War Dawgs

James Livingston, Franklin D R Kestner

Description

This is the second book in an ongoing trilogy about the military career of a remarkable soldier and officer. The first book, “To the Last Man!” Kulbes’ Mongrels at the Chosin Reservoir, described D Company of the 10th Combat Engineers during the icy ordeal at the Chosin Reservoir and their against-all-odds withdrawal to Pusan.

During the month of November 1950, 350,000 Chinese troops quietly joined forces with a nearly defeated North Korean People’s Army. On November 28, the two armies initiated a surprise counter-attack against combined South Korean, American, and United Nations’ forces so confident of victory that their northern advance had been labeled the “Home By Christmas Offensive.” The undetected build-up of forces in those snowy peaks and canyons was a remarkable military feat. Equally remarkable was the subsequent defense and evacuation from Hungnam to Pusan by the 7th and 5th Marines, to which Kulbes’ Mongrels had been temporarily attached.

By the time the Mongrels arrived at Hamhung, inside the perimeter held by General Soule’s Third Division, they had suffered more than 50% casualties. Their daily reports had been lost in the chaos of battle, however, and for too long, they were not recognized for their role at the Chosin. Their status as a temporarily “lost” company, combined with their cocky attitude, created ongoing friction with headquarters. As a result, they were assigned to demolition of docks and ordnance and had to watch as units they had fought alongside debarked for the security of Pusan. In reality, that assignment was probably both a punishment for their cocky attitude as well as recognition of their notable efficiency as combat engineers. “War Dawgs” was General Soule’s nickname for the Mongrels.

Sujets

• Histoire
• Sr.
• Military
• Korean War
• History
• SR

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 1998
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781618585653
• Langue: English

Extrait

TURNER PUBLISHING COMPANY 412 Broadway P.O. Box 3101 Paducah, Kentucky 42002 - 3101 [phone]
 
Copyright © 1998 Franklin D. R. Kestner, Sr. and James Livingston
Publishing Rights: Turner Publishing Company This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced without the written consent of the author and publisher.
 
Turner Publishing Company Staff: Editor: Bill Schiller Designer: Shelley R. Davidson
 
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 98-60840
9781618585653
 
Printed in the United States of America. Additional copies may be purchased directly from the publisher. Limited Edition.
 
Photos Provided Courtesy of: Leland Lipscomb, Larry Lindgren, Thomas Ortega, and Bob Henley.
Table of Contents
Title Page Copyright Page Dedication PROLOGUE Chapter 1: - FIRST COMMAND Chapter 2: - FIRST COMBAT Chapter 3: - IN A VILLAGE, NAMELESS TO PROTECT THE GUILTY Chapter 4: - SOUTH OF THE HAN Chapter 5: - BLACK WATER, BLACK SKY Chapter 6: - THE CRUELEST MONTH Chapter 7: - CROSSING THE SAME RIVER TWICE Chapter 8: - EAST OF WONJU Chapter 9: - COMBAT STRIPES Chapter 10: - JOHNNY Chapter 11: - THE DARK ON ME Chapter 12: - HIGH TOWER Chapter 13: - THE PEACE TREATY WITH JAPAN Chapter 14: - IN TROUBLE WITH THE DRAFT BOARD Chapter 15: - THE CHURCH OF THE HAUNTING Chapter 16: - PYONGYANG SUE Chapter 17: - A NOTE ABOUT INFANTRY TACTICS Chapter 18: - BULL DOG SIX, OUT! Chapter 19: - THANKS TO MRS. ELEANOR Chapter 20: - WHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN WHEN WE GET HOME? Chapter 21: - THE MORE THINGS CHANGE Chapter 22: - MEALS, WHEELS AND DOLLAR BILLS WAR DAWG EPILOGUE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
DEDICATION
 
 
This book is dedicated to all my teachers in Kulbes’ Mongrels, especially Lieutenant Colonel Kulbes’, Sergeant Morton, Colonel Rosen, and Major Smith, who taught me leadership and Cornelius Vanderstilt, who taught me faith.
Captain Philip A. Kulbes, Company Commander Company D 10th Engineer (C) Bn.3rd Inf. Div. Korea 1950-1951.

IlLt. Norman R. Rosen, 3rd Plt. Leader, 1950 - 1951.

SFC Cornelius Vandersteldt, 2nd Platoon Co. D 10th Engrs (C) Battalion, Korea 1951-1952.

1/Lt. Geroge E. Smith, 2nd Plt. Leader 1950 - 1951.

17 year old Private Frank Kestner.
PROLOGUE
This is the second book in an ongoing trilogy about the military career of a remarkable soldier and officer. The first book, “To the Last Man!” Kulbes’ Mongrels at the Chosin Reservoir, described D Company of the 10th Combat Engineers during the icy ordeal at the Chosin Reservoir and their against-all-odds withdrawal to Pusan.
During the month of November, 1950, 350,000 Chinese troops quietly joined forces with a nearly defeated North Korean People’s Army. On November 28, the two armies initiated a surprise counter-attack against combined South Korean, American, and United Nations’ forces so confident of victory that their northern advance had been labeled the “Home By Christmas Offensive.” The undetected build-up of forces in those snowy peaks and canyons was a remarkable military feat. Equally remarkable was the subsequent defense and evacuation from Hungnam to Pusan by the 7th and 5th Marines, to which Kulbes’ Mongrels had been temporarily attached.
That story was told from the point of view of seventeen- year-old Private Frank Kestner. He was weeks away from basic training, and mere months away from his childhood in what is called the “Boot Heel” section of southeastern Missouri.
The battles at the Chosin, where he was roughly introduced to combat, have been named among the most savage in military history. D Company was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for its role in that devastating combat. Company commander Captain Kulbes was personally nominated for a Congressional Medal of Honor.
By the time the Mongrels arrived at Hamhung, inside the perimeter held by General Soule’s Third Division, they had suffered more than 50% casualties. Their daily reports had been lost in the chaos of battle, however, and for too long, they were not recognized for their role at the Chosin. Their status as a temporarily “lost” company, combined with their cocky attitude, created ongoing friction with headquarters. As a result, they were assigned to demolition of docks and ordnance and had to watch as units they had fought alongside debarked for the security of Pusan. In reality, that assignment was probably both a punishment for their cocky attitude as well as recognition of their notable efficiency as combat engineers. “War Dawgs” was General Soule’s nickname for the Mongrels.
It was only when he had arrived at the secure perimeter of Pusan, with the horror of the Chosin already behind him, that young Kestner learned the battalion Chaplain had arranged for him to be sent home. The Chaplain’s kind intentions were in response to a policy initiated by Eleanor Roosevelt to return all soldiers under the age of eighteen back to the States. Private Kestner was dedicated to D Company, however, and he found a loophole: he had turned eighteen by the time the orders arrived. He carried his case up the chain of command, finally pleading with the commanding Colonel at Battalion, who countermanded the orders, permitting his return to the Mongrels. He returned to his company with the promotion of Pfc. and was also made assistant squad leader of 1st Squad.

—James Livingston
Chapter 1:
FIRST COMMAND
I was young, immortal and I liked war. I know it’s not politically correct to admit that, but in war, you know exactly who your friends are and who your enemies are. You don’t have to act like you don’t know the difference.
On January 2nd, 1951, Kulbes’ Mongrels were still at Pusan (the Southern tip of Korea) waiting to start north toward Seoul where the Eighth Army was under massive assault. For nearly a week, we had rested and received reinforcements. In a few days, we would return to combat.
I woke in darkness, lit a lantern and dressed. Before leaving for chow, I pushed my M1919 bayonet inside my boot. It was my lifesaver on East Hill, up at the Chosin, and I liked to keep it handy.
Overnight snow had frosted the ground, and there was a thin veneer of ice floating in the slow eddies of the stream beside Dog Company’s bivouac. I looked down at the new stripe on my sleeve. I was a Private First Class and assistant squad leader of First Squad, Second Platoon, Company D of the 10th Combat Engineers. We called ourselves Kulbes Mongrels, after our commander, Captain Kulbes. I was the only member of 1st Squad who made it back from the Chosin, so I was the assistant squad leader to nobody.
On my way to chow, I saw that first squad’s bullet-riddled two and a half ton truck (D-21), had a large whitewashed “X” on the passenger’s windshield, marking her for the scrap heap. That would be the work of the new motor sergeant. I added his name to the list. The Chinese and North Koreans were first on the list. Next, Harry Truman, followed by all members of the U.S. Congress (both houses). Finally, any one else who was uppity, lazy, or lax. The new motor sergeant fit right in.
The mess sergeant said we had fresh eggs, bacon, hot biscuits and home-made milk gravy. I asked for four eggs and four slices of bacon, a double portion of biscuits and gravy, coffee with milk and lots of sugar. After the Chosin, I was down from a hundred, fifty-five to a hundred, thirty-five. Eating on the run will do that to you. I was sopping the last bit of gravy with my last biscuit when Sergeant Morton sat down across from me. “You look frazzled,” he said.

Matthew Bunker Ridgway, General, United States Army.
“I need a haircut, I think.” I’d picked up a lot of gray hair at the Chosin, and it didn’t show as long as I kept it cut short. I had only turned eighteen on December 21 and already, I had the gray-flecked topnotch of a man in his forties.
“I read somewhere that it takes 43 face muscles to frown,” Sarge said, “And only seven, I think, to smile.”
“I need the exercise, Sarge. I’m pretty mad about D-21. The new motor sergeant has marked her for the scrap-heap.”
“Does she run ok?”
“She’s beat up, but she purrs, Sergeant.”
“We’ll check it out later. You’re getting replacements this morning.”
I had a second coffee with canned milk and sugar, then went back to the squad tent. Duty had been easy those last few days while we reorganized. D Company had taken more than 50% casualties when three hundred thousand or so Chinese joined the North Korean forces in late November, 1950.
It had looked for a while like Korea was going to be a Dunkirk, but General Walker had ordered the speedy evacuation of Tenth Corps from the northeast coast, at Hungnam, and incorporated them into Eighth Army, at Pusan, on the extreme southern tip of the peninsula. The remainder of Eighth Army had held a day-to-day defensive perimeter north of Seoul, with minute-by-minute plans for a scorched earth policy and immediate withdrawal south down the peninsula toward Pusan and a full-scale evacuation.
On December 23, with Eighth Army in full-scale retreat toward Seoul, General Johnnie Walker’s jeep driver pulled out of line in a long, slow convoy directly into the path of an oncoming two and a half ton troop truck. A tough, savvy old warrior who mixed it up with his front-line troops, General Walker had begun his career serving under General Pershing in the border skirmishes with Pancho Villa. In fact, on one patrol, he and a young Eisenhower had been struck by the same bolt of lightning. He had fought in World War II and had been in command of Eighth Army since they debarked at Pusan, in September of 1950. It was bitter and ironic that his career would end in a traffic accident.
General Matt Ridgway assumed immediate, aggressive command. He ordered his field commanders to throw away their plans for a withdrawal and to begin planning combined offensive/defensive strategies. A few days later, when he asked one commander to see his plans for a counter-offensive, he was told there were none. The commander was relieved of duty on the sp