Pacifica Military History Free Sample Chapters.pmd

Free Sample Chapters 483
he had to be transferred in open sea by breeches buoy to a destroyer for
further delivery to a hospital ship. Bob had done a superior job under
the most adverse conditions from rounding up ammunition at Camp
Pendleton to outfitting the battalion with vehicles and equipment, to
providing logistic support from Inchon to Uijongbu, to embarkation
aboard ship at Inchon. To say that he was not missed would be untrue.
But we had such a wealth of talented officers—the like of which I have
never seen before or since in a single battalion—that his replacement
did not represent a serious problem.
This was not altogether accidental, for the 3/11 command philosophy
stressed the accumulation of talent. Three of my most valuable officers—
Major Callender and Captains Read and McLaurin—had been sought
and acquired at Camp Lejeune. At Camp Pendleton we had scoured the
base for competent officers, artillerymen, and otherwise. At Inchon I
discovered Captain Robert T. Patterson languishing in an inconsequential
job in 4/11 and talked Major Bill McReynolds into giving him to me on
the promise that I would find him a good billet. (As a first lieutenant in
Okinawa, Bob had commanded K/4/15, and I knew his worth.) Of course,
there are situations when an overabundance of talent will cause you
problems, but combat is not likely to be one of them. Officers are killed,
wounded, become sick or are transferred to other units, and having a
capable replacement on hand may be the difference between giving
superior or mediocre support to the infantry.
Once ashore at Wonsan we were somewhat annoyed that Bob Hope
and his touring troupe were already entertaining the servicemen in the
area. We were soon apprised, however, that there was serious business
ahead. On October 27, 3/11 was again attached to the 7th Marines. I
reported to Colonel Litzenberg at his CP, a schoolhouse just north of
Wonsan, and learned that the 7th RCT would spearhead 1st Marine
Division’s dash northward to the Yalu River—the border with China.
Inasmuch as little resistance was expected, we were to make all haste,
with the infantry leapfrogging battalions by truck whenever possible.
As soon as new winter clothing could be drawn from Division, we were
to get under way. A long winter campaign in the mountains of North
Korea was not anticipated, and the skimpy cold-weather gear available