5TH MARINE REGIMENT - 1ST BATTALION - COMMAND DIARY - AUGUST 1953 Korean War Korean War Project Record: USMC-2134 CD: 21 United States Marine Corps History Division Quantico, Virginia Records: United States Marine Corps Unit Name: 1st Marine Division Records Group: RG 127 Depository: National Archives and Records Administration Location: College Park, Maryland Editor: Hal Barker Korean War Project P.O. Box 180190 Dallas, TX 75218-0190 http://www.koreanwar.org
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( 3) CommarH..line General, Fleet t·1arine Force, Pacific
Subj: Corm:lB.nd D:i.ar;:rr for .''~ugu.st. 1953
R"f: (a) Para 11401, MCii (b) FMl"Pac GO 21 (Hev) of 11 Mar 1952 (c) lstNarDiv GO 90 of 13 Nov 1952
3/res 00 Ser: 1380 4 Sept 1953
(d) ~laps: ~.~)hJ,l~, t:~,,ooo t\lviS 1851 sheets 6527 I tn:; 65~7 TV NE 66?7 1V l'IW; 6627 IV SW
1.. SUMMAHY
Throughout the month r>f ll.ugust, the lst Battalion, 5th JVlarincs continued
manning the outpnst lin"' of resisttu1C8 within the genJral boundarius of the
old regim~ntal sector. Hi thin this z-:1ne of responsibility 1 pr-t:vi_ously established outposts were improved and ndditional outposts werE; constructed to
giv .. ~ dt.:pth to th,; defonsiv0 position. In addit:!.on, w.issions of pn.trolling
the battalion sector am! training we're carried out. Companies comlt:ctrcd
basic training as far '"' \1as practicable ur,d<:cr the; existing tactj.ca l commit
ments.
"A" and uc11 Cornpani~s l~stablishf;d new Command Posts at CT 0359i:J9 und
CT 066014 respect,:! vely, Lacll cornp'l.ny esteblished and devdoped outposts in
d~:.::pth •J.nd of incrc!ttsing strength from front to :rear. 'rhese posit.ions fornod
succes;;i,v~ lines f:eon t,h" origin:.l outpost lin8, which roughly parallels the
southern boundarJr of t.ho Demilitarized Zorw, south to LinEl KANSAS pt·otactin.q
the flpoonbill anri Honkur Ferries ( C'l' 086972 and CT 067956),
11B 11 COlnp'JJ1Y cwct l·!e:apons GompD.ny occupic:d Line.: :ill.!\. SAS and bogt=~n a program
of bunker construction m1fl trench improvertGnt, ln addition, three combnt out
posts ·wcre estt.:bl.ishud to th-::: inu-iK;dititu front of this line :u"1d the vrork of
dr'V<Olopl.ng th, ·r, begun,
The patrol miosion was n.ccornplishod ir. th<- following manr,<or, "A" and "C"
Companies condt1ctcd routine '"ire patrols h0twGen thu forward outpouts and
road check points n.long the south0rn bcun<kwy of the D8rrd.litarizcd Zone, "l:!" Comprmy llk'tintnincd nightly motorized pntrols on all ro.3.ds throuF,hout the Lat
t,;;_lion ~~one of responsibility. ilBH Comp'3.ny also niCJ.nncd Cr·os$ing Stnt:i.ons on
all roads leading into th,_ Dur.dlit:wized ,;one from this arEca, Constant supccr
vision of c.,.ll pc;1~~3onn0l 0-r.,d vehiclss enturii\~ the Zone w~;::1 c.:.,_rried out in ac
cordancu with th" provisions of the Truce undel' roeirnontal control,
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Korean War Project USMC-07802268DECLASSIFIED
Sf:CRET Sl<:CUHITY INFOHMATIOJ,
• 3/rcs 00 SrJr: 13M 4 Sept 1953
Observation posts wt re maintcine:d on the forw.:,rd outpost line, k:~eping
constant surveillance over th0 Demilitarized Jon~ r.nd all enemy ac:ti vity to t.h~ front# Durir.g the_, latter pnrl of the month this observation was extbnded to frior.dly :d.rcraft all an additional chock on possible' truce violrtions, No such viol'ltior,s uccurrccd,
On 26 August tlw b11ttalion comme.nd post ~ras mJvcd frorr. CeJnp Moy0 rs (CT 04701·3) to Camp Hvoo (CT 078·994) in accordance vfith the Uefwnsivc scheme of maneuvc:r.. 3."nik.1';' a:,d drainag<o faciliticoc. wo1·e installed and a progr",m of camp improvement ltNlD C~!.rri:.::d out throughout th".J r':2st of th8 month.
Religious services, both Ca·cholic rnd Prot0:1tnr:t \•lc:ro held each Sunday in the Battalion Commai,ct Post and dailJ' in Lbo outlying corrrpcny areas.
One USO show was sc~:en during thu month and r!l.ovic s ,.·;rcr(: hclJ ra.r,rrt..Ly in tho bnttalion area, we11thur peor::ti.tting. An av-orage of 21 men ench week were <',•vr'n lvi ... -.:;+,..., .... .:;,...,.,,., .:::!,.,,,.,,....:;..,, n.+ .. r .;.,., .In ......... .,., ~,....,. ~~~ ~~vJ, .J..VV.L .J..V<..Lo.J '-'j·"-V..I.C.~.I.. ...,.._.....,,_, .1-~• - '-'•J:-'<. .. ~<Ii'
A chango of col,mcqnd took plac0 during th<J month with Lieutenant Colonel Kj_rby B, VICK rdiGvi.:g Licuknant Colonul J, B, BU1'1'l'RFIELD as Bat-talion Conunander on 9 Aut,>Ust 1953.
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• 3EC!IEI' SECUrtiTY INFORHA'l'ION
2, CHl10NOLOGI Cl.L Fl\1-U:ATI Vi£
1 - 6 AUGUST
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• 3/res 00 Ser: 1380 4 Sept 1953
All units o.f the batt,_\lior: wore engaged on the development and improvemont o.f previously established positions, Heavy rainfall on 1 August neccssit<'lted extensive repair work on drn.inage facilities throughout tht; period.. On 2 August, holiday routine prevailed throughoCAt the day. Many o.f the m0n attended various chu1•ch services and eur,r.tged in conp~titive athletics during the afternoon, Beginning 5 Augus~ salv8gc of construction nntcerials for defensive positions was carried out both in the Demilitarized Zone and in the area s;:,uth of the Zen" from which supporti_ng units had been withdrawn, Supervision of opcrationn vlithin the Zone wao condllcted by Crossing stations manned by "B" Company pcrsonn,~-1, in accordanc'' 1dth the provisions of the Truce and diroctivc;e' fr·o,:; battalion and higher authority,
7- AUGUST
Personnel of the 35th Repla.comont Draft ,joined the Battalion, . A theatre Indoctrination lecture was held :,nd Annex Easy of Division General Order 133 was road and explained to the new mon. Construction and salvage opwrations wore continued as before.
8- AUGUST
LtCol, ·J, B. BlJTTI~HFIELD was detached from the battalion this date. Normal routine of improvement of defensive positions continued~ The l)attalion baud wunt to Inchon to entertain aboard the USHS Repose,
9 - i~UGUST
LtCol. 'K. B. VICK joined the batt-:--.lion this date and assw11ed comm:lnd. Holiday routine prcwcih'd throughout the battalion with various church services and nthl<;>tic competitions held in thco Comma.nd Post area,
10 - J,UGUS'l'
v!ork continu.wd on all dufensivCJ,positions, Salvage operations continucu wJ.th prior1.vy on vne recovery of bunker materials. voJ.onc:l TOiviPKINS1 tnc RegimentL\l Corranandc,r inspuctcd lst B.3ttalion outposts and zone of rosponsibil• ity.
11 15 AUCWST
All units continu'd th.:o d evolopmont of their assigned areas, On 15 f>ugust, the battalion band w~nt to Inchon to entertain aboard tho2 ·uss H0p0s'8 0
16 - /,,:uGUST
Holida.:x- routine prc:.vailod throughout th~:; rlay! ~Iany hatt.:.:tlion personnel attended r,;~igious servicotJ am! cmgaged in athlGtics in the company areas during ~ho aftc,ruOCJil,
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17 - AlJGU,S'r
• 3/r,;s 00 Ser: 1380 4 Sept 1953
\rlork continncd on ~1.11 dEofensiv" positions, J\t 1630 this date, 11A11 T'•nk
Cor.ipo.ny cn:1unitioll d.w11p 1 _iJGar the lst Battalion Comrnand Post, exploded; The
Battalion M<•dical S•cction was e.lerted and steps >lore taker:. to -'llsuru that
all personnel rcm.ai£H.:d in ~-·!ithc~ ... covt:!red or defilade positions. The explos
ions continuod until abou~ 1800, No casualtie;s were sustainud, Th" cause of
the acc:l.dcnt wuo uncle.-. ·tarrr:lned~~
Construction and snlvagu c.cmtinued as before, Priority of construction
wc..n-t to nuto:matic t·1enpon~: r~mplact:monta and tndividual fighting holes. All
outposts workod on s;v stems of <:11 around dcfcns•.J,
19 - AUGUST
ncn Company ditlplac0d their Cor:mnd Post to CT066014 in accorc.!t1nce i:d.th
th·.: extension in dopth of t.hoil' defonsivo positions, i.ll units continued
norrrlill work. A USO Shov: ·~~~~.s pres,;;.ntcd in the bat.t['.lion the,3.tre ~rith a. large
porcent;:\gcJ of battalion personnel nttGnding,
20 - 22 i<UGUST
All Corr:pLmics workod on th..:~i.r dofcnsiv0 positions w1vn Hjl!! ''ud r!c!!
\IJ"ork continuvd on aJ.l defc:nGi vo pos:Lticnr-; and car:1p facilities, On
29 ;,ugust, 1otCol., F<::!iG\JSON 1 the Division Inspector, inspected C.'\nip Meyor
tht:. old Cou.mn.nd PooL Post~ · Nor10al routine pi~cvailcd throughout the· r&.
nainder of.the period.
App~.mdi~cs:
I Dir<:loti vcs rocoi vod
II Directives i.•1Guc,d lli Ov<>rlays IV llGport s and sunua'1.rio f; V Fhotographtc :-.uppl(.;r-u~nt (Nog~Lti vc)
VI Commont.:: and rocov.mct'd:ttions (Nogativo)
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• s:c;cm·,r SECU,UTY INFOilMnTION
• 3/ros 00 Sc;r: 13$0 4 Sept 1953
ilppeondix I to 1st Battalion, 5th M'lrinus Commz.nd Dir-ry for ;mguAt 1953
1, Directiv0~ rocdved
a, Operation Plans tmd Orders
O;:>n 0 16-53
b, Orders and ~~'·mor.o.ndums
None
1, CO 5thnrtr eli sp 0100351 2, cc 5th~;,_,r <lisp 0)1710I 3, co 5thEar uisp 04li~;;·ur 4, CO )thAm:• cli.sp 0'i1115I 5. CO 5th~'L:~:r diop 0611001 6, co )thi-l'l.r disp 060030I 7, CO 5thl1br disp 0713h0I 8. CO 5th¥.:"cr disp 131430I 9, CO 5th}br di sp l41525I
10, CO 5thHar disp 1509301 11. CO 5thNar disp 151535 ( 12. CO ~JthHar disp 1709J6I 13, CO 5thr'u.r <.lisp 171710! 14, CO 5tht·hr cUsp 180930! 15, CO 5thM:•.r Clisp l81430I 16~ CO 5thi'~cr di sp 1818451 17. CO 5thHar disp 1913561 18, CO 5thl-inr disp ~915501 19. CO 5thNar (:isp 2~ll30I 20, CO 5thl'lvr cli.sp 2212251 21. CO Sthl'"br di sp 221915! 22, CO 5thl<iar disp 241500! 23, CO 5thlic'.r disp 261540!
24, c:o 5th;:Ja di sp 2G0903I 25, CO 5thi•ID.r disp 30llli5I
No Po.ss Sic;ns, lLplacin,;: ,,f M, P, Cbeck Points, E:stab l:Lshing of lte(}ue st a ewar•ch f"o:r- wopp.;ns
J,'£i~ i:lcplt•ccmonts1 Tr0.nsportation for H:::ritorious Promotion.; Quotas £or lkr.10val of Hi.nus, Cautiun in Dvfccti ve ,"cmr.:o • Handling of N. H, PursormcJ., Rc<Jnlistelont of Az:Lwth BoD.rds1 l':roct,ion of Sooul L:i.b0rty, Cancoll&"Linn of Clas8 5 Eat erial, Inventory of U SO She._ . ., 1 Schodul-.; of 32nd Hot~J.tion Dmft 1 Eligibility for V...::hiclc maintonancu court.o C:.cmoufle.gc Nets, proper uG.) of Heukly ,-kap'm ch0ck1 lniti ction of Pets, pGrTii~sion for Sharp .. nod B".youet o 1 Prohibition. •.1f Kyu.shu Flood Drive, &tension of Fiold Sanitation, Improvcr:ccmt of N,C,O, School, Quotas for Ctt.sualiticn, ~·~r·rrno rDsponeiblo for Crossing Stations ll and 12, clo<dng of I Corps i.rr:r.1o lots S•1pcnd<od for Inju:cie:s fror~ nu.ncs, Ruportirlg of
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SeCRET SI!;CUlUTY INFDIU•u.TION
• 3ins 00 Ser: lJSO 4 Sept 1953
•• ppvndix II to 1st Bnttnlion, 5th l·k.rines Covll'.land Diary for .:cugust 1953
(1) 5thl'.B.r (H.einf) occ, organ, def OPLU in :Jiv sector vrith 2ndBn on left 1 1stlJn in center, 3rdBn on right.
(2) C./S 4,2 1'1orta.r Co (-), D/o lstBn, llthEar.
2, a. (1) lstf'n, 5thl\ar (.leinf) occ, organ, def OPL!l in center Bn sector prior H/48.
(2) ~.aint readiness immediat<J comb, Prep resumption full scale opn. .~·:aint 0 in area of respor·sibility~ Conduct work tasks and rcc actv to insure maint of highest standards of dspln and morale,
prep to occ Hills 229, 181, on 0; prep to occ, def defensive bride;ehead (L:Lne KANSAS N of Imj:in) (Def Bridgehead Ovly).
(2) Prep on 0 to destroy bridges in sector (Annex ABLE),
(3) Maint readiness immediate comb, Prep resumption full scale opn. Z..la.int 0 in area of responsibility.. Conduct work tasks and rec acty to insure main of highest ste.ndards of discipline and rnomle.
J, a, "A" Co Cleinf)
(1) Occ, organ, d6fend left portion of Bn sector (Opn Ovly),
(2) Prep to occ, organ, def Hill 229 •.
(O.\ \~I Prep to occ, def that portion of defensive bridgehead (Line
Ki.N.J;.s N of lmjin) ·j.n Bn sector. (Retrograde Ovly) (Def· Bridgehead Ovly).
b, "B 11 Co (Reinf)
(1) Occ, organ, def that portion of Line KiJl;).I,S N of Imjin in Bn sector in conjunction with.Vfpns Co (-.) {Opn Ovly).
(2) Prep to reinf and/or assume msn of either OPLR co.
(J) Prep to withdraw crossing station personnel to defensive bridgehead,
(4) One plt (rGinf) be prep for lL~ited cou_~ter attacks in Bn sector~·
(5) Prep to cover the retrograde movement of OPLR companies to de!. bridgehead (Opn Ovly) (Retrograde Ovly) ...
(6j Prop to adjust to assigned sector of def bridgehead (Line N of lmjin) (Def Bridgehead Ovlr) •.
K:~NSAS
c. "C" Co (aeint) ... (1) Occ, organ, def right portion ot Bn sector. (Opn Ovly).
. . \
(2) Pr~p to occ, organ, d~f Hill 181.
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d,
(3) Prep to occ1 dcf that por·tion of de! bridgehead (LinG KANSAS N of ImUin in Bn sector) (De! Bridgehead Ovly.).
(4) On 0 occ supl psns in rear of dof bridgehead, be prepared to cover Bn withdrawal !rom def bridgehead, Initial psns Able, Baker, Charlie; secondary psns Dog, Easy, Fox (Def Bridgehead Ovly),
•" '"' I '\. wpns uo \-1
(l) 81 ~~rt plt.
a, ir:;p to spt Bn !rom prev selected psns,
(2) Wpns Co (-),
a, Occ, organ, def that portion of Line Ki.NS!.s N of Imjin in Bn sector in conju.nction with 11 Bfl Co (Opn Ovzy),
x, (1) Psns will be organ to provide maximum practicable depth,
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(2) Forward psns will be lightly held, sited and organ to provide long range interdictory iires ·along likely avunuos of appro~ch.
(3. i~ll psns !'or"!.'!fard of def bridgehead open fire at maximum e!f . range to inflict maximum cas and force the en to deploy, Withdraw to previously selected psns prior to being outflankGd or b.;ing committed to a d<Ocisive fire fight,
(4) Withdrawal to def bridgehead psns will be made by o~cccsive rGtrograd~ movements to previously selected psns,
(5) V~ke flash report of withdrawal from each def psn.
(7) ''oapons will not be fired except on ordel• of Bn Cmdr or to rGpel atk,
(8) Priority of' work; 11/W wpns pens, ind fighting psns, trenches, tac and protective ~~re, OP, CP. mort pans~
(9) Organ all def pans according to ref .{a),
(10) a. Prep to sei~e on Bn 0 only, fav terrain from which to obs into demilitarized Z and place lire on 6t~l forees in e,.rent of an en ac~ of aggression in violation of armistice agreem;.:;;nt, In occt~pj"ing terrain :for t..h.ie purpos~, frndJ_y f"orees will not adv beyond demaracation line.
(11) Contact left to right.
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4, a, Pers carry basic load ammo.
b, (1) Evac norm,
(2) Cols establ own amb and helicopter pickup pts, rpt loc,
(3)
(4) One a.nd one-half (1 ~) days 11 C" rats will be maintained in each company sect.
5o a, (1) Curr SOl in eff,
(2) Car-ry front line p~~els.
(3) Pyrotechnic code (to be announced),
b, (1) Bn CP (Opn Ovly),
(2) Co CPs (Opn Ovly),
BY ORDER OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL VICK
CHARLES E. MC PARTLIN Major, U. s. Marine Corps
Executive Officer
Bridge dest~Jction pLn~
DIST: SPECIAL
LJ'~ _ iJl o, faoE -o ___ aj, ug.rc
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SECR!'.T SECU!ll TY INFOtli'litTION
• 3/rcs 00 Scr: 13$0 4 Sept 1953
Applmdix III to 1st Battalion, 5th iliarl.nos Connnand Diary for 1 ,'.ugust to 25 /cugust 1953,
3ECRr:T
1, Ovor1ay of battalion situ'1tion fr·om 1 J\ugust to 25 f.ugust 1953.
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Cer: 1380 ~ Sept 1953
Appendix III to 1st B1.ttnlion, 5th Marinus Cornm~md D:Lary for 25 J•ugust to 31 :<ugust 1953.
Ovorlny of be.tta.lion situation from 25 i .. ugu.st to 31 .i •. ugust
Mn.p: l ... OftEA1 1:251 000 Sheet 652? I NVJ
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• 3/res 00 Ser: 1180 4 Sept-1953
Appondix IV to 1st lhttalion, 5th Mcwinos Co:=nd Diary for August 1953.
lt M8dic~::.l Sununary
a. The bntt:J.ion ncdical section during the; m.ont.h troatcd the followi.nr,: