-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! Voice of the Grunt, 1999-10-22-B ============================================== ARTICLE 5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE HARDER LESSONS OF NO GUN RI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By Col. David Hughes, USAF (ret) A lot of ink, most of it from outside wire services, has been spilled over the alleged 'massacre' of South Korean civilians at No Gun Ri Korea, July 26th, 1950 by units of the 7th US Cavalry. Editorials have appeared arguing that since bad things happen in wars, perhaps we should never have fought there in the first place. Well, there are many lessons that came out of that war, and many unreported factors which contributed to that incident at No Gun Ri. There are much broader issues raised by this incident that the press has not commented on. So I will. I think I am qualified to comment about the Korean War, and this particular incident, and what they all mean. For not only did I fight in Korea through some of its bloodiest periods, I was called on years later to analyze for high US officials, why the Chinese intervened there. Even more to the point, I served in the 7th Cavalry Regiment, arriving soon after the events at No Gun Ri, and I have been an active member of the Korean Chapter of the 7th US Cavalry Association, over 950 strong, with whose members of all ranks and backgrounds I have associated for over 6 years. I personally know many of the officers and men who were involved in this incident. I have now talked to over 25 of them, doing my own 'investigation' of what reporters with no military experience have done for the press. This includes one soldier who admits to being the primary machine gunner firing into the tunnels at No Gun Ri. First off, there is no question that hard pressed and nearly disintegrating units of the 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 3 days after entering that war, both under orders, and using their own judgement fired at groups of people in the two culverts at No Gun Ri, killing and wounding an unknown number of them. But whether that was a 'massacre,' or an illegal use of force -- a war crime -- and whether shooting into that culvert was justified by military imperatives, are very different questions. I have my serious doubts it was the crime as alleged. But I will await the outcome of the investigation ordered by the Secretary of Defense before passing my final judgement. Even the number and identity of people killed there is in wide dispute. But I don't have to wait for the results of that investigation to point out that, under recognized military law, there are military conditions under which US forces may fire even though it knowingly will cause civilian casualties. The laws against causing civilian death in war are not absolutes. If they were, the bombing of German and Japanese cities, and targeting of civilian facilities by NATO Air Strikes in Belgrade would have been war crimes. They were not. And many times in Korea, when hordes of civilians, some pushed forward as human shields against our troops, and infiltrated by North Korean soldiers who fired from within refugee columns left no alternative to our units, save death or defeat for our men and units. That included accepting the civilian casualties that went with it. I and every commander of combat units during the severe fighting in Korea knew that, and acted according to military law, battlefield reality, and personal conscience. A respected lawyer in this town, who landed on Omaha Beach as an Infantry commander, was, 6 years later a military lawyer in the 1st Cavalry Division on the ground near No Gun Ri. He largely agrees with me and takes issue with what he calls the 'academic' lawyers who so quickly have branded this, and the orders given, as a war crime. I have determined from the memories of 7th Cav soldiers who were there, and by restudying a detailed history of the 7th Cav in Korea by a Company Commander whom I knew, and who was in that unit at the time, that the military situation justified extraordinary measures for the survival of the whole command. Our troops were on the verge of another Bataan like catastrophe. Hordes of refugees mixed in with North Korean infiltrators who themselves were violating the laws of war as a matter of high policy, gravely threatened our forces. The second point is that the condition of readiness of the US Army, both in Japan on occupation duty, and in the US, was so poor, caused by the willy nilly cuts made by Congress after World War II, that it was a crime to throw such ill prepared, poorly equipped green troops into a combat against what was then a powerful, trained, and modernly equipped invading Army. Gen. MacArthur may have been overly confident we could beat the North Koreans, but the 1st Cavalry Division was a hollow shell of what it had been in the South Pacific. And a parsimonious Congress had refused modernization and improvement of our fighting equipment. Our soldiers were killed shooting ineffective rocket launchers at modern Soviet tanks. The Company at No Gun Ri was fired on with impunity by just such a Russian tank. The combat training of the units in Japan was very poor, partly because we did not want to damage the land of a recovering Japan. Today environmentalists have made combat training, even on our federally owned bases, ever more difficult. We paid for that set of priorities in blood the first two months of the Korean War. The troops were also in bad physical condition. That, however, was the clear fault of Army commanders in Japan. Which, as today, reflects on our efforts to recruit and retain the very best officers and NCOs in time of peace. Something we neglect at our peril. The invasion of Korea was a total surprise to the US and UN. As was the invasion of Kuwait. We keep kidding ourselves that, since the Berlin Wall came down, there can be no other such surprises. Or that we can meet them all, and lower our guard, and disperse our forces. All on the cheap. That is a fool's paradise. When I read editorials saying, in effect, that we should have let South Korea fight its own battles, and not have shed American blood, young journalists of today are probably unaware that our government deliberately denied tanks, heavy artillery, and modern aircraft to the South Korean Army after we pulled our troops out after the free elections of 1948. They could not have defended themselves after North Korea had built up -- which our poor intelligence services, because they too had been gutted, failed to detect. If we are going to let countries friendly to ourselves fight their own battles, then we had either best not supply them at all, and let them fall under the control of more aggressive nations with no such scruples as we have. Or else we should properly support them. We can't have it both ways while also expecting to trade and move freely across the world. "Freedom Is Not Free," reads the inscription on the Korean War Memorial in Washington. A Memorial that neither glorifies our victories in war, as does the Iwo Jima monument, nor displays a nation feeling sorry for itself, as the Vietnam Memorial seems to say to me. And I fought there too in the Infantry. The silent, larger than life, steel soldier figures marching forward forever doing their thankless jobs at the Korean Monument, in our most Forgotten of Wars, perfectly portrays what we did in Korea, without fanfare or failure. Reasoning, about where we come to the defense of others taken to a logical conclusion, would have been better for us to have capitulated at the peace table when Stalin was ready to turn all of Korea into a communist state. We should have let Saddam Hussain's invasion of Kuwait stand. And if China threatens Taiwan, we should turn our back. Instead, we stood for letting the people of South Korea, who had been oppressively occupied by Japan, determine their own destiny, by democratic means. So the 38th Parallel compromise was reached, resulting in a grim, belligerent and impoverished dictatorship in the North, but 46 years of ever more representative and independent democracy and prosperity in the South. My daughter in law, who now teaches at the Air Force Academy, came from Communist China. Her parents were respected doctors in the Red Army there, trying to save lives north of the Yalu River while I, in the 7th US Cavalry south of it, were sending them battlefield patients in the bitter winter fighting of 1950. Ironic, isn't it? When I visited Ha Ning's aged parents in Dalian, China, and we discussed that war, I told Col Zhou that I thought China had made a big mistake in pushing us back out of North Korea after we defeated the North Korean Army. He wanted to know why. Because, I said, the United States is more generous and successful with its defeated enemies -- such as Germany and Japan, than it is to its friends, such as England. Had we stayed in North Korea, it would be today as prosperous as South Korea, and not a dangerous basket case which China has to help feed, and prevent from starting a nuclear war. He didn't have much to say. We paid the price of 54,000 American dead, and 8,000 still missing in action, for the freedom and prosperity of South Korea, including that of the 30 claimants for compensation for No Gun Ri. I do not think we owe them any more than we have already paid in blood and treasure. We probably should pull out of Korea, but remain ready to go back in. Being sure, unlike the uncertain trumpet we blew in 1950, that potential enemies know loud and clear we do not let free nations come under their heel. Unlike many editorial writers, I think the Korean war was fully worth the price we paid. I am proud that Hill 347 that I walked off of on October 7th, 1951 48 years ago today, with our handful of Company K, 7th Cavalry, survivors after our final battle before the truce, is still part of the line of freedom. My grandsons born of both Chinese and American ancestry, will be taught why I think it was worth it. I would hope American newspapers take such a wider, educational view of the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War when it comes round next June 25th. It will be a time for younger Americans to relearn some very old lessons. The Harder Lessons of No Gun Ri. ==================================================== ARTICLE 6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MILITARY DOWNSIZING A SPECIAL PENTAGON REPORT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alert Soldier As a result of the reduction of money budgeted for department areas, we are forced to cut down on our number of personnel. Under this plan, Senior Staff Personnel will be asked to go on early retirement, thus permitting the retention of the junior enlisted and junior officer personnel who represent our future personnel at this military. Therefore, a program to phase out older personnel by the end of the current fiscal year, via retirement, will be placed into effect immediately. This program will be known as SLAP (Sever Late Aged Personnel). Employees who are SLAPPED will be given the opportunity to look for jobs outside the company. Provided they are SLAPPED, they can request a review of their employment records before actual retirement takes place. This phase of the operation is called SCREW (Survey of Capabilities of Retired Early Workers). All employees who have been SLAPPED or SCREWED may file an appeal with the upper management. This is called SHAFT (Study by Higher Authority Following Termination). Under the terms of the new policy, an employee may be SLAPPED once, SCREWED twice, but may be SHAFTED as many times as the company deems appropriate. If an employee follows the above procedures, he/she will be entitled to get HERPES (Half Earnings for Retired Personnel's Early Severance) or CLAP (Combined Lump sum Assistance Payment) unless he/she already has AIDS (Additional Income From Dependents or Spouse). As HERPES or CLAP are considered benefit plans, any employee who has received HERPES or CLAP will no longer be SLAPPED or SCREWED by the company. Management wishes to assure the younger employees who remain on board that the company will continue its policy to train employees through our Special High Intensity Training (SHIT). This company takes pride in the amoun t of SHIT our employees receive. We have given our employees m ore SHIT than any company in this area. If any employee feels they do not receive enough SHIT n the job, see your immediate supervisor. YOUR SUPERVISOR IS SPECIALLY TRAINED TO MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVE ALL THE SHIT YOU CAN STAND. ========================================== ARTICLE 7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *******Medal Of Honor******* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VAN WINKLE, ARCHIE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rank and organization: SSGT., USMC, Co. B, 1/7, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Vicinity of Sudong, Korea, 2 November 1950. Entered service at: Arlington, Wash. Born: 17 March 1925, Juneau, Alaska. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a platoon sergeant in Company B, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Immediately rallying the men in his area after a fanatical and numerically superior enemy force penetrated the center of the line under cover of darkness and pinned down the platoon with a devastating barrage of deadly automatic weapons and grenade fire, S/Sgt. Van Winkle boldly spearheaded a determined attack through withering fire against hostile frontal positions and, though he and all the others who charged with him were wounded, succeeded in enabling his platoon to gain the fire superiority and the opportunity to reorganize. Realizing that the left flank squad was isolated from the rest of the unit, he rushed through 40 yards of fierce enemy fire to reunite his troops despite an elbow wound which rendered 1 of his arms totally useless. Severely wounded a second time when a direct hit in the chest from a hostile hand-grenade caused serious and painful wounds, he staunchly refused evacuation and continued to shout orders and words of encouragement to his depleted and battered platoon. Finally carried from his position unconscious from shock and from loss of blood, S/Sgt. Van Winkle served to inspire all who observed him to heroic efforts in successfully repulsing the enemy attack. His superb leadership, valiant fighting spirit, and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of heavy odds reflect the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. ===================================================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VOICE OF THE GRUNT: Administration Volunteers: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ David H. Hackworth, Taker of Names and Spiritual Leader Robert L. McMahon, Publishing Editor, Chief bottle-washer, and former Jarhead Kate Aspy, Contributing Editor and Oracle Barry "Woody" Groton, Assistant Editor and Medicine Man Ed "Edgar" Schneider, Copy Editor, Man of Letters and gentleman: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Larry Tahler, WebMaster Guru and Crack-shot Judy Bowyer Martin, ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Administration and Brains of the Outfit Kyle Elliott, Book List Editor and Most Over-worked *********, MOH Editor and NCOIC =================================================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VOICE OF THE GRUNT: VOLUNTEER EDITORS/SPECIALISTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL Letters and Articles for considered publication are to be submitted to one of these brave, resolute and caring volunteers. **************************************** **************************************** U.S. Army: "Emory Upton", Generalist and Senior Editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] Col. Bruce B.G. 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[EMAIL PROTECTED] Vince, Naval Aviation Needs a new handle ********************************************** ********************************************** U.S. Air Force: Paul Connors, AF Historian, 112B experience also and Senior Editor. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sean Fermat, Fighters, WSO, Weapons, C&C, Generalist [EMAIL PROTECTED] ********************************************** ********************************************* U.S. Marines: Maj. Gordon Todd, USMCR, Communications & Tech., Small Arms Training, Senior Editor, Senior Editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tom Uryga, Naval/Marine Aviation, some USAF Aviation, CAS [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sgt. Jason S. Grabill, USMC, Communications, Enlisted Issues, Generalist [EMAIL PROTECTED] ================================================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EDITOR'S NOTE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ First, see references above. Second, brevity where possible. ************************************************ As a rule of thumb, please try to keep article for possible publication to 700 words or less. We do make exceptions and will not turn away an 800 to 900 word piece, but please make every editing effort not to exceed these guidelines. If you believe you have a story that is longer than 700 words we will consider running it in parts. Keep the piece focused on the story you want to express, not impress upon the reader. Submit in OPEN format only, not as a file attachment. Thanks to everyone for keeping the communication lines open and the ideas flowing. Semper Fi, Bob McMahon [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.freeyellow.com:8080/members7/rlmcmahon ============================================= HACK'S DEFENDING AMERICA COLUMN: Many readers have asked for guidance/help/ideas for getting Hack's column in their local newspapers. See http://www.hackworth.com --- NEWSPAPERS for a few suggestions. Much appreciate your effort. What we're into is getting the word to as many citizens as possible about what is causing our military machine to sputter like an M-4 Sherman tank. Thanks, Bob McMahon ============================================= ARCHIVED DEFENDING AMERICA COLUMNS: You can now find copies of Hack's previous columns at: http://www.hackworth.com These are found in the Defending America Section, under Archived Copies. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GLOSSARY OF MILITARY ACRONYMS: We've had numerous requests from troops in different branches of the military to establish this link so that we will all know how "all you others" talk that talk. Please see below: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/acronym_index.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONGRESSIONAL E-MAIL ADDRESSES Congressional e-mail addresses can be found by going to (www.hackworth.com) and accessing Congressional e-mails at the bottom of the first page. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *****CHRISTMAS BOOK SPECIAL:***** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hack's books About Face*, Hazardous Duty*, The Price of Honor* and The Vietnam Primer would make a great addition to any library. We are offering this special SFTT price. All four books, to include postage and handling for only $75.00. If you were to pick these books up separately, you would pay $96.00. This special is a saving of $20.00. So take advantage of this special while it lasts. Just send the following information with your check (we are not set up to take credit cards) made payable to: Twin Eagles Ink, via snail mail to: Twin Eagles Ink Attn: Book Orders P.O. 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