03Fox2/1
04-01-07, 02:29
The Korean War has been on my mind a lot lately, so if I may, some more thoughts on the Inchon landing. My Dad landed with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines as a twenty-one year old platoon sergeant. Semper Fi
It's June 25, 1950 and North Korea crosses the 38th parallel. Seoul falls quickly and the retreat is on. Only the Pusan perimeter remains in United Nations hands and holds back the enemy, but for how long ?
The Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff was General Omar Bradley, of WW II fame. He was against this entire Inchon landing, he was the one that stated that the Inchon landing had all the ingredients of a disaster.
The landing plans had been leaked to the press in Japan, so it was assumed that Russia and China and therefore North Korea knew of our intentions. Just three weeks away and there was still no approval from Washington for the Marines to land at Inchon on 15 September 1950. Why ?
Many reasons were to blame, not the least of which was a power struggle between the Joint Chiefs of Staff and General MacArthur and President Truman. General MacArthur acted independently, taking advantage of the great distance between Washington and South Korea and also the lack of information available for both intelligence and military options. The Pusan perimeter was the first priority and America and the United Nations were totaly unprepared for such a drastic and risky maneuver as this landing behind enemy lines. There was insufficient troops and equipment, including ships to transport what was available. Two typhoons had already struck the fleet and caused more difficulties and shortages.
The Marine Corps mobilized the reserves and recalled any and all Marines available, and so could furnish the 1st Marine Brigade and then the entire 1st Marine Division for duty. There were 33,527 Marines in the organized Reserves in 1950. Behind these was the Volunteer Marine Corps Reserve, another 90,044 Marines. Most of these officers and nco's had combat experience from WW II, in hindsight, this made up for all the other shortcomings. Brave men and good leadership can do the impossible.
But the many other problems seemed insurmountable. The Joint Chiefs of Staff only gave tacit approval for the landing when it became obvious to them that General MacArthur was proceeding with or without their endorsement. There was also much friction between President Truman and General MacArthur. This became very apparent and very public, later in the war, when President Truman recalled and then relieved of command, General MacArthur. Because of the distance and time differences and the United Nations participation, there was a very unclear chain of command. Add to this a lot of inter-service rivalry, especially between the Army and Marine Corps and the Navy and Air Force. The 1st Marine Division commander, General Oliver P. Smith and the Army commander, GeneraL Edward M. ALmond, did not like each other. The Air Force was a new, independent service, and was highly posessive of any and all air assets used in the war, including the Inchon landing. They were jealous of the Naval-Marine close air support afforded the Marines, the best in the world. In addition to all of this, there was much friction between President Truman and the Marine Commandant, General Clifton B. Cates. President Truman had recently referred to the Marine Corps as nothing but the police force for the Navy. Public opinion was against him and he had to write an explanation/apology to the Marines. Presidents don't like to explain or apologize. These were not good signs for a successful landing, but there's more. There was insufficient time to practice or rehearse the invasion and not enough time was allotted for pre-invasion bombardment. There were no real beaches to land on, only high seawalls. And to make matters worse, each landing craft had only two wooden ladders for the Marines to scale the walls with. The first landing was to be on Wolmi-do Island and the main landing did not arrive until eight hours later, because of the tides. These tides were some of the most pronounced in the world. The difference between low and high tide was 31 and 1/2 feet and the tide surged out at over seven knots, leaving a vast flat seabed with mud so deep, the amtracks were useless.
Resistance to the landing turned out to be lighter than anticipated, but Marine casualties were substantial. From the landing on Wolmi-do and Inchon and the push through Seoul to the Han River, there were 165 KIA, 5 MIA and 988 WIA. Sadly, some of these were from friendly fire.
The very fact that the Inchon landing was successful, despite the many obstacles, such as the elements, the enemy and our own leaders, can be attributed to the valor and initiative of the average Marine, Sailor and Soldier. An American Marine and his weapon can win battles against all odds. It's too bad that a Marine and his weapon isn't enough to keep politicians from losing a war. Semper Fi
It's June 25, 1950 and North Korea crosses the 38th parallel. Seoul falls quickly and the retreat is on. Only the Pusan perimeter remains in United Nations hands and holds back the enemy, but for how long ?
The Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff was General Omar Bradley, of WW II fame. He was against this entire Inchon landing, he was the one that stated that the Inchon landing had all the ingredients of a disaster.
The landing plans had been leaked to the press in Japan, so it was assumed that Russia and China and therefore North Korea knew of our intentions. Just three weeks away and there was still no approval from Washington for the Marines to land at Inchon on 15 September 1950. Why ?
Many reasons were to blame, not the least of which was a power struggle between the Joint Chiefs of Staff and General MacArthur and President Truman. General MacArthur acted independently, taking advantage of the great distance between Washington and South Korea and also the lack of information available for both intelligence and military options. The Pusan perimeter was the first priority and America and the United Nations were totaly unprepared for such a drastic and risky maneuver as this landing behind enemy lines. There was insufficient troops and equipment, including ships to transport what was available. Two typhoons had already struck the fleet and caused more difficulties and shortages.
The Marine Corps mobilized the reserves and recalled any and all Marines available, and so could furnish the 1st Marine Brigade and then the entire 1st Marine Division for duty. There were 33,527 Marines in the organized Reserves in 1950. Behind these was the Volunteer Marine Corps Reserve, another 90,044 Marines. Most of these officers and nco's had combat experience from WW II, in hindsight, this made up for all the other shortcomings. Brave men and good leadership can do the impossible.
But the many other problems seemed insurmountable. The Joint Chiefs of Staff only gave tacit approval for the landing when it became obvious to them that General MacArthur was proceeding with or without their endorsement. There was also much friction between President Truman and General MacArthur. This became very apparent and very public, later in the war, when President Truman recalled and then relieved of command, General MacArthur. Because of the distance and time differences and the United Nations participation, there was a very unclear chain of command. Add to this a lot of inter-service rivalry, especially between the Army and Marine Corps and the Navy and Air Force. The 1st Marine Division commander, General Oliver P. Smith and the Army commander, GeneraL Edward M. ALmond, did not like each other. The Air Force was a new, independent service, and was highly posessive of any and all air assets used in the war, including the Inchon landing. They were jealous of the Naval-Marine close air support afforded the Marines, the best in the world. In addition to all of this, there was much friction between President Truman and the Marine Commandant, General Clifton B. Cates. President Truman had recently referred to the Marine Corps as nothing but the police force for the Navy. Public opinion was against him and he had to write an explanation/apology to the Marines. Presidents don't like to explain or apologize. These were not good signs for a successful landing, but there's more. There was insufficient time to practice or rehearse the invasion and not enough time was allotted for pre-invasion bombardment. There were no real beaches to land on, only high seawalls. And to make matters worse, each landing craft had only two wooden ladders for the Marines to scale the walls with. The first landing was to be on Wolmi-do Island and the main landing did not arrive until eight hours later, because of the tides. These tides were some of the most pronounced in the world. The difference between low and high tide was 31 and 1/2 feet and the tide surged out at over seven knots, leaving a vast flat seabed with mud so deep, the amtracks were useless.
Resistance to the landing turned out to be lighter than anticipated, but Marine casualties were substantial. From the landing on Wolmi-do and Inchon and the push through Seoul to the Han River, there were 165 KIA, 5 MIA and 988 WIA. Sadly, some of these were from friendly fire.
The very fact that the Inchon landing was successful, despite the many obstacles, such as the elements, the enemy and our own leaders, can be attributed to the valor and initiative of the average Marine, Sailor and Soldier. An American Marine and his weapon can win battles against all odds. It's too bad that a Marine and his weapon isn't enough to keep politicians from losing a war. Semper Fi