The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: twyacht on December 08, 2011, 06:07:53 PM
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Our DRTV historian, Tom may add additional information. But the guns were fired without lube, as ANY lube was prone to gumming up in such a cold environment. Many were Garands, along with others, and just another reason why I had to have one.
(pics below).
Dec. 6, 1950: American forces – primarily leathernecks of the now-famous 1st Marine Division, a few American soldiers, and a handful of British commandos – begin their epic “fighting withdrawal” from Hagaru-ri to Koto-ri and on to Hamnung, during the breakout from the Chosin Reservoir, Korea.
At Koto-ri, a few officers express concern that their vastly outnumbered, bloodied, freezing, near-starving columns might not survive the final trek to Hamnung.
The legendary Marine Col. (future Lt. Gen.) Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, will purportedly respond, “There aren’t enough Chinese laundrymen in the world to stop a Marine regiment going where it wants to go! Christ in His mercy will see us through.”
Puller’s words – though perhaps not pleasing to racially sensitive ears in 2011 – will prove true in 1950. By Dec. 10, the Marines will pass through the safety of X Corps lines at Chinhung-ni and reach the coast at Hamnung.
According to the United States Marine Corps History Division, Puller, a Virginia native, will become “one of the most decorated Marines in the Corps,” and the only Marine to be awarded an unprecedented five Navy Crosses.
Puller’s fifth Navy Cross will be awarded for his actions during the breakout from Chosin, a portion of his citation reading: “Fighting continuously in sub-zero weather against a vastly outnumbering hostile force, Colonel Puller drove off repeated and fanatical enemy attacks upon his Regimental defense sector and supply points. …
“During the attack from Koto-ri to Hamnung, he [Puller] expertly utilized his Regiment as the Division rear guard, repelling two fierce enemy assaults which severely threatened the security of the unit, and personally supervised the care and prompt evacuation of all casualties. …”
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=47820
couldn't help post some pics of my 1955 Garand. ;)
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/M1GarandRange006.jpg)
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/M1Garand003.jpg)
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/M1GarandRange015.jpg)
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The amazing part was that after a few days to warm up, get fed, reorganized and and resupplied the 1st Mar Div was ready to launch a counter attack to push the CCF back into China.
The decision to with draw to the 38th parallel was made for purely political reasons.
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Speaking of history, and the 38th Parallel....
How it should be taught....
8)