Tag: Masan

Political/Military Tags

1950 Pusan Perimeter, 8/4-9/18 1950 Inchon Landing, 9/15-9/19 1950 Seoul Recapture, 9/22-9/25 1950 Battle of Pyongyang, 10/15-17 1950 Wonsan Landing, 10/25 1950 Battle of Chosin Reservoir, 11/27-12/13 1950 Hamheung Evacuation, 12/10-12/24 1951 January 4 Withdrawal, 12/31-1/7 1951 Battle of Bloody Ridge, 8/18-9/15/1951 Battle of Heartbreak Ridge, 9/13-10/15/1951 Battle of Jipyeongri, 2/13-15 1952 Battle of Old Baldy, 6/26-8/4 1952 Battle of White Horse, 10/6-15 1952 Battle of Triangle Hill, 10/14-11/25 1952 Battle of Hill Eerie, 3/21-6/21 1953 Battle of the Hook, 5/28-29 1953 Battle of Pork Chop Hill, 3/23-7/16 1953 Sieges of Outpost Harry, 6/10-18 1953 Armistice 7/27 1968 Pueblo Abduction 1968 Blue House attack 1969 EC-121 1976 Poplar Tree Ax Incident 1983 Langgoon blowup 1996 Gangneung attack 1999 Yeonpyeong naval battle 2000 South-North Summit 2002 2nd Yeonpyeong naval battle 2008 Geumgang Mountain killing 2006 1st nuclear test, 10/9 2009 2nd nuclear test, 5/25 2010 Cheonan sinking 2010 Yeonpyeong Island bombing 2013 3rd nuclear test, 2/12 2016 4th and 5th nuclear tests, 1/6 and 9/9

Geographic Tags

Anyang Aprokgang (Yalu River)Busan Byeokdong Cheonan Cheongcheongang (River)Chuncheon Daegu Daejeon Dongducheon East Sea Euijeongbu Gaesong Gangneung Geojedo Geumgang Geumgang (River)Gotori Hagalwoori Hamheung Hangang (River)Heungnam Hwacheon Hwangchoryeong Imjingang (River)Incheon Jangjin Jipyeongri Kunsan Kunwoori Langgoon Masan Nakdonggang (River)Osan Panmunjeom Pohang Pyungyang Seokdong Seoul Sudong Suwon Wolmido Wonju Wonsan Yellow Sea Yeongdeungpo Yeonpyeong Yudamri

Social Tags

Basic training Chinese Civilians Cold winters Communists Depression Fear Food Front lines G.I. Bill Home front Impressions of Korea KATUSA Letters Living conditions Message to Students Modern Korea Monsoon North Koreans Orphanage Personal Loss Physical destruction Poverty POW Pride Prior knowledge of Korea Propaganda Rest and Relaxation (R&R)South Koreans Weapons Women

Andrew Freeman Dunlap

Wounded in Korea

Andrew Freeman Dunlap recounts being wounded in battle while serving in the Pusan Perimeter in 1950. His troop had fought North Koreans all night on September 1st. Around 5:30 AM, a North Korean machine gun struck him. He vividly describes his arduous recovery after being shot five times. Lying on the battlefield bleeding for several hours, he was eventually found in a foxhole.

Charles E. Gebhardt

Joining the 29th Infantry in Korea

Charles Gebhardt recounts his arrival in Pusan in July 1950, where he contacted his unit by phone and was picked up by jeep for the journey to Masan. During the drive, he witnessed the first signs of war. Upon reaching his unit, the 29th Infantry Division, he remembers encountering significant challenges. The unit, led by a Korean commander, was struggling due to a lack of supplies and training, and they had recently suffered a defeat at the hands of enemy forces.

On the Line

Charles Gebhardt describes his duties with the 29th Infantry Regiment, where he served as an artillery forward observer. In this role, he went on patrols to monitor enemy movements. He recalls living in foxholes overlooking the Nakdonggang River and a nearby wooded area where the North Koreans stored their tanks and other equipment.

Chauncey E. Van Hatten

"Outgunned and Outflanked"

Chauncey Van Hatten talks about the beginning of the Korean War. Stationed in Japan, he describes hearing the news of the North Korean invasion of South Korea and his unit's quick deployment to the war. He talks about being "outgunned and outflanked" by North Korean forces at Masan because of substandard equipment and supplies.

Masan, Seoul, and Pyongyang

Chauncey Van Hatten talks about the fighting at Masan, Seoul, and Pyongyang. He describes the enemy forces that his unit faced and being outflanked many times by North Koreans.

Edward F. Foley, Sr.

War Reflections and Impressions of Modern Korea

Edward Foley reflects on his experiences with remarkable acceptance, stating he holds no resentment toward the war or the North Koreans, who, like him, were simply following orders. During a revisit to Korea, he was struck by the dramatic progress the country had made since the war. He describes Seoul as a modern, westernized city, even likening it to New York City.

Edward Hoth

Christmas in Korean War and Iron Triangle

Edward Hoth recalls being excited to receive two Christmas dinners, one each from the Marines and Navy. He notes they were complete meals, including turkey, candy, and beer. After Christmas he fought in the Iron Triangle at Cheorwon and then he went to Wonsan, North Korea, where he found many dead soldiers along the road.

Fidel Diaz

Land Mine - Almost Pronounced Dead

Fidel Diaz shares when he traveling on foot when his South Korean partner stepped on a land mine, killing the other soldier and seriously injuring his own legs. He indicates the land mine completely shredded his legs and shrapnel entered many other parts of his body. He notes one large piece was lodged in his Bible, likely saving his life.

Frank Churchward

Rebuilding Efforts in Korea

Frank Churchward worked in a Combat Engineering Company, supporting infrastructure rebuilding through preventative maintenance and repairs. He was responsible for maintaining a large area of land, ensuring it remained functional for various operations. He also describes the process of creating roads, detailing the numerous tasks involved in this essential work.

Isamu Yoshishige

To Korea with the Whole Outfit

Isamu Yoshishige served in the United States Army in Korea beginning in 1951. He offers a brief account of his travels to Korea with some detail included on the areas within the region where his unit deployed. He speaks of working within a heavy weapons company as someone who fired 75mm recoilless rifles which possibly caused his hearing loss. He provides limited descriptions of the conflicts with the Chinese in the area in which he served.

Joseph Dunford, Sr.

2nd Battle at Naktong Bulge/part of Battle of Pusan Perimeter

Joseph Dunford, Sr. shares that his first battle in the Korean War was the 2nd Battle at Naktong Bulge. He explains how the North Koreans broke the lines and he fought to push them back. He shares how responded using his training. He knew his role was critical.

Robert O. Gray

From Hospitals to Prisons

Robert Gray discusses how he got hit and went to the hospital. He explains his motivation for lying to avoid staying in the hospital. He also describes how that decision caused him to be captured by the Chinese as a prisoner of war (POW).

Robert W. Hammelsmith

First Impressions

Robert Hammelsmith describes his first impressions of Korea after landing at Busan. He recalls being assigned to the Recon Platoon of the 89th Tank Battalion and being relocated to Masan. He explains that his first duties were performing communications relay on a hill near Masan, Korea.

Robert Whited

Two Big Things

Robert Whited recalls being reassigned to Camp Pendleton following a typhoon that devastated Guam in January 1950. By July 1950, his unit was sent to Korea to "help plug the gap". He initially believed he was going to Japan, but things had turned crucial in Korea so they were shipped directly to Korea. During conflict near the Naktong Bulge, he recalls his unit capturing a North Korean officer who had two things to say.

Royal Vida

Most of the Time They were Running

Royal Vida describes the situation in Taejon after the capture of General Dean. He makes note about his assignment to an all black regiment and the drastic shift from being stationed in Japan to their assignment in Korea. During the withdrawal, he discusses one time when the Integrated 159th Field artillery was the only regiment able to hold the position. He briefly reflects on the experience of being assigned to an integrated unit. He recounts the confusion and experience of constantly moving and the sadness he felt while watching the Korean people fleeing from the battle.

Sterling N. McKusick

Injured, Hospitalized, and Returned to Korea

Sterling N. McKusick remembers how during the trip down the mountain from the Jangjin (Chosin) Reservoir that it got dark quickly, and they were ordered to travel without lights. He recalls how about nine miles down the road, they encountered a Chinese roadblock in the area of a frozen creek bed. He explains his truck was sandwiched between other trucks ahead of and behind his when the Chinese started shooting. He describes how his truck was hit and how part of the engine destroyed. He shares he was wounded during this time and recalls spending a long cold night in a ditch before things subsided as the Chinese did not like to fight in daylight. He eventually spent six or seven weeks in a hospital in Yokosuka, Japan, before returning to his unit to finish out his time in Korea.

Steven G. Olmstead

Writing Letters Home

Steven Olmstead talks about writing letters home. He mentions that there were not opportunities to write when on the front lines and that while he received letters from family and friends, he did not write back very often. He recalls a fellow marine asking his permission to write to his sister and shares that the marine and his sister were eventually married.

Theodore “Tex” Malcolm

Arriving in Korea

Tex Malcolm reports on being shipped to Korea in late 1950 after stopping in Japan. He describes the cramped quarters aboard the ship with soldiers getting seasick. He remembers landing at Pusan on December 12, 1950, on his 21st birthday.

Arriving at Masan

Tex Malcolm recalls arriving at Masan by train and he assisted other Marine reserves out of their LST, but they looked terrible. He reports traveling to a tent division with fox holes but no buildings. After being assigned to Baker Company, 7th Marines, Tex Malcolm recounts volunteering to shoot the 3.5 guns to protect the command staff.

William “Bill” F. Beasley

Midnight Requisition-We Had Two Christmas Dinners

William "Bill" Beasley describes being transferred to the Chosin Reservoir. He describes being transported by train from Pusan to Masan (Bean Field). He explains that next to their train was an Army loaded with provisions and food, which is known by the Marine's as the "Midnight Requisition". He explains how they had Thanksgiving Dinner but had to replace all of those supplies that they used.