2007 KWVA Election Results - Korean War Veterans Association

quickly dissolved to a familiar pattern. First, American aircraft,
tanks, and artillery would attack the ridge repeatedly
for hours on end, scarring the already barren hillside. Then
the infantry men would climb up the mountain’s rocky
slopes, taking out one enemy bunker after the other by direct
assault. Those who survived the assault were too exhausted
and low on ammunition to hold their positions, thus having to
pull back when the inevitable North Korean counter attack
came.
Numerous counter attacks were conducted at night by
fresh troops that were being sheltered in the neighboring
hills. The intense battles that took place would involve
bombs, bullets, and artillery shells, would be finished with
the use of grenades, trench knifes, and hand to hand combat.
The continuous crawling up the hill only to stumble back
down day after day continued for two weeks, but the 23rd
infantry regiments determination to take the hill was still
strong. Many men were lost in the continuous attacks and
counterattacks, some units of up to company size were wiped
out.
The American employed massive artillery barrages, air
strikes, and tanks in attempts to drive the North Koreans off
the ridge, but the Koreans Peoples Army were extremely hard
to remove from the territory. Finally, on September 27th, the
2nd divisions new commander, Major General Robert N.
Young, called a halt to the attack on Heartbreak Ridge as
American planners reconsidered their strategy.
There were many dramatic events where some died so that
many others would live, as one was recalled when a Hawaiian
man Pfc. Herbert K. Pililauu faced off against a North Korean
Battalion with this Browning Automatic Rifle so that his fellow
soldiers may retreat to safety. His rifle proved very effective
but he eventually ran out of ammunition and began to
throw grenades, and then when he exhausted all of those, he
pulled out his bayonet and fought till he was shot and killed
by the North Koreans.
The spared soldiers were determined to avenge his death
and recaptured the position. They reached the soldier’s body
only to see 40 dead North Koreans around him. He sacrificed
his life to save his comrades, and for that he was awarded the
Medal of
Honor. Although this did not change the situation on
Heartbreak Ridge.
As long as the North Koreans were able to resupply and
reinforce their garrison on the Ridge, it would be nearly
impossible for the Americans to take the mountain. Thus, the
2nd division created a new plan to call a full division assault
on the valleys and hills adjacent to Heartbreak to cut the
ridge off from further reinforcement.
They called the 72nd Tank Battalion to push up the
Mundung-ni Valley west of Heartbreak to destroy enemy supply
dumps near the town of Mundung-ri. But to accomplish
this task, they had to go through a road that could not bear the
weight of a Sherman, and was heavily mined and blocked by
a six foot high rock barricade built by the North Koreans.
So the 2nd divisions Engineer Combat Battalion endured
enemy fire to clear the obstacles and build an improved roadway
using only shovels and explosives. By October 10th,
everything was ready for a raid.
The sudden onslaught of a battalion of tanks took the
enemy by surprise. At this coincidence, the Chinese 204th
division was moving up to relieve the North Koreans on
Heartbreak. The Chinese suffered heavy casualties and for
the next five days, the Sherman tanks roared up and down the
hills, destroying fuel dumps, supply dumps, and destroying
troop concentrations and about 350 bunkers. Therefore, the
Americans were able to surround the area, cutting off any
supplies and reinforcements to the enemy.
Finally, the Americans were able to capture Heartbreak
Ridge, thus ending the battle on October 13. The Americans
and the French suffered greatly, losing 3,700 soldiers and the
North Korean and Chinese armies with over 25,000 soldiers.
In order to prevent such a tragic battle which would lead to
heavy losses for just a small amount of land, Heartbreak
Ridge was the last major offensive conducted by U.N. forces
in the war.
KEEBLE from page 23
hurdle cleared in the worthy fight for Woodrow Keeble, who
valiantly fought for this nation. It is my hope that once this
time limit is waived, that the Department of Defense and
eventually the President will give Keeble the consideration he
is due,” Johnson has said.
Dorgan and Johnson, members of the Senate
Appropriations Committee, pushed to include the provision
in the emergency supplemental appropriations bill, which was
approved today by a House-Senate conference committee
appointed to negotiate a final version of the legislation.
The Pentagon has told the lawmakers that a statute of limitation
prevents the President from awarding the medal to
Keeble, unless he is specifically authorized by Congress.
Their legislation would make clear that the President has the
authority to give final approval for Keeble’s Medal of Honor,
which has already received the endorsement of the Secretary
of the Army and is now due for consideration by the Defense
Secretary. Once passed, the legislation would clear the way
for the Secretary of Defense to send Keeble’s nomination to
the President for approval.
Note that Johnson began working on this case in 2002, as
did his colleague John Thune.
Do any of our members remember “Woody” Keeble or the
circumstances that have prompted the call for the MOH to be
awarded to him? We would welcome any information,
thoughts, etc., that you might have. Please send them to our
office. In exchange, we will keep you apprised of any
progress in the effort to award Keeble the MOH.
As Hawkins said in his conversation on South Dakota
Public Radio, “I think it would be a great honor for our community,
our tribe, the State of South Dakota, and for all of
America to see him get the honor due him.” In fact, it would
be a great honor for all Korean War veterans!
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The Graybeards
May – June 2007