Command Report for May 1953

Headquarters, Eighth US Army, APO 301

THRU Chief, Army Field Forces, Fort Monroe, VA

TO The Adjutant General, Department of the Army, Washington, 25 D. C.

 

  • At 0355 2 May, C Company completed relief of B Company in the right sector on the MLR in the 1st battalion area.
  • At 0400 1 May, the 3rd Reconnaissance Company relieved C Company in the left company sector on the MLR (1st battalion area) and assumed responsibility of the company sector. C Company closed the regimental reserve area vicinity GT495388 at 0530.
  • At 0405 1 May, 1st platoon, Heavy Tank Company. 15th Infantry Regiment moved into position in the 2nd battalion area.
  • AT 0600 1 May, B Company 10th Engineer (C) Battalion assumed direct support mission, except for Outpost “Tom” and Outpost “Harry” where C Company 10th Engineer (C) Battalion was responsible for the direct support mission.
  • At 2040 1 May, 1st platoon I Company relieved the 3rd platoon on Outpost “Dick” and assumed responsibility of Outpost “Dick” At 2100 three tanks of the 3rd Reconnaissance Company moved into position in the left company sector of the 1st battalion.
  • At 2240 2 May, 2nd platoon C Company relieved the 2nd platoon of B Company on Hill 314 and assumed responsibility for the hill Mission. At 2310 3rd platoon C Company relieved the 3rd platoon of B Company on the MLR and assumed responsibility of the MLR sector. At 0355 1st platoon C Company relieved 1st platoon B Company on Outpost “Tom” and assumed responsibility for Outpost “Tom”.
  • At 1830 5 May, the 1st platoon, E Company completed the relief of 2nd platoon, E Company on Outpost “Harry” and assumed responsibility for the outpost mission.
  • At 2050 5 May 2nd platoon, I Company completed relief of 1st platoon I Company on Outpost “Dick” and assumed responsibility for the outpost mission.
  • At 0336 7 May, the 3rd platoon Heavy Section, A Company, 64th Tank Battalion relieved the 2nd platoon in the 3rd Reconnaissance Company sector and assumed responsibility for the sector mission.
  • At 2130 8 May, 3rd platoon L Company relieved the 2nd platoon of I Company on Outpost “Dick” and assumed responsibility for the outpost mission. At 2300 I Company relieved L Company on the MLR and assumed responsibility of the 3rd battalion left company sector.
  • At 2324 9 May, a friendly patrol engaged an estimated 30 CCF in a 15 minute small arms, automatic and hand grenade firefight vicinity CT513423. Friendly withdrew. Friendly casualties 2 WIA. Enemy casualties 4 counted KIA and 10 estimated WIA.
  • At 2125 10 May, a friendly patrol dispatched to CT513421 was engaged by an estimated 2 platoon CCF force in a I hour and 15 minute intense small arms, automatic weapons and hand grenade firefight. The patrol was reinforced by 1 squad from the MLR at 2211 and both patrol and reinforced group were forced to withdraw to the MLR with the firefight continuing as they withdrew, The firefight ceased at 2240. Friendly casualties were 3KIA and 5 WIA. Estimated enemy casualties were 50 WIA.
  • At 0310 11 May a 45 man screening force was dispatched to screen the site of the patrol contact at CT513421. The screening force engaged an estimated CCF squad vicinity CT513418 in a 7 minute small arms, automatic weapons and hand grenade firefight.
  • At 2339 12 May, 1st platoon L Company relieved the 3rd platoon on Outpost “Dick” and assumed responsibility of outpost mission.
  • At 2120 13 May B Company relieved A Company on the MLR and assumed responsibility for area mission. At 2130, 2nd platoon Heavy Mortar Company, 65th Infantry Regiment became attached to the 15th Infantry Regiment. At 1159 2nd platoon Heavy Mortar Company, 5th Regimental Combat Team released attached 15th Infantry Regiment and released to control Commanding Officer, 5th Regimental Combat Team.
  • At 0414 14 May, A Company relieved C Company and assumed responsibility of the right company sector and outpost “Tom” of the 1st battalion sector.
  • At 112014 May, G Company (-) 65th Infantry Regiment relieved E Company (-), 15th Infantry Regiment and assumed responsibility for Outpost “Harry”. At 2330, H Company  (-), 65th Infantry Regiment relieved H Company (-) 15th Infantry Regiment and assumed responsibility for assigned sector.
  • At 0600 15 May, the second battalion, 65th Infantry regiment (reinforced) became attached to the 15th Infantry Regiment. At 2125 friendly patrol was dispatched to CT513422 was engaged by an estimated enemy platoon at CT514420 in a 5 minute small arms and automatic weapons firefight. Friendly forces were supported by mortar and artillery. Friendly withdrew. Friendly casualties were 1 KIA and 5 WIA. Enemy casualties estimated at 25 WIA.
  • At 0051 16 May, a large number of CCF were sighted moving in the vicinity of “Star” Hill CT507425.  At 0058, an estimated enemy platoon to company size force were sighted moving from “Star” Hill to Outpost “Harry”. Friendly artillery TOT was placed and all defensive fires around Outpost “Harry” were fired.  No actual contact was made on “Harry” but approximately 500 rounds of enemy artillery and mortar fell on the outpost. Friendly artillery included 3 TOT’s on “Star” Hill. Total enemy moving from “Star” Hill were estimated at 250.  Enemy casualties were estimated at 50 KIA and 75 WIA. Friendly estimates on “Harry” were 6 KIA and 2 WIA.
  • At 0500 16 May, the 2nd battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment (Reinforced) completed relief of the 2nd battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment and assumed responsibility of the battalion sector and was released to the operational control of the Commanding Officer, 65th Infantry Regiment. At the same time 1 platoon of Heavy Mortar Company, 65th Infantry Regiment 1 platoon of Heavy Mortar Company, 15th Infantry Regiment were released to operational control of the Commanding Officer, 65th Infantry Regiment.
  • At 0500 17 May, Q Company (-). GEF Battalion. Relieved M Company (-) and assumed responsibility of the assigned sector.
  • At 0245 17 May, the 4th platoon, Heavy Tank Company, 15th Infantry Regiment was relieved by one platoon, Heavy Tank Company, 65th Infantry Regiment.
  • At 0300 18 May, the GED Battalion, completed relief of the 3rd battalion and the Commanding Officer of the GEF Battalion assumed control of the sector.
  • At 0102 19 May, 2nd Platoon, Heavy Tank Company, 15th Infantry regiment completed relief of a platoon of A company, 64th Tank Battalion in the GEF Battalion sector and assumed responsibility for the assigned sector.
  • At 0315 20 May, the 1st platoon of A Company, 64th Tank Battalion completed relief of 2nd Platoon, of A Company, 64th Tank Battalion in the 3rd Reconnaissance Company sector and assumed responsibility for the sector,
  • On 21 May, one screening patrol accompanied by a war dog team was dispatched to CT483436. This patrol preceded a company size (B Company) raid which was dispatched from Outpost “Tom” with the mission of intercepting and destroying the enemy, capturing PW’s and reconnoitering routes for traces of enemy. At 2311 the screening patrol became engaged in a 5 minute small arms and automatic weapons long range firefight with 2 CCF vicinity CT467435. The enemy withdrew and no casualties were inflicted on either side. At 0010 22 May the company size raid became engaged in a 21 minute small arms, automatic weapons, and hand grenade firefight with an estimated reinforced enemy platoon vicinity CT459428. The enemy withdrew and 2 wounded PW’s were captured at that time. At 0110 the same raiding party became engaged in a 56 minute small arms, automatic weapons, and hand grenade firefight with another reinforced enemy platoon in the vicinity of CT464428. The enemy withdrew and the firefight became sporadic and lasted until 0400. At 0220 the screening patrol turned into an ambush patrol and intercepted 40-50 CCF, CT468431, and a one hour and 35 minute firefight ensued. Total number of enemy was a reinforced company. All actions were supported by both friendly and enemy mortar and artillery. Friendly casualties for the complete action were 39 WIA, 3 KIA. Enemy casualties were 14 counted KIA, 24 estimated KIA, 3 counted WIA and 40-50 estimated WIA. Nine CCF bodies were recovered. An estimated 529 incoming rounds fell in the regimental sector during the 4 hour period 2400-0400.
  • At 0110 25 May, 7 CCF engaged a 6 man friendly listening post vicinity CT485429 in a 5 minute firefight. The enemy withdrew. There was 1 friendly KIA and 2 enemy estimated KIA.
  • At 0518 26 May, a friendly raiding party composed of elements of the 3rd battalion engaged an estimated 40 CCF in the vicinity of “Old Charlie”, CT489431 in a 15 minute small arms, automatic weapons and hand grenade firefight supported by friendly artillery, mortar and tank fire. Friendly withdrew according to plan after occupying “old Charlie” for twenty five minutes. Friendly destroyed 1ASP and damaged or destroyed 7 bunkers. Enemy casualties were 13 counted KIA, 4 estimated KIA and 11 estimated WIA. Friendly casualties were 3 WIA.
  • At 2225 26 May, B Company relieved A Company in the MLR and assumed responsibility for area mission. At 2306, C Company relieved the 3rd Reconnaissance Company and assumed responsibility for the sector mission,
  • At 0037 27 May, B Company, relieved A Company on Outpost Tom and assumed responsibility for the outpost mission.
  • At 2245 27 May, P Company. GEF Battalion ambush patrol engaged 10-15 CCF in an 18 minute small arms automatic weapons firefight vicinity CT486432. Enemy withdrew, Friendly casualties were 2 WIA. Enemy casualties were 1 counted KIA and 4 counted WIA.
  • At 2110 28 May, the 4th Platoon, Heavy Tank Company relieved the 3rd Platoon.
  • At 2325 31 May an estimated 5 CCF engaged a GEF Battalion listening post in a 10 minute small arms automatic weapons firefight.  Enemy withdrew. Friendly casualties were 2 WIA.
  • During the month extensive use of friendly psychological warfare broadcasts were made. In each case friendly artillery, mortar, and tank fire were used to supplement the broadcast.
  • Work on Line Wyoming began during that period, the reserve battalions having been assigned the sector missions.
  • Training was conducted in the battalion trains areas and in reserve company areas. Included in the training were classes on anti aircraft defense, scouting and patrolling, weapons training, map reading and other subjects deemed necessary to bring units up to the desired level of proficiency.
  • During the period formal inspections of battalions in reserve was conducted by the Regimental Commander and staff. Weapons of enlisted men and officers on the MLR and outposts were inspected by the Regimental Commander.

 

DISCUSSION

 

1.      Critique of the raid on “Old Charlie” on 26 May revealed that movement of the assault team up the steep slopes were slowed down by the weight of BAR’s and ammunition carried. Had all members of the assault team been armed with lighter automatic weapons, such as the Carbine, or SMG, M3, they could have negotiated the steep slopes much quicker and effected more surprise.

2.      It was further determined that excessive use of WP smoke grenades obscured the battlefield, WP was relative ineffective in destruction of the positions. Large concussion grenades and bunker bombs would have been more effective for securing prisoners and destroying all types of positions.