DTIC ADA507443: Over the Beach. US Army Amphibious Operations in the Korean War

11.6 MB·English

by  Defense Technical Information Center

OOvveerr tthhee BBeeaacchh

UUSS AArrmmyy AAmmpphhiibbiioouuss

OOppeerraattiioonnss iinn tthhee

KKoorreeaann WWaarr

CCoolloonneell ((RReettiirreedd)) DDoonnaalldd WW.. BBoooossee JJrr..
CCoommbbaatt SSttuuddiieess IInnssttiittuuttee PPrreessss
UUSS AArrmmyy CCoommbbiinneedd AArrmmss CCeenntteerr

FFoorrtt LLeeaavveennwwoorrtthh,, KKaannssaass
Report Documentation Page Form Approved
OMB No. 0704-0188
Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,
including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington
VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it

does not display a currently valid OMB control number.
1. REPORT DATE 3. DATES COVERED
2008 2. REPORT TYPE 00-00-2008 to 00-00-2008
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER
Over the Beach. US Army Amphibious Operations in the Korean War
5b. GRANT NUMBER
5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER
6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER
5e. TASK NUMBER
5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER
7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center,Combat Studies Institute,Fort REPORT NUMBER
Leavenworth,KS,66027
9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM(S)
11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT
NUMBER(S)
12. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
Approved for public release; distribution unlimited
13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
14. ABSTRACT

15. SUBJECT TERMS
16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF 18. NUMBER 19a. NAME OF
ABSTRACT OF PAGES RESPONSIBLE PERSON
a. REPORT b. ABSTRACT c. THIS PAGE Same as 520
unclassified unclassified unclassified Report (SAR)
Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98)
Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18
Photo GR-02 (3). LST heading for beach at Iwon with troops of the 2d Battalion,
31st Infantry. Note the rugged mountains in the distance, terrain into which this
battalion was about to enter. Photo courtesy George Rasula.
Over the Beach

US Army Amphibious

Operations in the

Korean War

Colonel (Retired) Donald W. Boose Jr.
Combat Studies Institute Press
US Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Boose, Donald W.
Over the beach : US Army amphibious operations in the Korean War /
Donald W. Boose Jr.
p. cm.
1. Korean War, 1950-1953--Amphibious operations. 2. Korean War,
1950-1953--Participation, American. 3. United States. Army--History--
Korean War, 1950-1953. 4. Amphibious warfare--History--20th century.
I. Title.
DS919.B66 2008
951.904’242--dc22
2008038959
First printing, December 2008.
CSI Press publications cover a variety of military history
topics. The views expressed in this CSI Press publication
are those of the author and not necessarily those of the
Department of the Army or the Department of Defense. A
full list of CSI Press publications, many of them available
for downloading, can be found at http://usacac.army.mil/
CAC2/CSI/RandPTeam.asp
The seal of the Combat Studies Institute authenticates this document as an
official publication of the CSI. It is prohibited to use CSI’s official seal on any
republication of this material without the written permission of the Director
of CSI.
Foreword
The Combat Studies Institute is pleased to present the latest publica-
tion in our Special Study Series, Over the Beach: US Army Amphibious
Operations in the Korean War, by historian and retired Army Colonel
Donald W. Boose Jr. Colonel Boose has exhaustively studied and skill-
fully written the little known history of the Army’s amphibious operations
during the Korean War. This book is part of our tradition of publishing
high-quality historical studies from outside authors that have continuing
relevance to the US Army today.
Building on its extensive experiences in World War II, General
MacArthur and the US Army conducted three major amphibious land-
ings during the war, including the brilliant counterstroke in September
1950, an assault at the port of Incheon behind North Korean lines. After
the massive Chinese attacks of November and December 1950, the Army
conducted a number of amphibious withdrawals as it fell back southward
on the Korean peninsula to more defensible positions. Throughout the war,
the Army also conducted a number of non-assault amphibious operations
and over-the-shore logistical operations.
Since the Korean War, the Army’s amphibious role has greatly
decreased in importance. The Army, however, conducted extensive riverine
operations in Vietnam and continues to employ them in Iraq. Additionally,
over-the-shore logistics remains an important part of Army doctrine and
logistical capability today. This historical study chronicles an aspect of
the US Army’s history that may seem remote from the challenges facing
the Army in 2008. If history “proves” anything, however, it is that the
hard-won lessons from the past tend to be relearned in the future. If this
study makes that relearning process faster and more effective, it will have
fulfilled its purpose. CSI—The Past Is Prologue!
Timothy R. Reese
Colonel, Armor
Director, Combat Studies Institute
US Army Combined Arms Center
iii

Acknowledgments
This study was begun at the direction of General Richard Cody, the
Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, at a time when he was the Army Deputy
Chief of Staff, G3, and General Leon J. Laporte, US Army (Retired),
who was then the Commander, Republic of Korea–US Combined Forces
Command; Commander, United Nations Command; and Commander,
US Forces, Korea. The initial G3 Project Officer was Lieutenant Colonel
Robert R. Mackey. For most of the years of research and writing, the proj-
ect officer was Mr. James C. Boyt. Both Colonel Mackey and Mr. Boyt
have been exceptionally helpful throughout the process, as has Mr. John
Auger, the Booz-Allan-Hamilton project officer.
The former Chief of Military History, Brigadier General John S.
Brown, US Army (Retired), was supportive when I began this study and
Dr. Jeffrey J. Clarke, the current Chief of Military History, continued that
essential support throughout the period of my research. Dr. William M.
Donnelly; Colonel Jon T. Hoffman, United States Marine Corps Reserve
(USMCR); and Mr. Frank R. Shirer of the Center of Military History at
Fort McNair, DC, provided valuable advice and recommendations based
on their extensive knowledge of the Korean War and amphibious opera-
tions. Professor Allan R. Millett, a retired Marine Corps Reserve colonel
as well as one of the preeminent historians of the Korean War, graciously
offered encouragement, support, and advice.
Much of the research for this book was conducted at the US Army
Military History Institute (MHI) at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. The
entire staff of MHI has my gratitude, in particular, the Director, Dr. Conrad
Crane, who was instrumental in my being selected to do this study; Dr.
Richard Sommers; Dr. Arthur Bergeron; Ms. Louise Arnold-Friend; Mr.
Richard Baker; Mr. Clif Hyatt; and the Circulation Desk Staff, Mr. Tom
Buffenbarger, Ms. Isabel Manske, Ms. Amy Pealer, Mr. Shaun Kirkpatrick,
Mr. Gary Johnson, Ms. Jessica Sheets, Mr. Steve Bye, Mr. Billy McElrath,
and Ms. Youngae Raymond.
My principal guide, mentor, colleague, and friend at MHI, Mr. David
Keough, provided indispensible advice, suggested avenues for research,
and tracked down obscure sources. He and Colonel Walter Wood, USMC
(Retired), have been my close companions throughout this project, serv-
ing as sounding boards and counselors, and reading the entire manuscript.
Dr. David Jablonsky also read the manuscript, sharing with me his deep
and broad knowledge of modern military history. Captain Albert Lord,
United States Navy (USN), the Senior Navy Representative at the Army
War College, reviewed the manuscript and made helpful suggestions.
v
Colonel Clark Summers shared his experience with Transportation Corps
watercraft and over-the-shore logistics with me while he was a student at
the Army War College. Colonel (Retired) George Rasula read portions of
the manuscript and provided unique insights based on his own participa-
tion as an officer in the 31st Infantry Regiment in the Incheon and Iwon
landings, the battle east of the Jangjin (Changjin/Chosin) Reservoir, and
the Heungnam evacuation.
Dr. Lewis Bernstein, the United Nations Command/Combined Forces
Command/US Forces Korea Command Historian has been exceptionally
helpful, and I also wish to acknowledge Mr. Karl Swanson and Mr. Bruce
Conard, United States Forces Korea historians; and Major Patrick J. Berry,
of the Eighth Army G5. I have fond memories of retracing the Incheon
Landing with these four men. Dr. Choi Yong Ho, Dr. Nam Jeong-ok, and Dr.
Kang Ch’ang-guk of the Korean Institute for Military History Compilation
made great efforts to help me acquire material from Korean archives and
were unsparing of their time. Mr. John A. Burzynski of the United Nations
Command Component of the Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC)
provided advice and assistance, including communication with sources
and contacts in Korea, and UNCMAC interpreter/translators, Mr. Ham,
Chi Min; Ms. Kim, Hyun-young; Ms. Kim, Mi-na; and Mr. Yim, Chae-sul,
provided advice on current geographical nomenclature and translated some
of the Korean sources.
At the National Archives at College Park, I was greatly assisted by Mr.
Richard Boylan. Dr. Paul K. Walker, the Chief Historian of the Corps of
Engineers, provided useful leads for research and Dr. Michael J. Brodhead
spent many hours helping me find my way through the Engineer histori-
cal archives. At Fort Eustis, Virginia, the Transportation Corps Command
Historian, Mr. Richard E. Killblain, was also unstinting of his time and
effort. Dr. Jim Ginther, Ms. Patricia A. Mullen, and Mr. Michael Miller at
the Marine Corps University Archives were unfailingly helpful. Captain
Patrick Roth, USN (Retired), of the Center for Naval Analyses, Dr.
Edward Marolda, the Senior Historian at the Naval Historical Center, and
Ms. Kathleen M. Lloyd, the head of the Operational Archives Branch of
the NHC, provided helpful information on naval matters.
I have received much encouragement and support from the US Army
War College Department of Distance Education, in particular from the
Department Chairman, Dr. C. Clayton Chun; the Directors of Second
Year Studies, Dr. Stephen Lemons and Colonel Dwight Raymond; and
the Second Year Administrative Staff, Ms. Kathy Ramsey and Ms. Sylvia
Hollenbaugh. My friends at the US Army War College Library could
vi
always be counted on for cheerful and professional assistance and sup-
port. I wish to thank in particular the Director, Mr. Bohdan Kohutiak, Ms.
Jacqueline Bey, Ms. Virginia Shope, Ms. Margaret D. Baumgardner, and
Ms. Kathy Hindman. In Carlisle, I was provided with books, friendship,
and a pleasant working environment through the courtesy of Elizabeth and
Jeffrey Wood; Robert and Naomi Pham; Amy, Doug, and Andrew Fulton;
and Linda McBeth.
The following members of the Combat Studies Institute, US Army
Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, exhibited great pro-
fessional skill as well as patience and understanding in shepherding this
manuscript through the editing and publication process: Mr. Kendall D.
Gott, Chief, Research and Publications Team; Ms. Elizabeth Weigand, edi-
tor; and Ms. Robin Kern, illustrator.
My wife, Lil, assisted in the research, tracked down the history of
every LST that ever landed on a Korean beach, proofread the pages, and
provided the love and encouragement that have sustained me through the
years of research and writing.
Any errors or omissions in this book are, however, entirely my own.
vii