CCF Strikes - 1st Campaign

CCF 39th Corps, Unsan, November 1,1950
Observes 8th Cavalry Regiment on roads below, preparatory to striking.


8th Cav lost about half its equipment in the bitter fighting as CCF 39th Army placed roadblocks in front of and behind the road-bound US 1st Cavalry Division forces. Initially over 1,000 men of the Regiment were missing, but after stragglers had returned to our lines losses were determined to total only about 600 men. 8th Cavalry's equipment losses included 12 105-mm howitzers, 9 tanks, 1 tank recovery vehicle as well as extensive mortar and small arm weapons. The regiment was inoperable, until casualties and equipment could be replaced.

The CCF claimed over half the regiment was annihilated, which gives some idea of the problem of accurately determining battle results. As regards equipment, they were in the ballpark, as regards troop losses they were way off. Just given as a figure without detailed explanation, both the Chinese and UN reports are reaasonable ... but misleading.

The ROK 7th Regiment at Kojang, and ROK 15th Regiment (at Unsan with 8th Cav) were almost totally destroyed, losing all their equipment and weapons. The CCF 1st Phase campaign was a staggering success for them ... and defeat for our forces.

For some reason, probably because of the faulty CIA Intelligence given them as to China's intentions, this did not alarm UN High Command sufficiently to modify their plans and withdraw and re-form Eighth Army into continuous defensible positions with in-depth capability, reliable communication links between all units, and the coordinated artillery support proper when facing large, dangerous and unknown enemies.

For about three weeks, such withdrawal and digging in would have been possible. After that, it was too late.

The entire Army was to pay the price for this lack of Military Intelligence, and Leadership.


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About Vietnam Protesters

A SOLDIER DIED TODAY

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,

Our Country is in mourning, for

A SOLDIER DIED TODAY

© 1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt



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