The Graybeards - Korean War Veterans Association

BOOK REVIEW from page 9
the contributions made by combat support
units and others to the mission. As the narrative
progresses the whys of battlefield
decisions become evident with the examination
of the influence of national policies,
protracted truce negotiations, a fledgling
South Korean democracy, and the evolving
American military policy of active defense,
providing painful lessons for America’s
future struggles. This book pays tribute to
the greatest testing ground of U.S. soldiers’
resolve since Valley Forge.
The Beginning
Then, ominously, on 22 March the CCF
began intensifying artillery and mortar fire
across the division front, registering and
concentrating primarily in the areas of Old
Baldy and Pork Chop. Because of the
increase in artillery fire across the entire
division front, especially in the vicinity of
Old Baldy and Pork Chop, Able and Baker
Companies, 1st Bn,, 31st Inf. Regt., which
had been in reserve with the battalion, were
moved to forward assembly areas on the
night of 21 March and prepared to counterattack
or to reinforce the two threatened
outposts. The two companies returned to the
regimental reserve area during the daylight
hours of the twenty-second, while Charlie
Company of the 31st remained in a nearby
blocking position.”
The 22 March change-of-command ceremony
for Generals Smith and Trudeau,
and General Trudeau’s assumption of command,
were auspicious for more than one
reason. UN intelligence, coupled with
stepped-up artillery and mortar fire, and the
location and intensity of enemy probes provided
clear indicators of an impending
assault on the 7th Division’s front. Word
had been passed through the chain of command
and in daily intelligence briefings.
The afternoon of 22 March, Gen.
Maxwell Taylor, the Eighth Army commander;
Lt. Gen. Paul W Kendall, the I
Corps commander; General Trudeau; and
Colonel Kern, commander of the 31st
Infantry, discussed the tactical situation.
They decided to relieve, meaning replace, B
Company of the Colombia Battalion, moving
the Colombians’ C Company onto Old
Baldy, during the early morning hours of 23
March. Orders were given to the Columbia
Battalion commander, Lt. Col. Alberto
Ruiz-Novoa, and the 31st Infantry’s Baker
Company commander, Lt. Jack M.
Patteson, to effect the relief by infiltration.
Small groups of Colombians from their
Company C were to move from the MLR
into positions on the outpost. A rifle platoon
from Baker Company of the 31st would
support the Colombians during the relief by
occupying Company C positions vacated as
the small groups moved forward from the
MLR, and as the Company B Colombians
moved off Old Baldy back to the temporarily
manned MLR positions. Thus, as the
relief progressed, the 31st’s Baker
Company rifle platoon was to rotate from
position to position, to the right, in the right
flank of the Colombia Battalion’s MLR sector,
and avoid leaving positions unmanned
while the relief was underway.
(‘The Beginning’ story starts on page 67
and continues 494 pages later. Pages of
heroic deeds and military strategy of The
Battle of Pork Chop Hill will keep you riveted
to this book from beginning to the end.
The history of those that was there is so
detailed that you will feel you know these
brave men and some of you will. Page prior
to page 67 are also very important to understand
the Korean War and the men that
were there. The reviews other then mine are
outstanding and highly rate this book
Publication date: November 2003. 520
pages. 34 photos. 2 maps. 11 illustrations.
Notes. Bibliography. Index. Isbn: 1-59114-
480-9. List price: $29.95. At bookstores,
Online, or direct: Customer Service USNI
Operations Center, 2062 Generals
Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401. Tel: 800-
233-8764 or 410-224-3378, Web Page
.
For interviews or, review copies, contact:
Susan Artigiani, Publicity Manager Naval
Institute Press, 291 Wood Road, Annapolis,
MD 21402. Tel: 410-295-1081, E-mail
Fax: 410-295-
1084.
In England and Europe, contact: Greenhill
Books, Park House 1 Russell Gardens,
London NW11 9NN Tele: 208-485-6314
Web Page .
The book publishing arm of the U.S. Naval
Institute since 1898, please visit online at
www.navalinstitute.org— Editor.)
Wall of Fire
By Dudley J. Hughes
Author
Dudley J. Hughes is a highly respected
geologist whose career is highlighted by
success in exploration and production of oil
and gas. He has been in the forefront of
founding and managing a number of successful
small oil and gas companies operating
in the United States, Canada, and
Australia, in conjunction with his brother,
Dan. He has published a number of scientific
papers and received many honors, including
induction into the Mississippi Business
Hall of Fame. He is a member of the
National Petroleum Council in Washington,
D.C., and is the author of Oil in the Deep
South (University Press of Mississippi,
1993), the early history of the oil business in
Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
When twenty-two-year-old 2nd Lt.
Dudley Hughes received orders to Korea,
while stationed at Fort Bliss in the summer
of 1952, he was not exactly elated but neither
was he surprised. The Korean conflict
had begun on the heels of World War II.
Most of his adult male friends had seen
military service. Some had spent many
months in combat in one war or the other, or
both. His main regret was leaving behind
his beautiful wife, Robbie, after less than
one year of marriage.
Dudley and his twin brother, Dan, also a
second lieutenant, were allowed to serve
together. They arrived in Korea in
December 1952 as replacement officers to
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The Graybeards