Korea, I Was There
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Chapter 1
Invasion from the North
The invasion from the north found President Syngman Rhee and General Chae’s forces lacking in every aspect of military preparation to protect the country. The South Korean forces consisted of four infantry divisions, poorly trained and equipped. To compound their problems of defense; fifteen percent of the active duty forces had been granted furloughs to help the country harvest the annual rice crops. General Chae’s forces numbered only about 50,000 troops present for duty. During the earliest hours of the invasion, the North unleashed the first of their big lies: "The South Korean Forces invaded North Korea!" and further, that they, the North, were just protecting their country.
Prior to the North’s invasion, there had been some 47 separate documentations of North Korean raids across the 38th Parallel, including guerrilla raids in the south. Early on the day of the invasion, President Rhee had called for help from the United States, but there were those who did not believe him. H e had cried ‘wolf’ one time too many. Everyone knew he had planned to unify all of Korea and felt that he would not stop at anything to get what he needed most, more men and equipment, but mostly offensive equipment.
After confirmation of the attack, there were alls and talks between Ambassador Muccio and General McArthur to President Truman and the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as discussions with the United Nations. McArthur was given quick approval to provide all assistance needed to stop the attack. He quickly ordered the 24th Infantry Division’s 21st Infantry Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Smith, and some 450 men who would meet the North Koreans, to Osan. Here the first recorded American killed in action was Private First Class Kenneth Shadrack from Beckley, West Virginia, on 5 July 1950.
Task Force Smith deployed at Osan and prepared to meet the enemy. Americans assumed that when they showed the American flag, the North Koreans would return to North Korea but it did not happen. In fact, the American presence and effort had about as much effect as a mosquito trying to bite an elephant. These men were fighting against the T-34 Russian-made tanks and seasoned North Korean fighters who had once been a part of Mao Tse-tung’s Communist forces in China in 1949. They were battle-hardened, seasoned troops who had been a part of the Communist forces in defeating Chiang Kai-shek’s Republic of China forces of World War II and the collapse of the Nationalist government in 1949.
Chapter 2
The 29th Infantry on Okinawa
The 29th Infantry Regiment on Okinawa were all regular army performing occupation duty guarding the important installations on the island such as airfields, hospitals, and other activities necessary to the security of the island .
The men of the 29th Infantry wore the Tori patch on their left shoulder; it signified the entrance into a "Holy Place". The 29th Infantry was stationed at two primary places: the 1st Battalion at Camp Nupunja and the 2nd Battalion at Sukeran Barracks. The 29th Infantry was just one of eleven units made available to General McArthur to go to Korea and it was the first one of these units to arrive in Korea. We were alerted on Saturday, 15 July 1950. The Regiment was immediately ordered to the field for a full field training exercise. Prior to this, a group aboard ship returning to the States was ordered to turn around and return. All tours of duty were extended for the convenience of the government.
Many of the commissioned and noncommissioned officers had seen combat duty during World War II. There were a few of us who had been in Okinawa during the War. Okinawa was considered to be a hardship tour and because of this, our tour was only 15 months without dependents. Once an individual had completed a tour of duty on Okinawa, he was credited with a full three years of overseas duty. I guess they thought this made up for the lack of facilities and isolation from the world.
Much has been written and said about the condition of the 29th Infantry. They said we did not have our weapons zeroed in and were not prepared for combat. It has also been written that we were to receive an additional six weeks of combat field training in Japan prior to our going to Korea and another said that we were to receive that field combat conditioning once we arrived in Pusan. It is true, these promises were made and broken.
Now I want to put to rest some of these statements. The 29th Infantry trained as every infantry unit does daily: physical training, close order drill, field exercises, small arms firing a the rifle range at Bolo Point. Each individual who completes basic training is taught how to zero in his weapon. He simply moves the sight back to zero and moves it forward 16 clicks, and after firing, they make adjustments for windage and distance. The infantry did this day in and day out in addition to their regular guard details around the island. We in the Medical Company routinely furnished medical aid men for the rifle ranges and field training. It is also true that many of these men were not as well conditioned for combat as we were during World War II. But they were not soft nor out of shape. Those who died at Hadong and Anui were for the most part found near their defensive positions.
These brave men were simply outgunned, surrounded, and overwhelmed by superior forces. No ifs, no buts, no stories to sell books nor for military historians to make brownie points. They were not there. These warriors lived, fought, and died as this nation’s patriots have for over 218 years. Perhaps many have said the same things about George Washington’s forces. He may have lost every battle, but he won the most important one, it was the last battle.
The building facilities at Camp Nupunja were Quonset huts like those of World War II. In fact, they may have been the same ones that were erected in 1945 during the War, just dismantled and moved to Camp Nupunja.
The dependents who were able to come to Okinawa also lived in Quonset huts located off base. The mildew was so bad that we kept a light bulb burning in our clothing lockers at all times. The only thing that had changed were the roads, which had been improved. The monsoon rains and typhoons were bad enough, but the facilities one takes for granted in the States were not available here.
The military dependents, for the most part, did not choose to live in Okinawa. In fact, there was only one family in the Medical Company.
A typical day for men in the rifle companies is best explained by Pvt. Jesus Rodriguez who was assigned to A Company 1st Battalion 29th Infantry following his completion of basic training and completion of 16 weeks of Advanced Infantry Leadership School in the States.
In late November, 1949, he boarded a troopship on Thanksgiving Day and had his first experience in a Pacific typhoon. The ship’s captain attempted to steer a course around it but was not fully successful and it became a rough ride. On a troopship, the passengers are required to eat standing along a long table in the mess hall. As the ship wallows, rocks, and rolls the troops, occasionally a mess tray gets away from some individuals, usually those who fall prey to sea sickness. Needless to say, the table becomes a terrible mess with some losing everything.
When the troopship arrived at Okinawa, part of the passengers were assigned to the 29th Infantry with the remainder
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Though sometimes called "The Forgotten War," the Korean conflict remains vivid in the hearts and minds of those who fought there. Author Harold Gamble, who served as a medic with the 29th Infantry, has documented the experiences of the unit in a book that illumines the hardships and exhaustion, the terror and emotional pain felt by the soldiers who served there. Only 25 years old at the time, he was part of the occupying force of Okinawa when the call came in 1950 for troops to go to Korea, and he trained even younger medics on the troopship that took them to an uncertain future.
The focus of Gamble’s book is the grit and heroism of the men he served with. Even against overwhelming odds, they persisted to achieve their military objectives. The greatest crises for the unit were the devastating ambushes at Anui and Chinju Pass, and the battle for the Pusan Perimeter. Included in the book are the extended accounts of two prisoners of war who were freed after years in captivity.
"Now my buddy is safe in heaven and no one can ever hurt him again," he murmured as he tenderly stoked the stock of his M-1 rifle, where he had etched his buddy’s name"
Tending the wounded and dying for more than two years left Gamble with a permanently heavy heat and a desire that others should know of the greatness of the 29th Infantry in Korea.
About the Author
Author Harold Gamble, who served as a medic with the 29th Infantry, has documented the experiences of the unit in a book that illumines the hardships and exhaustion, the terror and emotional pain felt by the soldiers who served there. Only 25 years old at the time, he was part of the occupying force of Okinawa when the call came in 1950 for troops to go to Korea, and he trained even younger medics on the troopship that took them to an uncertain future.
Tending the wounded and dying for more than two years left Gamble with a permanently heavy heat and a desire that others should know of the greatness of the 29th Infantry in Korea.