Korean War 38th Infantry Regiment - Command Report - January 1953 2nd Infantry Division Korean War Project Record: USA-155 Folder: 060011 Box: 06 File: 11 National Archives and Records Administration College Park, Maryland Records: United States Army Unit Name: Second Infantry Division Record Group: RG407 Editor: Hal Barker Korean War Project P.O. Box 180190 Dallas, TX 75218-0190 http://www.koreanwar.org Korean War Project 2ID-00401081
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Korean War
38th Infantry Regiment - Command Report - January 1953
2nd Infantry Division
Korean War Project Record: USA-155
Folder: 060011
Box: 06
File: 11
National Archives and Records Administration
College Park, Maryland
Records: United States Army
Unit Name: Second Infantry Division
Record Group: RG407
Editor: Hal Barker
Korean War Project
P.O. Box 180190
Dallas, TX 75218-0190
http://www.koreanwar.org
Korean War Project 2ID-00401081
Korean War Project 2ID-00401082
:tYt<uuu~..ocuATTHE NATIONAl ARCHIVES •. ----· - ' L . ------· ________ . .- r··· , -· )
i ;~,)~PRODUCED AT THE NAT;O;AL ~RCI--flVES 1 \ .,...- ---·~-r ··-
SECRE·~~·· SECDRITY'INFOID{AT!ON
INrRODUCTION
The 33th Infantry Regiment wlth 1Tetherlan:ls Battalion attached occupied
and deferrled right regimental sector of LINE JAMESTOWN during the early part
of December 1952. On 2:7 December 1952 the JSth Infantry Regiment was relieved
by the Jlst Infantry Regiment 7th Infantry Division at which time the 38th
Inrantry Regiment passed t.c operational con:trol of 7th Infantry Division ani
served as Division reserve thereto. The unit's operations during the month
of December 1952 was highlighted by the out,ntar.ding defense of OP Arsenal by
B Co of this Regiment. During this action B Company repulsed an estimated
enemy battalion with only minor losses. At close of period 1 thru 31 Dec
ember 1952 the 38th Infantry Regiment located at Camp Indianhead vicinity
CT340140 unden1ent strenuous small unit tactical training.
11ajor component units during the period 1 through 31 Janua17 1953 were
as follows:
38th Infantry Regiment CT.340140 Col Arc hi. bald W. Stuart
lst Battalion CT.345140 Lt Col Roy I. Brooks
2nd Battalion CTJ52140 l.fa.jor Rex Sage
Jrd Battalion CT360103 Lt Col George C. Fogle
~t her lands Detac h:nent CTJ55121 Lt Col Cornelis Schi.lperoord
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SEQTTRTIY TNFDRN!TION
N,\RRA.TIVE OF TACTICAL OPERATION;
The period 1 Janu· ry 1953 to 31 Janu.11ry 195.3 opened w1 th the 311th Infantr-.r
Reg5.ment 11nder operational control of the 7th Infantry Division as Division
reserve. Dur1.ng this period the RE:giment Wl'tS locn.ted at Camp Indianhead and
cnnduc-!:;ed an extcnsi ve train1.ng program. On 17 January 195.3 the Regiment
reverted to control of the 2d Infantry Division arrl completed the movement
to Camp .Casey, an~t her reserve area. From 17 Janun.ry 195.3 to 23 January 1953
the Regiment continued training. On 27 January 11)53 the Regiment commenced
the re).:i.ef of the 25th Commonwealth Brigade completing the relief on .31 Janul:l.ry
1953. As the period closed the Regiment continued an active defense and
improvement of LINE JAMESTOvm in its assigned sector.
The training program during the reserve period consisted of small unit .. t~dti.cs \o/:i.th el!l;')he.s:ls on team work an.1 control, utilizing Battle DrUl as a
basis, famflj_a_rization fj_ring, cold \o/eather indoctrination, specialist training
and phys1.cal cond:ltioning. The program was interrupted by the movement to a
ne'W reserve area. and the part:i.d.nation i.n an operation 11 S~f.f;LP 11 for unautoorized.
indigenous :!Jersonnel in the re<Jr areas. Generally, the tra1.ni.r..g was satisfactory
and d1_d greatly· increase the effi.ciency of the Regiment.
During the period 20-27 January 1953 strictly controlled reconnaissance
parties were di.spr:~tched to the Commonwealth sector and preparati.ons were being .... .,. .... made for the relj.ef'. Great en;pbas1.s was placed on security measures \o/hich
'Were C5'mpletely effective atd resulted i;: a successful reli.ef without any ~ ..
unusual i.nc:i.dents. During the movement up to the sector, transportation dif-
' "" ficulMes occurred because of the close schedule for movement or units. lb\o/-.
·ever, this did not hamper the actual relief, other than lengthening _the time ·"·
· tb.e'ltwo (2) forward b.<1ttalions remained in assembly areas. ....
This did cause dis-
comfort to the troops from the cold weather which in turn decreased working
efficienl?Y· ... .
Tt is bel:teved that th.ts could have been avoided by sending reserve ' . ' ...
battali.ons early in the morning, providing an en-!Jire day for them to prepare
their areas and then sending the forw':lrd ba.tt.a:U.ons i.n the afternoon to the . assembly areas 'Whel-e, after one (1) hot meal, ti.1E: relief could be effected.
SECURITY INFORHATION
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SECRET· SECURITY IN:roRM.Il.TION
1~rrative of Tactical Operations (Contd)
At the em of' the period emphasj .. s was being placed on the strengthening .
of the left battalion or the Ibok sector and on an aggressive patrol program.
D~_f.ficul ties being encountered were below zero weather, lack of pr09er heating
fad.lities for front line troops, construct1on of bunkers 1.n frozen earth arrl
the under strength of units.
RECOMHENDATIO~S:
That closer planning be accomplished in preparation of march tables in
. order to give battalions moving :into defensive posttions a minimum of time in
reporting procedures during the period were good and there were no major
discrepancies.
SECTION III: AWARDS AND IECORATIONS
The following awards and decorations wre awarded or recommended during
this period: Distinguished Service Cross 1
Silver Star 10
Bronze Star (V) 11
Bronze Star (M) 24
Army Commendation Ribbon 34
SECT ION IV: MORAlE AND mRSONNEL SERVICES
Horale during the period was good. No USO shows were available during
the period; however, movies were available on an every other night basis.
Mail delivery was normal. During the period the regimental PX continued to
operate at the shower point with favorable results. · All 1.mits made an
excellent showing in Soldiers 1 Deposits with over one-third of the regiment
depositing $31,250. Contributions to other charities were as follows:
2d Division Orphanage Fund
March of Dimes
Korean Military Academy
$1116.20
$2629.71
$ 121.55
Regimental Chaplains continued their regular S1.mday ·services and continued
their policy of visiting the units. There was a considerable decrease in the
num~ oJ f~es and cold weather casualties during the period.
SECTION" V: CASUALTIES
. D~iJ.?g the above period there were:
'lit . . . SEQTION VIa REPLACEMENTS
0 KIA
3 tm 0 MIA
61 NBC
. The flow of replacements was definite).y sub-normal. The Regimental ... . Replacem~nt 'Center was disc~:mtinu~d and consoJ..J,dated at division level. The
regiment ,was required to furnish 1 officer and 4 men as cadre. These men
7. Tho total amount of Statements of Charges for the oeriod is two
thousand tHo hundred t:lirt;y:-eight dollars and five cents U~2238. O')) an
increase of one hundred eighty-seven doJ~nrs and thirty-seven cents (~~187 .37)
over the to~~l for the preceding period.
8. The sho'lver point is nm·J' located in the vlcinity of CS 148077.
numerous breakdowns of our Quartermaster machine, vie uere fortunate to .... ., "" '
the services of a Divisional Chemical team at Ca!l\) Casey. The team iv-as
, . eql,lipped to handle the regiment and did a splendid job. Clothing for . "' change at the sho;.Jer point. remains a major problem, Hith a tremendous
..... of clothes in for cleaning and only a trickle being received back. In
laundrJ faciliti:s are not of much use to us. The launclry system is at present ....
. 'li" . ' incapable of furnishing each man a clean pair of socks each day not 'to mention
other articles of clothing required by troops in the field. The Regimental '
11 Fix..;.j_ t n Shop repaired oJ.eyen ( 11) fire units, forty-three ( 43) carburetors ... f~r the stove, tent, H41, and nine (9) inm~rsion heaters during the period.
During the period seventy-throe (73) fire units -vrere turned j_n to Quartermaster i - •
fo~ rdpair and seventy-three (73) '<vere repaired and returned to us. Eleven
(11) type-vn·iters 1-7•3rc turned in for repair and eight (8) •v-ere repaired and
returned. -· S E GJ~ E T ... SECURITY INl',OR"MA TION
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' ' ~-:V;,.,;.sJ,,.,.:;~:;;;.,:f .... =-"·'""·hN,';MJ..\t*"·~.~~;~""""'~~ ,,/iEPROOUCEO AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES\ ,
10. ?orsonn.1 effects of sixty-four (6)!) parsons Hero processed by the
Graws Rogistratj_on Section. One (1) American dead Has evacuated dJ.ring
the period.
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SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION
Summary for }bnth of January 1953
Counter ftre platot:~n Iq & IXi Co )8th Int remained Atchl Opn Ctl of 2d
D:tv Arty throughout month of Jan 53.
Regtl RTC Contd s~x (6) day replacement Tng program from 1 thru 28
Jan 53. On 28 Jan 53 RTC was d:tscontinued and :i.ts Nsn Contd by 2d US Inf
Div.
From 1 thru 13 Jan 53 Regt Contd Atchmt 7th US In£ Div and conducted
unit an::l spec1alist Tng Vic Camp Tnii.anhead.
On 03 Jan 53 the 3Sth Inf Regt assumed Resp for the following work
supervi.sion arxl Scty detai.ls: 607 AC & 1~ Sta Vic CT310089, Scty of two
bridges Vic CTJ6S092 an:l CT368102 an::l supervlsion or KSCs on LI:!'$ W'I0£1IID
. Vic CT.347303.
~n 050900! Jan 53 M Co Clsd into new Psns Vic CS305936 to provide for
Scty of Camp Casey.
On 13 Jan 53 1st and 2d Bn :1r.d Hv 1-brt Co conducted Opn 11!J1J:El:.'P" in the
7th Div sector and apprehended ten (10) indigenous persom1el. · Opn commenced
at IJ730 an::l completed at 1745 Hrs.
From per:tod 14 to 17 Jan 53 Regt Contd Atchmt to 7th Tnt Div,,a;nd conducted ,';<'-
l,fvmt to Camp Casey.
On 160900! Jan 53 38th Inf opened new CP Vic CS31J934 and Clsd old
CP !.t't 1600"'~'Hrs.
On 171800I Jan .5J 33th Inf C1sd :i.nto Camp Casey and reverted to Ct1
of 2d· Inf Div.
On 16..., a..'1d 17 Jan 53 33th Inf Reld nf the fo11owtr.g details by 17th Inf
R~gt: 607 t1.C & W Sta at 161200! Jan 53, superv~sion or construction by KSC
units .on LINE WYOHIID ttt 170330I Jan 53 and Scty or two (2) bridges at "3.715451 • . 111.. •
. Ja-11 53.
From P~,riod 18 t hru 26 Jan 53 Regt cbnductad unit and speciallst Tng ~
Camp Casey._
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From period 27 t hru 30 Jan 53 3St.h Inf conducted Rel of 25th Comwel Brig
on LINE JA.HESTOWN with two (2) Bns on lj no and two (2) Bus in reserve.
On 2Sl700I Jan 53 lst Bn J~th Inf Clsd out old area and Clsd in new
Res Psns Vic CT182097 at 281900! .Jan 53.
On 231400! Jan 53 Neth Bn JSth Inf Clsd cut old Psns and Rel R.2.2R Bn
25th Comwel Brl.g on LDE JAJ1ESTO\im on 290315! Jan 53. C'n 290315! Jan 53
Net h Bn passed to Opn Ctl of 25th Comwel Brig.
On 261800! Jan 53 38th Inf Regt opened new CP Vic CT1:33083 and Clsd out
old CP at Camp Casey on 201640! Jan 53.
On 290415! Jan 53 Tk Co Clsd "ut old 21rea ard Clsd in new area Vic CT135075
at r:s;o Hrs. On 310600I Jan 53 Tk Co Rel1 B Squadron LDSH (RC) on Tk Psns,
On 2905Cl0I Jan 53 Hv 1-brt Co Clsd O'.lt "ld area and Clsd j n new Psns
Vic CT12l062 at 0715 Hl:'s.
On 2906.30! Jan 53 2d Bn Clsd out old area and Reld RCR Bn 25th Comwel
Brig on Psns at 300545! Jan 53. 2d Bn CP Vic CTll2059. I
On 291315! Jan 53 Hq & Hq Co Clsd out old area and Clsd in new area
Vic CTlJ33083 at 1500 Hrs.
On 291035! Jan 53 Med Co Clsd out old area and Clsd 1-n new a1·ea Vic
CT172076 at 1200 Ht-s. .... ,. "' .
On 291645! Jan 53 3rd Bn Clsd out old area and Clsd in new Res Psns
Vic CT149055 at 1Sl5 Hr's.
On 2")2000! Jan 53 Sv Co Clsd out old area and Clsd in new Psns Vic
CTJ.Sl061 ·~t 211..0 Hrs.
On 3J0545I Jan 53 JSth Inf Regt assumed Resp r,r 25th Comwcl Brig sector,
·"· -Neth·tSn .revert:tng to Ctl of 38th Inf Regt.
Effective 300545! Jan 53 the following units D/S and G/S of 33th Inf:
lst RCHA. Regt: D/S, 20th Field Regt: G/S, 6lst Lfght Regt: G/S and (~ .;,
C Co 2d,Engr (C) Bn: D/S~
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Swnmary for fibnth ~f Jan 53 (Contd)
On 3CXX~45I Jan 53 K Co Clsd in new Psns Vic CT1120%.
On 312005! Jan 53 Frdly G Co Ptl fired on Lst 4 En with S/ A and A/W and
called in Arty. Arty lifted and Ptl screened area wlth neg:1tive results. Ptl
Clsd Frdly Psns at 0145 Hrs.
At close of period Regt Contd Def and improvement of Psns on LI~~
~· Inf
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SECURITY INFORHATION
DISCUSSION AND RECO!>li·lENDATIOJG
During the period the major effort of the Regiment was directed to
the realistic tra1.ning of the t..'lcUcal units, with emphasis on the squad,
platoon, and supporting weapons. Training areas, ammunition, and materials
were excellent, am this coupled with unexpectedly mild weather afforded
the Regiment a splendid opportunity to accomplish a con~iderable amount or
combat-type train~ng.
The Regiment left lts reserve status ani commenced the relief of the
25th Commonwealth Brigade on 27 JanU&l1f 1953, the relief being completed
31 Janu~ry 1953. The security of this move '"as exceptionally effective.
(The measures taken are mentioned elsewhere in this report.) Also :tt soould
be. mentioned that full cooperation and assistance were given by the relieved
UN unit. Since occupying this sector of LINE JAMESTOWN the Regiment has
been ~ing an all-out effort to build and :tmprove the fortifications to
meet t'he Div:J.sion's stand'lrds. Top priority has been gtven to getting
overhead protect:tve cover for each fighting position along the NLR.
On 0CCupation of the sector the soldiers along the M:.R experienced more
hardship than has. been cust,oma.ry. This was because the relieved UN unit's
method of heating front 1 ine bunkers did not meet the safety requirements
of this Regiment. Consequently, for several days our troops had insufficient •"' "' .... '
numbers of stoves for warming purposes. This situation has been relieved
··by the ~~ssuance of an adequate number or Yuk:on stoves. Ibwever, the Yukon ·. . ..""
stove i.s not as destrable a method of heating for front line troops as is . .
,' """ the use of ch'l.rcoal. The gas-burning Yukon stove makes too much noise and
lessens the. hearing efficiency or the sol~ier on guard. Also 'the fuel ... ' c'onta!ner ani bose are vulnerable to enemy fire. The supply of charcoal bas
·not been sufficient to ut:tlize this method of heating to the extent desired