The Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

counter-attack. Sgt. Storms and I dug in
together. After putting pine boughs on the
bottom to keep the cold dampness out we
both crawled into the hole, pulled his
poncho over us and fell fast asleep, I neglected
to mention that throughout the day
we watched B-29’s dropping bombs on
Waegwan from our position on Hill 268.
We could see both the planes and the
bursting bombs. When so many bombs
are dropped together all you hear is a
rumble. After that so much smoke and
dust rise it is almost impossible to see.
The concussion is terrific and the earth
trembles many miles away. Later we discovered
that both sides of the Naktong
River had been hit, a bomb having been
dropped every few feet. The entire area
was gray and all vegetation dead. They
call it “saturation” bombing and it is definitely
effective
That night was very quiet. Not a round
of mortar came in nor a round of tank fire
passed overhead, As the sun broke across
the horizon the men gave a sigh of relief.
The only sign of war was occasional sniping
from 5. The enemy rifles, like the
birds, started “chirping” at sunrise, I left
my hole while Sgts. Storms and Smith
crawled out nearby and began fixing a
nice hot cup of coffee. The smoke curled
up as the coffee bubbled and the sergeants
licked their chops in anticipation.
Suddenly there was a sharp “snap” by
Sgt. Storms’s ear and both sergeants dove
into the hole. An eagle-eyed North
Korean had zeroed in on the smoke and
was determined to have his fun. Both sergeants,
it so happens, were veterans of
the last war and acquainted with the
German and his 88 mm gun. So they were
well versed in the art of drinking coffee in
a prone position in a hole.
Other men in the battalion were less
fortunate. Two machine gunners, who
were sitting in the hole I dug on 2 the day
before, were hit in the head (the only part
of the body exposed) and killed. Another
man was hit in the shoulder and died of
shock. His name was Rodriguez. At
Schofield Barracks (Hawaii) he had a
reputation as a comedian. A New York
Puerto Rican he delighted in putting on a
cowboy suit and acting before an audience.
Another man was hit in the stomach
and died of shock. All these en were
killed by a single sniper. He later was
found, about 75 yards from his targets.
He used a telescopic sight on his rifle
and, after sneaking in close at night, got
himself well camouflaged in a hole.
Before I Company jumped off again
an air strike was called on objective 5.
Six jets arrived and worked it over heavily
with napalm, After this our artillery
worked it over. Then our 81 mortars
behind 2 worked it over along with the 75
recoilless-rifles which provided direct
fire. I Company asked for one of our platoons
to help them and give overhead
support. The 2nd platoon was picked
though it had only 18 men left. So then
the 1st and 2nd combined into one platoon
of 35 men and went to the help of I
Company.
With all, that support I Company
should not have had trouble but we were
fighting a die-hard outfit that kept on to
the last man. Many holes on 4 and 5 were
still occupied. Elements of I Company
became pinned down on 4. At this Sgt.
Cabral, the platoon sergeant of K’s 2nd
platoon and formerly my platoon sergeant
both at Schofield and in Korea, leaped up
from his support position and rushed forward.
Being an old football player he
used the old “pep talk” and, got the the
men moving. Having the tendency of
being hot-headed in a football game and
forget himself, so too he became negligent
in this “game.” A North Korean with
a burp gun leaped out of a hole and, with
one blast, severely wounded Cabral and
killed the man behind him.
Cabral was a big man and they had difficulty
getting him out. When he was
brought to safety a number of men came
near and recognized him. He had a hole
in his right arm big enough to get a whole
hand in. The white tendons in the arm
were showing. He was bleeding heavily
even with a tourniquet
on his arm. His leg also
had several bullets in it
and left a dark reddish
spot on his fatigues.
All of us thought he
was going to die and I
believe he thought so
too. He asked me to
come close, then
grabbed my hand in a
strong clammy grasp.
“Lieutenant,” he said.
“I was no good at Schofield. I caused you
a lot of trouble.” Then his voice weakened
and, almost in a whisper, he said,
“Tell them I was a good soldier, Sir.”
Cabral was given blood plasma on the
spot and this saved his life, he was carried
down the mountain and they say he
smiled on the way. We later learned that
doctors even saved his arm.
By noon I Company had cleared up the
remaining enemy resistance. What few of
the enemy had decided not to stay and
fight had taken off down the mountainside.
Position 5 was simply covered with
enemy holes. The top of the knoll was
completely black from napalm. About 50
burned bodies lay on and around that
black spot. Some were in holes while others
looked as though they hay been
caught in the open while running. Outside
the burned area were many bodies of men
that had probably been killed by artillery,
mortar or grenades. In many cases the
body was in several pieces or perhaps
half a head was shot away and all you
saw was a bright crimson mass that a doctor
would probably call a brain, Weapons
were scattered about in all directions.
Many of the enemy even left their civilian
whites behind. The whole hill was full of
shell holes; yet there were many fox
holes left untouched by our heavy support
fire.
Our own weapons and dead lay
around, Most of our dead were immediately
covered. Those who had been killed
the day before and left over night had
been stripped of much clothing. As one
glanced about he could see piles of
enemy weapons and piles of our own
ammunition. A 3.5 rocket launcher lay
near a path. Farther on was an M-1.
Helmets with bullet holes and empty
mortar boxes were everywhere. The fight
was over and it was now time to police
Other men in the battalion were less fortunate.
Two machine gunners, who were sitting in the
hole I dug on 2 the day before, were hit in the
head (the only part of the body exposed) and
killed. Another man was hit in the shoulder
and died of shock.
Page 58
The Graybeards