Jan/Feb 2008 - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

HILL 342 rom page 57
76
Temple outbuilding immediately at NE base of Hill 342, which runs up to
the upper left
and 7 months, at Hill 342. It looks so insignificant, almost like a
geophysical afterthought, something left over after the cataclysmic
upheavals that created the more formidable mountains a
few kilometers further north. They hovered over Hill 342 in
much the same way a bully threatens the defenseless. Then, as
now, the mountains dominate your view and the foothills look
almost like an afterthought.
And yet, it was not so in February 1951, for those formidable
mountains were barriers to movement of an attacking CCF army
funneling into the valleys and lower ridgelines emanating therefrom.
It was along these ridge lines and the encompassed valley
through which the main road from Hohensong to Wonju ran that
made Hill 342 so critical. For it was the dominant piece of terrain
controlling the last possible defensive barrier protecting the
Hohensong/Wonju road and the open plains around Wonju and
the major road and rail networks emanating therefrom.
Hill 342 and its companion parallel ridgeline hills of similar
elevation along the Chipyongni/Wonju railroad were all that
stood between the Chinese (CCF) and their strategic goal of taking
Wonju. And, by so doing, they would have achieved a breakthrough
and the ability to enfilade the UN lines and exposing UN
rear areas that were undefended.
Thus Hill 342, otherwise so insignificant that you’d not even
notice it, became a place whose soil turned red with the spilled
blood of American and Chinese soldiery who fought for it over a
three-day period.
Why? When the battle for Wonju began the CCF committed
the 39th, 40th, and 42nd PLA Armies and the NK II and V Corps
to take Wonju. The U.S. X Corps’ MLR was anchored on the left
at Chipyongni and on the right adjoining the ROK III Corps.
The then MLR was almost 15 miles north of Wonju. The CCF
Our escort (LtCol Yung) and me at the Temple grounds. NE slope of Hill
342 is behind me.
encircled and swarmed around X Corps positions at Chipyongni
and Hohensong held by 23rd and 38th Inf. They broke through
the ROK III Corps, causing it to withdraw to positions south and
east of Wonju. However, the 23rd held Chipyongni, though encircled
and cut off.
The 38th lost Hohensong and exfiltrated back to the ridgelines
overlooking Wonju, where it was reorganized and took positions
to the left of the 187th, which by then had taken these foothills
from the CCF to the left and right of the Hohensong/Wonju road.
Leaving forces to contain
the bypassed
Chipyongni position, the
CCF poured troops down
the minor ridge lines and
the Chipyongni/Wonju
railroad cut and
Hohensong/Wonju major
road leading to Wonju.
Simultaneously, the ROK
III Corps was pushed back
to positions well south and
east of Wonju. In less than
two days, the CCF offensive
was in sight of Wonju.
Trail from Temple to NE base
of Hill 342 on left. When you
get to the tree line, that’s it!
Can’t go any farther, as it is
all overgrown with thorn
bushes. The slope is almost
at a 45 degree angle.
January-February 2008
The Graybeards