The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The "White Tigers" - 8240th Army Unit - Jan. 11th, 2006

VFW Magazine | May, 2002 | Ben S. Malcom

[SAMWolf]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.

.................................................................. .................... ...........................................

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Korean War "White Tigers"

`White Tigers' prowled North Korea: during the Korean War, U.S. Army advisers helped North Korean guerrillas strike the Communists behind enemy lines. Until the 1990s, these missions remained largely unknown. Their members' sacrifices deserve to be widely publicized - Korean War

Perhaps the least-known aspect of the Korean War were the top-secret guerrilla operations conducted in North Korea. For more than 40 years, these missions involving North Korean guerrillas and American advisers deep inside enemy territory remained highly classified.

By the time the war ended in 1953, more than 22,000 guerrillas were fighting the Chinese and North Korean armed forces in a variety of covert actions. They were so secret that few military personnel in Korea knew about them. Even after the war, the missions remained unknown until 1990 when unit records were finally declassified.

Anti-Communist North Korean refugees were formed under the banner of the United Nations Partisan Infantry Forces. They called themselves "donkeys" and were organized into battalions. One of the better known--the 4th Guerrilla Battalion--was nicknamed the "White Tigers." During their existence (January 1951-July 1953), an average of 200 Americans directed the forces from island strongholds. Some of the advisers actually went on raids.



Unconventional warfare operations began Jan. 8, 1951, with a South Korean navy ship patrolling near the Yalu River. The ship discovered more than 10,000 North Korean guerrillas fighting the North Korean People's Army in Hwanghae Province.

Guerrillas were taking over some of the North Korean islands near the river, but they only had about one weapon per 10 men (Japanese and Russian rifles, and U.S. carbines.) They eagerly requested more weapons, ammunition, food and American advisers to lead and train them.

The U.S. 8th Army immediately recognized that a guerrilla force could wreak havoc on North Korean supply and communication lines. So Col. John McGee was given this responsibility and on Feb. 15, 1951, he slipped into North Korea and met with the guerrilla leaders.



Training an Operative

McGee was a veteran of guerrilla operations in the Philippines and knew how to organize this newfound force. He quickly issued weapons and rice to the leaders. McGee later recalled, "They were a colorful group of fighters ranging in age from youths to elderly men, and were pleased with the supplies. They left rapidly for North Korea in small boats."

A supply base was established on Paengnyong-Do Island, 125 miles behind enemy lines on North Korea's west coast. It had a lengthy beach of hard-packed sand that could accommodate large aircraft up to the size of a C-47. Planes shot up over North Korea could make emergency landings there.

These island bases were used to train guerrillas in intelligence-gathering, demolitions and basic infantry tactics. "Mobile units" went back to the mainland of North Korea, with "base units" conducting amphibious operations.

`ARMY UNITS' CALL THE SHOTS

These special operations were hidden under the umbrella of the 8086th Army Unit. On Dec. 10, 1951, it was absorbed by the 8240th Army Unit. The Far East Command then assumed operational control over the 8240th.



UNITED NATIONS PARTISON FORCES, KOREA
8240th ARMY UNIT
Korean War Partisan Operations
10 December 1951 - 23 September 1953

Another theater-level agency also was set up to coordinate behind-the-lines activities in Korea. It was known as the Combined Command, Reconnaissance Activities, Korea (CCRAK), better known as the 8242nd Army Unit. Lt. Col. Jay Vanderpool, an OSS/CIA vet, took command of the Guerrilla Division, 8240th A.U. in July 1951. These units conducted five separate activities:

* Leopard Base--The control headquarters for 11 guerrilla units operating from the Yalu River south to the Ongin Peninsula. The west coast of North Korea had more than 400 islands used as springboards into the North. A guerrilla force of 10,000 men controlled about 70% of those islands.

* Wolfpack--The control headquarters for 10 units of some 10,000 guerrillas operating from Leopard Base south to Inchon. * Kirkland--Controlled two east coast islands near the mainland of North Korea with about 300 guerrillas.

* Baker Section--An airborne operation that trained North Korean guerrillas to jump behind lines into North Korea to collect intelligence and conduct operations. Since there were not enough C-47s available for even one practice jump, the first drop was a combat jump; more than 1,000 paratroopers were dropped into North Korea.

* Tactical Liaison Office--This was a cover name for the North Korean "line crossers." There were approximately 25 guerrillas assigned to each U.S. infantry division. They were trained by special forces, and on a given night seven to nine guerrillas put on North Korean uniforms, complete with weapons and ID cards, and secretly went into North Korea.



Before a Boat Operation

They gathered intelligence and slipped back through the lines. They told North Korean soldiers they were long-range patrols. Giving the enemy cigarettes, lighters and jewelry supplied by special forces lessened suspicions, too. This operation was very successful, running two years without being compromised.

One U.S. study of partisans concluded: "In battle, they exerted every effort to bring out their wounded ... Capture by the enemy is a fate to be avoided at all costs. Three instances were cited of officers committing suicide rather than being taken ..."

Heroism was never in short supply. A "donkey" commander reported of adviser Master Sgt. Roy E. Meeks and his rescue of fellow squad members: "He was completely surrounded by the enemy. [Yet] he threw hand grenades and fought until he could get out of there."

[SAMWolf]

ENTER THE 10TH SFG

The 10th Special Forces Group (SFG), in March 1953, sent 75 officers and NCOs to Korea to reinforce the 8240th. However, they were broken up and assigned as individual replacements.



UNITED NATIONS PARTISAN INFANTRY, KOREA
8240th ARMY UNIT
Korean War Partisan Operations
23 September 1953 - 30 April 1954

Special Forces teams, eager to engage in direct combat with the enemy, were sorely disappointed. Assigned to static partisan training positions, their skills were never really put to the test. An additional 126 men arrived after the war ended in the fall of 1953 and their A teams remained intact.

Guerrillas played a significant role in rescuing U.S. pilots shot down over North Korea. The 5th Air Force reported that of 93 pilots shot down between July 1950 and January 1952 who managed to evade capture, 29 were rescued by guerrillas.

Col. Albert Schinz, for example, was shot down on May 1, 1952, in a raid over MIG Alley. He bailed out and survived on a deserted island for 37 days before being rescued. His story was covered in Life magazine in the July 28, 1952, issue.



PARTISAN HONOR MEDAL
Awarded to Korean and American personnel who served with the 8086th and 8240th Army Units

Guerrillas conducted 4,445 actions in North Korea, inflicting 69,000 casualties (dead and wounded). They captured 950 prisoners and 5,000 weapons, destroyed 2,700 vehicles, 80 bridges and 3,800 tons of food. But this was not without cost. Guerrilla dead totaled 3,189, and at least four American advisers were KIA.

[SAMWolf]

Airborne Rangers Set The Standard.
BY ROBERT W. BLACK

Army special operations units were not the only elite outfits in Korea. During the war, 18 Ranger companies were formed, 17 of which were airborne. The 8213th Army Unit (8th Army Ranger Company) was created with volunteers from units in the Far East. It fought in the drive to the Yalu.



Retired Colonel Ben S. Malcom

Airborne Ranger companies, numbered 1 to 8, were the select few that remained of the thousands of volunteers from the 11th and 82nd Airborne divisions.

Companies numbered 9 to 15 and A and B were the pick of the various infantry divisions. These men were four-time volunteers (the Army, the airborne, the Rangers and combat). They were America's original Airborne Rangers--the first men to wear the black and gold Ranger tab. Assigned at Army level, they were attached on the basis of one 112-man Ranger company per infantry division.

Seven Ranger companies fought in Korea: the 1st through 5th and 8th Airborne Rangers and the 8213th A.U. (8th Army Rangers). At a time when United Nations forces numbered more than 500,000, fewer than 700 of these Rangers were fighting to the front of every American Army division engaged in the war.

They participated in the first defeat of Chinese forces; they raided and destroyed a North Korean division headquarters; and they made the first combat jump by Ranger units. In the Eastern sector, they were first across the 38th Parallel on the second drive north. One 33-man Ranger platoon fought a between-the-lines battle with two Chinese reconnaissance companies, and 70 Chinese were killed. The Rangers lost two killed and three wounded, all of whom were brought back to friendly lines.



The Spook pin was made as a humorous gage for the Korean Special Operation personnel. They wore in unofficially under their collars. This pin gained in popularity very quickly. They are very rare. This is an original from the Paul Christensen Collection.

Wherever they went throughout the Army, the Rangers of the Korean War set the standard for excellence. From their example came the desire to spread Ranger leadership throughout the Army and the continuation of the Ranger tradition. These Rangers contributed six campaign streamers and two Presidential Unit Citations to Ranger honors.

The Ranger companies were deactivated in Korea by Aug. 1, 1951, with most members reassigned to the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. Some 137 Rangers were killed in combat in Korea.

Additional Sources:

www.amazon.com
www.meatnpotatoes.com
www.koreanwarmemorial.sd.gov
www.thecitizen.com
www.norbay.com

[SAMWolf]

EXTRACT FROM THE ARMY AWARDS BRANCH LETTER

"After thorough and careful review of your request we have determined that the CIB CAN NOT be awarded to all members of the 8240th Army Unit. Historical records on the mission and operations of the 8240th revealed that the unit performed a variety of intelligence and special operations functions. The unit was responsible for raising, training, equipping and leading Korean guerrilla forces, including five partisan infantry regiments and one partisan airborne infantry regiment. Further, the information shows the functions of the unit are more comparable to our current Special Forces than to traditional infantry units.

Since there is information that members of the unit participated in active ground combat against enemy ground forces this office WILL CONSIDER, on a case-by-case basis, requests for the award of the CIB from individual members of the 8240th Army Unit.

Individual requests may be submitted to the:

U.S. Army Military Awards Branch
Department of the Army
U.S. Total Army Personnel Command
Alexandria, VA, 22332-0471

Signed: LTC Deborah W. Ivory, Ch. MIl. Awards Br.

[SAMWolf]

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LINK TO FOXHOLE THREADS INDEXED by PAR35

[Darksheare]

"they raided and destroyed a North Korean division headquarters;"

THAT had to make those guys popular with the enemy.

[snippy_about_it]

Sarge is always willing to help dig so....

"Fall In" to The FReeper Foxhole

It's Wednesday. Good Morning Everyone.

If you want to be added to our occasional ping list, let us know.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Falling in! How are you, Snippy?

[snippy_about_it]

Doing well Colonel, and you?

[snippy_about_it]

This is a post and run. Time for some much needed sleep!

[The Mayor]

January 11, 2006

Don't Bother Me

Read:
Revelation 3:14-22

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. —Revelation 3:20

Bible In One Year: Genesis 27-28; Matthew 8:18-34

As a young man, C. S. Lewis abandoned his childhood faith in God and declared his belief in no religion, saying they were all myths created by man. Years later, after acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God and his Savior, Lewis wrote of that time in his book Surprised By Joy. He said:

"No word in my vocabulary expressed deeper hatred than the word interference. But Christianity placed at the center what then seemed to me a transcendental Interferer. There was no region even in the innermost depth of one's soul which one could surround with a barbed wire fence and guard with a notice 'No Admittance.' And that was what I wanted; some area, however small, of which I could say to all other beings, 'This is my business and mine only.'"

Every person has the right to say to God, "Leave me alone. Don't bother me." But it is the Lord's right to pursue us with His persistent mercy. To the self-satisfied church at Laodicea, the risen Christ said: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20).

By His grace, the Lord keeps knocking, ready to fill our lives with His love. —David McCasland

What joy and blessings we can know
When Jesus comes to dine!
He brings His riches and His love
And fellowship divine. —Branon

God's love is persistent but never pushy.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Accepted By God

[w_over_w]

Morning Glory Folks~

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountain, Tennessee

Bump for a later read . . . xoxoxo

[Diver Dave]

Great Read, SAM.

We had a story in the paper this morning about a Korean War soldiers remains being identified.

A Promise Kept

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, snippy and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole.

[texianyankee]

Good Wednesday morning to everyone.
Great story about the White Tigers. I never heard that story before. I love it when I learn something new.
Thanks!

[Mr Ducklips]

Thanks, SAMWolf. I've been missing these things.

[GailA]

Good morning Sam, Snippy and everyone.

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone!

[Professional Engineer]

Good morning ladies and gents. Flag-o-Gram.

Today's Bonus Feature.

[Soaring Feather]

Mornin' PE.


That's my girl, working and eating at the same time.

[Professional Engineer]

Hi miss Feather.

Bittygirl had a blast using a wrench!

[Soaring Feather]

She does not need a Diva Tool Kit in Pink, she uses dear old dads.


LOL

Too cute.

[SAMWolf]

They would bury his remains with their parents and brother at the military cemetery in San Bruno — not left in some Godforsaken pit halfway around the world.

That's the line got to me. Thanks for the link DD.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Feather.

A regular visitor to our feeder each morning :-)

[SAMWolf]

I ran across the story by accident, never heard of them before either.

[SAMWolf]

I could live there. :-)

[snippy_about_it]

A promise kept.


Wonderful story Dave, thanks for posting the link.

[SAMWolf]

Is Bitty Girl holding a ratchet wrench? Starting her out young huh?

[DollyCali]

two great pix.. your little sweetie & a civil war (I think) reinactment. I have hundered from a great 2 day event I attended summer 2004. thanks for your daily flag-o-grams

[Professional Engineer]

Craftsman 3/8" drive, with a 7/16" socket.

Argh, argh, argh

[Professional Engineer]

Yes, on the re-enactment. Alfa6 might be able to give you some detail

[Professional Engineer]

No pink tools allowed!

[Soaring Feather]

I am waiting.... holding my breath... for the next Blackberry Hiccup arrival. ;)

Roger Wilco!

[Professional Engineer]

No Blackburpy today.

[weldgophardline]

Falling in and surprise no rocks this time. Glad to see you all. My son is set to depoly in March with the 1/7 Marine Div. He is now Stationed at Twenty Nine Palms.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Good to see you both.

[PAR35]

Good evening to you all. I can't figure out if the migratory birds around here are still heading south for the winter, or if they've come back this far because it is so warm. Now if we could just get a foot or two of rain....

[snippy_about_it]

Maybe they are just hanging around til it gets colder. :-)

We could send you that rain. I think we have the last 24 out of 25 days worth of rain and no stopping in sight!

[snippy_about_it]

Good evening Victoria.

[snippy_about_it]

I know you and the Mrs. must be just a little nervous yet proud of your son. Thank him for us and of course you know if he ever needs anything we can round it up for him here at the Foxhole. Prayers for his safety.

[snippy_about_it]

God Bless our Polish allies.

:-)

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Gail. How goes things?

[snippy_about_it]

Thank you and good evening Mayor.

[snippy_about_it]

xoxoxo

[snippy_about_it]

((Hugs))

Any rain out your way yet?

[snippy_about_it]

I learn something new every time a story is posted here. Good to see you.

[snippy_about_it]

Hi there Mr Ducklips.

[SAMWolf]

Nice buckle :-)

[SAMWolf]

I have to admit I do miss doing them, although I feel like all of the sudden I have all this "free" time.

[SAMWolf]

Hi vox_PL. The Poles are doing good work over in Iraq, glad to hear they decided to stay.