.......
Outpost Harry Command Report
"During the period 16 May to 5 June, the 15th Infantry had been relieved of its responsibility for the Outpost Harry sector. When reports from various higher staff sections had been correlated and evaluated, and the higher commanders were assured beyond any reasonable doubt that Outpost Harry was to be attacked by numerically superior Chinese force, it was ordered that the 15th Infantry Regiment, a more experienced and battle tried unit, be made responsible for the Outpost Harry sector no later than the 6th of June. This was accomplished by relieving the 2nd Battalion 65th Infantry, with the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry. The regiment prepared to meet the onslaught of the Chinese.
Following is a physical description of Outpost Harry, for most of the action from 10-18 June centered around this hill. Outpost Harry is situated some 425 yards northeast of the friendly MLR which is on a general southeast-northwest line from the Chorwon Valley to the Kumwha Valley. The hill is approximately 1280 feet high and is locate about 320 yards south, and part of a larger hill mass occupied by the enemy, referred to as Star Hill. The outpost commands a good view of the enemy terrain and his avenues of approach to the MLR position. Since the elevation of the outpost is greater than that of any friendly-held terrain within an area of a mile, the position affords early warning of enemy approach to the main battle line.
The road approach to the outpost from the MLR runs north along an intermittent stream to the rear of the outpost, where the supply point is located. From here, movements to the position must be accomplished dismounted.
The position itself contains a communications trench which runs from the supply point forward some 315 yards to the forward observer bunker on the northernmost slope. Here the trench joins another trench which makes a complete circle around the forward position of the outpost; this position of the outpost is referred to as The Loop. Approximately 80 yards to the rear of The Loop, along a finger of the ridge running to the right side of the outpost, an additional trench extends approximately 110 yards. This finger is mutually supporting with The Loop position and helps protect the probable avenues of approach into position. The left side of the outpost is steep enough to afford a natural barrier to the attacking enemy force.
Aerial reconnaissance from 1 June to 8 June showed much increased enemy activity. This activity included construction of new anti-aircraft artillery positions, self-propelled gun revetments. artillery positions, supply bunkers, personnel bunkers, a new bridge and road improvements along the enemy main supply routes. An enemy offensive was obvious.
During the same period prior to the attack of 10 June, increased personnel sightings were reported during daylight hours. During the period of darkness, an increasing number of vehicle lights were reported, generally in the rear areas moving south and southwest toward the enemy's main battle positions. Prior to the attack CCF artillery battalions positioned to fire into the 3rd Infantry sector disclosed the enemy to be employing 102mm rocket for the first time in this area.
Also evident during this period was increased enemy counter battery fire on friendly artillery positions. Incoming artillery and mortar rounds reported in the regimental sector increased from an average of 275 per day to 670 per day, during the 4 to 5 days prior to the initial attack on the outpost. During the attacks on Harry, a tremendous volume of rounds fell in all of the regimental sector, including service units and regimental headquarters.
The enemy disposition at this time were not pinpointed; however; it was well known that there were in contact two unidentified battalions of The 22nd Regiment, 74th Division, in the left sector and two unidentified battalions of the 221st Regiment, 74th Division, in the right portion of the 15th regimental sector. The 221st Regiment, 74th Division was located in the sector immediately opposite outpost Harry. Reserves capable of intervention in the outpost Harry action were the two reserve battalions of regiments in contact with the 15th Infantry in the left sector, as well as three battalions of the 220th Regiment, unallocated which were in the 74th Division reserve.
Then began the concentrated enemy drive which was to last for a week and was to cost the Chinese dearly for every engaged minute. At 1950 hours on the night of 10 June the first CCF sightings were reported, and each sighting was engaged by mortar and artillery fire. At 2130 hours an ambush patrol west of OP Dick in the sector of the Greek Battalion reported Chinese numbering approximately 250 coming off Jackson Heights (in front of OP Tom). Mortar and artillery began falling on the 15th MLR as well as outposts Dick and Harry.
After a short but intense fire fight in the vicinity of Outpost Dick, including 2000 rounds of enemy artillery and mortar fire, the enemy withdrew. This was recognized as a possible enemy feint, and all units were alerted. At 2245, while attention was still focused on Outpost Dick, word came that the CCF were in the trenches on Outpost Harry. Bitter hand to hand combat was engaged in by members of Company "K", 15th Infantry and the Chinese were killed or driven from the trenches. The Chinese reinforced their attack four more times during the early morning hours, and as late as 0430 hours 11 June, were in the trench on the northern side of the outpost. In addition to a composite reserve local reserve committed by the 3rd battalion commander, Companies "E" and "C" 15th Infantry were committed to reinforce. One platoon of tanks from Heavy Tank Company, 15th Infantry, and one platoon of infantry were committed to the valley east of Outpost Harry as a diversionary force. This tank-infantry team proved to be of great value in channelizing the enemy attack.
About 0530 the morning of the 11th, a daylight CCF attack in battalion strength was repulsed by elements of the outpost. An hour later, evacuation of dead and wounded began. This continued through the daylight hours. Colonel Russell F. Akers Jr., Regimental commander, reorganized placing Company "B", 15th Infantry, on the outpost, and placing responsibility for defense of this section on the 1st Battalion. The day continued with intermittent shelling of the outpost.
............
On 12 June at 0005 hours the Chinese moving through their own and friendly artillery gained the trenches in the rear of the outpost: hand to hand fighting followed. At 0032 hours the CCF gained the trench on the northern slope of the outpost while friendly forces held the southern trench. Bitter fighting ensued and the CCF made numerous attempts to reinforce through the protective artillery ring. Company "B", 5th Regimental Combat Team, was used to reinforce. One platoon of tanks from Heavy Tank Company, 15th Infantry, and one platoon of infantry were committed to the valley east of Outpost Harry. as a diversionary force and again this force was highly successful in channelizing the enemy attack.
At daybreak, about 0545 hours, the enemy withdrew and all action ceased. Evacuation of the wounded and dead was begun and Colonel Akers took immediate steps to reorganize for renewed attacks, placing Company "A" 5th Regimental Combat Team on the outpost.
On the night of 12 June at 2200 hours, enemy artillery and mortar fire preceded a CCF attack on the outpost which was broken up by friendly defensive fires. CCF were in the trench for a short time but were forced to withdraw. Fighting ceased at 2247. However at 0208 the CCF attacked from the north, northeast, and northwest of the outpost. Bitter hand to hand fighting ensued as the enemy gained the trench on the northern slope of the outpost. Company "L", 15th infantry, reinforced and by 0450 hours the enemy was driven from the trenches and forced to withdraw. A platoon of tanks from the 64th Tank Battalion plus one platoon of infantry were dispatched to the valley east of outpost Harry and operated successfully as a diversionary force. All action ceased with the exception of friendly counter battery and counter mortar fire. Evacuation of wounded and dead was begun, and the regimental commander took immediate steps to reorganize for renewed attacks, placing Company "C", 15th Infantry, on the outpost.
Daylight hours were utilized to clean the trenches and refurbish weapons' positions in anticipation of another attack during the hours of darkness. On the night of 13-14 June, at approximately 0255, enemy artillery and mortar fire preceded a CCF screening action against the outpost from the east and west for the purpose of protecting recovery of their dead. This screening force was broken up by friendly defensive fires. Action became sporadic, with light enemy artillery and mortar fire falling on the outpost and MLR. By 0440 the enemy withdrew and all action ceased. The regimental commander took immediate steps to reorganize for renewed attacks, placing Company "G", 15th infantry on the outpost.
During the night of 14-15 June, at about 0125 the Chinese moving through friendly artillery and defensive fires, gained the trenches on the rear of the outpost, and intense hand to hand fighting followed. At 0222 hours, friendly forces held the outpost with the enemy reinforcing in the bitter hand to hand action. Company "E", 15th Infantry was committed to reinforce. One platoon from Heavy Tank Company and one platoon of Infantry were again dispatched as diversionary force. At 0345 the enemy withdrew and action ceased; the regimental commander again reorganizing for new attacks, placed Company "A", 15th Infantry on the outpost.
The night of 15-16 June was a quiet night on the outpost, and the following morning the regimental commander placed the GEF Battalion in the area of the outpost Harry sector in order that his US battalions, all of which had suffered heavy causalities, could refit and reorganize. During the night of 16-17 June there was no significant action, permitting much needed engineer work on the outpost to be accomplished by Company "P", GEF Battalion and elements of Company "B", 10th Engineer (C) Battalion.
On the night of 17-18 June, the Chinese returned at about 0052 hours, moving through their own and friendly artillery and mortar fire to attack Outpost Harry from the northeast and northwest. The enemy was repelled and forced to withdraw, but stayed in the area. At 0240 the enemy attacked from the north under intense artillery and mortar fire. The CCF gained the trenches of the outpost on the northern slope at 0313. Bitter hand to hand fighting ensued with the enemy making numerous attempts to reinforce through the protective artillery ring. Company "N", GEF Battalion was committed to reinforce. One platoon of tanks from Heavy Tank Company, 15th Infantry Regiment, and one platoon of Greek Infantry were dispatched to the valley east of Outpost Harry as a diversionary force. By 0402 hours the enemy was forced out of the trenches on the outpost, and all action ceased with the enemy withdrawing, having fired 22,000 rounds in support of this attack.
The enemy forces employed against Outpost Harry during the period 10-18 June were tabulated by Intelligence Sections to be substantially as shown in the following table:
10-11 June - A reinforced CCF regiment (Approx. 3,600 CCF)
11-12 June - A CCF regiment (approx. 2,850 CCF)
12-13 June - A reinforced CCF regiment
13-14 June - An estimated 100 CCF
14-15 June - An estimated 120 CCF
15-16 June - Negative
16-17 June - Negative
17-18 June - A CCF regiment.
During this period the entire 74th CCF Division was utilized against this position and at the end of the engagement was considered combat ineffective. Enemy rounds fired in support of their attack during the period 10-18 June amounted to 88,810 rounds over 81 mm size: friendly mortar and artillery units in conjunction with friendly tank fires were 368185 rounds over 81mm size."
(This command report courtesy of Martin Markley)
Additional Sources: www.infantry.army.mil
www.ngb.army.mil
www.korea.army.mil
www.army.mil
www.theforgottenvictory.org
www.homestead.com/92ndafa
On This Day In History
Birthdates which occurred on June 10:
1637 Jacques Marquette, jesuit/missionary founder (Chicago)
1706 John Dollond owner of 1st patent for achromatic lens
1735 John Morgan American physician-in-chief of Continental Army
1836 Yamaoka Tesshu Japanese swordsman, master of kendo
1895 Immanuel Velikovsky writer (Worlds in Collision)
1904 Frederick Loewe composer/partner of Learner
1910 Howlin' Wolf [Chester Arthur Burnett], Blues Genius (Evil, Big City Blues)
1911 Ralph Kirkpatrick Leominster Mass, harpsichordist
1913 Wilbur J Cohen 1st employee of Social Security System
1914 Saul Bellow author (Mr Sammler's Planet)
1921 Prince Philip Mountbatten Greece, Duke of Edinburgh, Mr Elizabeth II
1922 Judy Garland [Frances Gumm],Grand Rapids Mn., actress/singer (Wizard of Oz)
1923 Earl Hamner Jr Schuyler Va, TV narrator (The Waltons)
1923 Robert Maxwell [Jan Hoch], Czech, billionaire/CEO (NY Daily News)
1925 Nat Hentoff columnist/novelist (Village Voice, The Cold Society)
1928 Maurice Sendak NYC, author/illustrator (Where The Wild Things Are)
1929 James McDivitt Chicago, Brig Gen USAF/astronaut (Gemini 4, Apollo 9)
1933 F Lee Bailey Waltham Mass, attorney (Sam Shepard case)
1941 Shirley Alston Passaic NJ, singer (Shirelles-Soldier Boy)
1943 Jeff Greenfield NYC, media commentator/idiot (Firing Line, Nightline)
1945 Ron Glass Evansville Ind, actor (Ron-Barney Miller, New Odd Couple)
1946 Matthew Fisher England, keyboardist (Procal Harum-Conquistador)
1951 Dan Fouts NFL QB (San Diego Chargers)
1973 David Friedman LA Calif, actor (Jason-Little House on the Prairie)
1982 Tara Lipinski, Philadelphia Pa, figure skater
Deaths which occurred on June 10:
1190 Frederik I van Hohenstaufen "Barbarossa", German King, dies
1580 Lu¡s Vaz de Camoes Portugal's national poet, dies
1839 Nathaniel Pryor sgt of Lewis & Clark Expedition, dies
1903 King Alexander I & Queen Dragia of Serbia are assassinated
1924 Giacomo Matteotti Italian socialist deputy, assassinated by fascists
1941 Marcus Garvey dies at 52 in London England
1946 Jack Johnson 1st black heavyweight champion, dies in car accident
1971 Michael Rennie actor (Day the Earth Stood Still), dies at 61
1981 Russell "Lucky" Hayden actor (Judge Roy Bean), dies at 68
1982 Rainer Werner Fassbinder film-maker, dies of drug overdose at 36
1985 George Chandler actor (Lassie), dies of Alzheimer's disease at 87
1988 Louis L'Amour western writer, dies at 80 of cancer
2000 Syrian President Assad dies from a heart attack at age 69. (hip hip hooray)
2002 John Gotti (b.1940), former mob boss, died at age 61 (hip hip hooray)
2004 Ray Charles (b.1930), rhythm ‘n’ blues piano player and singer (Hit the Road Jack" & "Georgia on My Mind, & America the Beautiful"
GWOT Casualties
Iraq
10-Jun-2003 1 | US: 1 | UK: 0 | Other: 0
US Private 1st Class Gavin L. Neighbor Baghdad Hostile - hostile fire - RPG attack
Afghanistan
A Good Day
http://icasualties.org/oif/ Data research by Pat Kneisler
Designed and maintained by Michael White
On this day...
1610 1st Dutch settlers arrive (from NJ), to colonize Manhattan Island
1639 1st American log cabin at Fort Christina (Wilmington Delaware)
1682 Tornado in Connecticut uproots a 3' diameter oak tree
1720 Mrs Clements of England markets 1st paste-style mustard
1752 Ben Franklin's kite is struck by lightning-what a shock!
1760 NY passes 1st effective law regulating practice of medicine
1772 Burning of the Gaspee British revenue cutter by Rhode Islanders
1776 Continental Congress appoints a committee to write a Decl of Ind
1801 Tripoli declares war on US for refusing tribute (Bad Move!)
1809 1st US steamboat to a make an ocean voyage leaves NY for Phila
1846 Robert Thomson obtains an English patent on a rubber tire
1848 1st telegraph link between NYC & Chicago
1854 Georg F.B. Reiman proposes that space is curved
1854 The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, holds its first graduation
1863 Battle of Brice's Crossroads, Miss; Forrest w/3500 defeats 8000 Feds
1865 Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" 1st performance Munchen Germany
1871 A landing force of 110 U.S. Marines came ashore on Korea's Kangwha Island, a fortress island guarding the approaches to Seoul. The Korean Punitive Expedition was launched from an American fleet, which anchored in the Han River after the isolationist Korean government rejected U.S. diplomatic demands for an explanation of the fate of an American ship and her crew believed killed by the Koreans. In two days of fighting, the Marines and sailors captured the defensive forts on the Island, leaving 243 Koreans dead. Nevertheless, the expedition failed to open Korea to foreign trade.
1880 Charlie Jones becomes 1st to hit 2 HRs in 1 inning
1892 Wilbert Robinson of Balt Orioles sets record of 7 for 7 in 9 inning game
1898 US Marines land in Cuba, during Spanish-American War
1899 Improved Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks forms in Cincinnati
1902 Patent for window envelope granted to H.F. Callahan
1905 1st forest fire lookout tower placed in operation, Greenville, Me
1908 1st flying club, Aeronautical Society of NY, opens
1916 Great Arab Revolt begin
1924 1st political convention broadcast on radio-Republicans at Cleveland
1926 Phillies Russ Wrightstone hits for the cycle
1932 1st demonstration of artificial lightning Pittsfield Mass
1935 Dr Robert Smith & William Wilson of Akron form Alcoholics Anonymous
1940 Italy declares war on France & Britain during WW II
1942 Massacre at Lidice (Czechoslovakia) Gestapo kills 173
1943 FDR becomes 1st US pres to visit a foreign country during wartime
1943 FDR signs withholding tax bill into law (W-2 Day!)
1944 Joe Nuxhall at 15 becomes youngest ML baseball player
1946 Italian Republic established
1948 The news that the sound barrier has been broken is finally released to the public by the U.S. Air Force. Chuck Yeager, piloting the rocket airplane X-1, exceeded the speed of sound on October 14, 1947.
1953 Chinese Communist attack Outpost Harry (
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/1420095/posts) 1955 1st separation of virus into component parts reported
1956 16th modern Olympiad equestrian events open in Stockholm
1957 Harold MacMillan becomes British PM
1957 John Diefenbacker (C) elected PM of Canada
1959 Rocky Colovito hits 4 HRs in 1 game
1964 Southern filibuster on civil rights bill ends; cloture invoked
1965 A R Klemola discovers asteroid #2370 van Altena
1966 Beatles "Paperback Writer" is released in the UK
1967 Israel, Syria, Jordan, Iraq & Egypt end "6-Day War"
1972 Hank Aaron's grandslammer (14) ties him for NL lead with Gil Hodges & moves him ahead of Willie Mays as the #2 HR hitter (649)
1973 NASA launches Radio Astronomy Explorer 49 into lunar orbit
1975 Rockefeller panel reports on 300,000 illegal CIA files on Americans
1977 Apple Computer ships its 1st Apple II
1977 James Earl Ray (Martin Luther King's killer) escapes from prison
1979 Balt Orioles pull their 8th triple play (5-4-3 vs Cleve)
1979 Pope John Paul II visits Poland
1981 Pete Rose ties Stan Musial's NL record of 3,630 hits
1982 Israeli troops reach outskirts of Beirut
1984 US missile shot down an incoming missile in space for 1st time
1985 Claus von Bulow acquitted on charges he tried to murder his wife
1985 Coca Cola announces they'd bring back their 99-year-old formula (the rule of holes)
1986 A Bartlett Giamatti becomes president of baseball's NL
1988 Greatest number of participants (31,678) on a bicycle tour (London)
1990 Rap group 2 Live crew members arrested in Fla for obscenity
1991 Mother of All Parades-NYC welcomes desert storm troops
1996 Anthony Marceca confirmed to Congress that he ran FBI background checks from the White House, using a list of White House pass holders that included many officials from the previous administration. Marceca says he looked for derogatory information and gave it to his boss, Craig Livingstone.
1996 Intel releases 200 mhz pentium chip
2001 Silvio Berlusconi (64), known as Il Cavaliere, becomes Italian premier for a 2nd time and formed his Cabinet
2002 Israeli tanks and troops attack Ramallah before sunrise Monday, surrounding the compound of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and arresting 20 suspected terrorists
2003 In Iran riot police and hard-line vigilantes clashed with teenage demonstrators who denounced supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (note Freeper on the ground reporting)
2005 Demonstrators continue protests in Iran.
Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"
Argentina : Affirmation of Argentina's Rights over the Malvinas
Azores : Camoes Day (1580)
Cape Verde, Maderia : National Day (1580)
Portugal : Day of Portugal (1580)
Massachusett : Children's Day (Sunday)
Shelby, Mich : National Asparagus Festival(Thursday)
Great Britain : Queen's official birthday (National Day)(Saturday)
National Humor Week (Day 6)
National Fragrance Week (Day 6)
National Bathroom Reading Week (Day 5)
US: Iced Tea Day
National Forest System Month
Religious Observances
RC-Vatican City : Sacred Heart Day (moveable feast)
Ang : Commemoration of Ephrem of Edessa, Syria, deacon
old RC : Commemoration of St Margaret, Queen of Scotland, widow
RC : Solemnity of Corpus Christi (Body & Blood of Christ)
Religious History
1692 Bridget Bishop became the first person hanged for witchcraft, during the ordeal known to history as the 'Salem Witch Trials.' In all, 20 people died before theological jurisprudence was restored in this isolated Puritan community in Massachusetts.
1850 The American Bible Union was founded, organized by church leaders who had broken from the American and Foreign Bible Society.
1854 Eventually to become the first African- American Roman Catholic bishop, James Augustine Healy, 24, was ordained a priest in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris.
1925 The United Church of Canada was formed, uniting both the Methodist and Presbyterian denominations of Canada. The merger also took in 3,000 independent Canadian Congregational churches.
1983 The Presbyterian Church (USA) was formed in Atlanta, through a reunification of the United Presbyterian Church (UPCUSA) and the Southern Presbyterian Church (PCUS).
Source: William D. Blake. ALMANAC OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1987.
Boy, 11, Crashes After Mom Lets Him Drive
A woman allowed her 11-year-old son to drive the family's minivan to his elementary school, where the boy crashed the vehicle near a group of children.
No one was hurt. The boy, however, was expelled from school, and both he and his mother were ordered to traffic court later this month.
The crash happened Monday outside St. John Fisher School on Chicago's South Side, not far from where the children were lining up to go inside. The minivan jumped the curb and hit a school zone sign as the boy tried to turn a corner, authorities said.
Police said they don't know why Erin Sarandah decided to let her son drive the couple of blocks from home to the school while she and her daughter were passengers.
"She had a license," said police spokesman Pat Camden.
Sarandah was cited for damage to property and allowing an unauthorized person to drive, Camden said. The boy received a traffic ticket for negligent driving and driving without a license.
A telephone listing for Sarandah could not immediately be found.
Thought for the day :
"The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives."
