JUNE 1953
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The "Lost Bastards" of Iron Ridge
During the
Battle of the Kumsong Salient
13 July to 21 July 1953
Compiled by
John R. Carpenter
Copyright 2002 All Rights Reserved
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JUNE 1953
Sporadic fighting and testing of the western ROK lines occurred at the end of May and first of June.
On the 10th of June 1953 they received another resupply and word to be ready for a major Chinese offensive. This caused some more digging in and sand bagging. The Americans and ROKs continued to borrow more steel planking for shade then covered them with a layer of sand bags. This included covering the cabs and hoods of the halftracks. They also finished unloading the halftracks and drained the gasoline and oil in case they were hit. This was deemed okay for the light and sporadic artillery thrown their way. Most of the heavy fighting had been to their west and far to the east.
Because of the distance behind the MLR they were seldom called on to give ground support fire. They did however develop a plunging fire technique to shoot over the heads of friendly troops. That fire was directed by Foward Artillery Observer or FAC on the front lines. The 40 mm weapons were ideal for this and were fired with gusto by the ROK troops.
They later had reports that the ROK Army had lost about two and a half miles of frontage on the eastern side of the Kumsong Bulge but they had held the line in over two weeks of fighting.
About June 20th the Chinese communists fired their long range and heavy artillery (either 122mm rifled cannon or 152mm howitzer (4) at Iron Ridge. The heavy explosions walked up the slope and right over the eastern bunker complex toward the air strip.
High explosive rounds impacted on the bunker complex. One of the sand bagged observation posts was blown apart along with most of the eastern most dual 40 mm mount with its ROK crew that was firing it. The other 40 mm mount was soon after hit and put out of action. The force of the explosion forced the long barrels upward on one of the mounts. There they stayed for the upcoming battle. Two Americans and several ROKs were killed. The corpses were placed in mattress covers then taken to a room on the lowest level of the bunker where it was the coolest. One of the radar pieces was also damaged at this time.
The 40mm mounts on the halftracks stood much higher than the quad .50 caliber mounts. This made them harder to protect. They also could not be dismounted without special equipment. Their loss had a ironic positive and negative effect on the upcoming battle.
With the sudden artillery attack the Americans realized that they needed to dismount the quad fifties and they did this in a hurry. The carefully laid out gunnery system done the previous month was partly undone. Under pressure and by trial and error they devised an alternate system. When needed one soldier would crawl outside and point the radar piece toward the area of concern. By knowing where the radar was and the arc it would be turned, this would give operator a picture of what was out there. He communicated this to the gunners who re-laid their gunnery stakes under cover. Each fifty had at least one thirty caliber machine gun to support it.
The eastern bunker got a new "roof" as fast as the ten foot steel planking from the air strip could be taken. Labor provided by the ROKs in carrying and filling sandbags and steel planks was invaluable. All the halftracks were covered with two layers of steel planking with a sandbag covering. The blown apart observation post was rebuilt and covered with a layer of steel and sand bags. New gunnery ports with firing steps for machine guns and rifles were made in the berm and reinforced.
Fighting on the main line of resistance could be heard. Supporting artillery could be heard flying forward in support. Supplies still came in by truck The wounded and the dead left the same way. On the 24th, signs of strain could be seen as the ROK 26th Infantry Regiment was forced to give up ground. They fought well. The ridge line in front or to the north of Iron Ridge changed hands several times. Only a few ROK officers and their attendees realized they had important meetings to attend to to the rear. Many veteran ROK officers held their men in check and made local counter attacks. The ROK Army had come a long way forward toward a professional fighting force compared to just a year or two before.
During a lull about the end of June, the ROKs fell back to semi prepared positions about 600 yards in front of Iron Ridge. There they began to dig in. Supporting fire from the strong points helped consolidate the new positions.
An American three man Forward Air Controller (See also: FAC) team arrived back at the eastern bunker about this time and was welcomed. The FAC radios were brought in the bunker and room was made. A three sided sand bagged position had been made to protect the FAC jeep by the ROKs. The FAC team was part of KMAG (Korean Military Assistance Group). The Eastern bunker took new purpose as a forward supply point for the 26th ROK Regiment.
As the Chinese began to settle into their new positions across the valley some one began a set pattern of behavior. A Chinese officer, maybe of high rank, came out of his bunker and went to a slit trench to take a morning dump. A ROK sniper who was unable to shoot at that great distance reported this activity. The Americans were surprised and watched the morning routine with interest. The only weapon they had that was able to shoot that far out was a .50 caliber machine gun. A Corporal from the first squad drilled and tapped a 30 power sniper scope on top of the weapon. Picking a point far enough away but at the same range of the target he was able to zero the weapon in.
The next morning everything was set. Binoculars and artillery scopes were trained on the spot. The breeze was next to calm. Bets were taken. The half inch thick round was placed in the breach and locked in place. The weapon was cocked and sighted in. Sure enough the Chinese officer, ever so punctual, came out on time. As he squatted showing his pale bottom to the American and ROKs gathered to watch, the 710 grain bullet flew true impacting dead center thus knocking the mooning officer head over heels. The Corporal bragged about that shot all day. Other targets of opportunity were then selected but none with such fanfare as the first.
On the last day of June a Chinese aircraft was attacked by an American jet towards the evening. When the overshot rounds landed near and on the bunker many thought they had been strafed. A couple of times people heard jets scream close overhead. Some said they had been strafed again, others thought it was friendly air craft. There was a feeling of unease. Another layer of steel planks and sand bags were added to the roof. An extra layer was placed over the halftracks. The bodies of those killed were given mattress covers and a temporary "burial" in the death room below. The wounded ROKs were taken to the rear when it was safe. The dead made their last ride when space was available.
The western bunker was expanded and reinforced by the ROKs. The ROKs were seen digging new trench lines along the ridge.
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