Vote! Vote! Vote! - Korean War Veterans Association

PFC Rogers prepares to salute Maryville City Council members for their efforts in getting the bridge dedicated
...the dedication of the Cusick Street Bridge provides some long overdue recognition
to the Korean War veterans who fought so valiantly to ensure that the people of South
Korea could live in relative peace and freedom.
Dr. Tom Kim addresses attendees at Cusick Street Bridge ceremony, as Maryville’s Mayor, Joe
Swann, looks over the speaker’s left shoulder (Leroy Rogers is at Dr. Kim’s right)
A remembrance
By Arnie Hansen©
“Retreat? We’re simply attacking in a different
direction!”
........................Gen. Oliver P. Smith, USMC
The entire First Marine Division was
surrounded and there was only one
way out: a narrow, winding, dirt
and gravel road flanked by frozen mountains
and precipitous gorges. It was the
route they had taken to conquer North
Korea, all the way to the Chosin Reservoir
near the Chinese border. Now, just about
two weeks after Thanksgiving, it was the
same route they must use to break through
the enemy army which had recently, without
warning, attacked the Division in
screaming, bugle-blowing hordes.
Just yesterday, Col. ‘Chesty’ Puller had
made the rounds of this compound, giving
out last minute orders to the officers of
various units of the First Regiment. One
of guys in the motor pool asked him if it
was true that we were surrounded. He
replied in the affirmative, and added “. .
.but at least we know where the enemy
is!”
The escape was planned in a leapfrog
fashion, with the northernmost units leaving
first. It had begun with the 7th Marines
and their support groups fighting their
way out of Yudam-ni, heading south
through a fierce battle at Toktong Pass, to
the next perimeter at Hagaru-ri where the
5th Marines were dug in and engaged in
hand-to-hand combat. Eventually, both
regiments trekked through the ever-tightening
perimeter at Koto-ri being held by
the 1st Marines, who by this time, were
beginning to refer to themselves as the
“Last” Marines.
It was an eerie sight, almost surreal,
with the troops slogging along in their
hooded parkas and mickey-mouse boots.
They walked in a single column on each
side of the road, while all the tanks, trucks,
howitzers, weapons carriers and the ubiquitous
jeeps took up the center, all grinding
along in low gear. If you ever wondered
how large a Marine Corps division
is, just watch as one lumbers by you,
seemingly forever—thinking you’re going
to be one of the last in line and might not
make it out at all.
Continued on page 49
31
The Graybeards
March – April 2009