:24:07 PM US Mountain Standard Time, Papasan1062@aol.com writes:
That Reg't., was known as, "the bug out reg't," If my memory is correct, they broke that reg't. up, and so many Company's thruout the 25th. On the evening of 22 April 1951, the CCF made their spring offensive attack which sent us heading back south. Then on the 23rd, I met some men who informed me that the 24th Regt. had bolted off the line, throwing down their weapons. This left a hole, then the S. Koreans took off south.
After we regrouped, we headed back north with the 5th RCT taking over 5,000 prisoners in the month of May, which was a record then.
I also was informed that with the S. Koreans, as well as the 24th Regit, white soldiers had to be placed forward of the line, in front of the Koreans and the 24th. When the CCF probed the line at night, they would hear the white voices and try another part of the line.
I had heard that from many men after the 22nd of April 51. I almost became a POW because of that "bug out" on the 22nd of April, but a group of us were able to make it out to the rear.
The 24th Regt. was broken up around September of 1951 and my company, M, had some members of the 24th Regt. transferred in.
At the time, I was only a Cpl, but was the Acting First Sgt. of M Co., 5th RCT and when the men from the 24th Regt. had to deal with me, I had problems. One Sgt. was nice enough to tell me he was a Sgt., I was a Cpl. and I was to remember that. I informed this man that he had to obey or go to the CO and complain about the actual rank difference. He thought he should have been the First Sgt even though he had no idea as to what the position was about.
I finally had to ask that our supply section, which this Sgt. was put in charge of, to be placed in the rear and away from the MLR, which the CO agreed to do.
One of the Line Sgts told me when I was on the hill, that he had to threaten two of the men from the 24th Regt. with being shot on the spot during a fire fight at night. Seems they hunkered down in the foxhole and were firing a M.G. without even looking as to where they were shooting, plus causing it to jamb. WhiIe the Acting First Sgt., I was still pulling duty on the hill with my 50 Cal MG squad when not needed at the CP
One of our black medic's told me one day, that Korea was a white man's war, not theirs, but regardless of their thoughts on the war, they did what was required of them when in combat.
When in reserve, they stayed by themselves. I am sure there were many men from the 24th Regt. who did what was expected of them, but it seems that M Co. was on the short end when it came to that.
My trouble now is, that I still remember most of what happened in Korea as if it were yesterday. How does one forgot what you do not want to remember?
John Sonley Korea 1951
|