The war on the Korean peninsula came home to Henderson County when family and friends heard of the death of Marine Pfc. Patrick D. Pittillo. Within a few weeks, word was received that Army SSgt. James H. Duncan was missing after his bomber exploded. He was presumed captured by the enemy. Just after Thanksgiving 1950, residents heard the news that Marine Pfc. William M. Kitchens had been killed.
For the next three years, the people watched the news closely as their loved ones left for Korea, as veterans of World War II were re-called to duty, and as families mourned.
Just as the news was televised that agreements were reached on a cease-fire in 1953, families received notification of the deaths of Army Pfc. Earl C. Saltz and Army Pfc. James Edward Ward.
The following is a brief summary of the United States battles and military actions that resulted in the deaths of men from Henderson County. Short timelines of other battles and facts are presented to provide context.
1950
June 26 – Destroyers USS Mansfield and USS De Haven help evacuate 700 Americans and friendly foreign nationals from Inchon, South Korea
June 27 – A 68th All-Weather Squadron F-82 shoots down a North Korean Yak fighter and two enemy planes
June 29 –The USS Juneau conducts first naval gunfire mission near Samchock, South Korea.
June 29 – Fifth Air Force’s 3rd Bombardment Group sends 18 B-26 Invader light bombers against Heijo Airfield in Pyongyang, North Korea
July 1 – First U.S. Infantry units arrive in South Korea, Task Force Smith
July 5 – Battle of Osan, first U.S. ground action, Task Force Smith delays advancing North Korean units
July 11 – Marines and sailors from USS Juneau land near Kashin, North Korea, and destroy a railroad tunnel with explosives
July 19-20 – Battle of Taejon, North Korea defeats 24th Infantry Division and captures town
Aug. 1 – Eighth Army ordered to withdraw behind Naktong River and form Pusan perimeter
Aug. 2 – First Provisional Marine Brigade arrives at Pusan, South Korea
Aug. 3 – First Marine Corps aviation missions against North Korea flown from USS Sicily
Aug. 4-Sept. 16 – Defense of Pusan Perimeter
The first elements of the Marines came ashore at Pusan on Aug. 2.
The first combat with the North Koreans was Aug. 7, 1950, at Chindong-ni, about 50 miles west of Pusan.
Marine Pfc. Patrick D. Pittillo of Henderson County was mortally wounded by enemy artillery fire. He died of his wounds later that day.
Fighting in the defense of the Pusan Perimeter lasts until Sept. 16, 1950, when the North Koreans were driven back with heavy losses, and the Pusan Perimeter defense was stabilized.
Sept. 9, 1950 – Air Force SSgt. James H. Duncan of Henderson County was a gunner on a B-29A Superfortress Bomber on a bombing mission flying from Japan. The bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire and exploded mid-air near Wolbong-ni, South Korea. Five parachutes were seen. Duncan was known to have been in a prisoner of war camp in 1951. His remains have not been recovered.
Sept. 13-15 – Naval warships bomb near port of Inchon
Sept. 14 – USS Missouri targets Samchok
Sept. 15 – Inchon Landing by 1st Marine Division
Sept. 15-Oct. 7 – Inchon Operation and Liberation of Seoul after intense house to house fighting
Sept. 16-27 – Pusan Perimeter Breakout by Eighth U.S. Army
Oct. 7 – American units cross 38th Parallel
Oct. 20 – Capture of Pyongyang, North Korea
Oct. 26 – 1st Marine Division landing at Wonsan and begin move northward toward Manchurian border
Oct. 26 – First U.S. battle with Chinese forces near Unsan
Nov. 3-7 – 7th Marines defeat Chinese in fierce fighting at Sudong
Nov. 8 – First all-jet combat in history. F-80 Shooting Star shoots down MiG-15
Nov. 10-Dec. 24 – Navy evacuates 105,000 Americans, South Koreans and allied troops, 91,000 civilian refugees from Hungnam, North Korea, to Pusan, South Korea
Nov. 15 – 1st Marine Division reaches southern tip of Chosin Reservoir
Nov. 27-Dec. 15 – Battle of Chosin Reservoir:
On Nov. 27, the Chinese surprised the U.S. X Corps at the Chosin Reservoir area. A seven-day battle in freezing weather ensued. Marines with the 1st Marine Division and elements of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division were encircled and attacked by about 120,000 Chinese troops.
Marines and soldiers fight their way southward from the Chosin Reservoir to the port city of Hungnam along 78 miles of mountain road in freezing conditions. The battle resulted in the Chinese pushing the U.N. out of North Korea.
Marine Pfc. William M. Kitchens of Henderson County died during this battle on Nov. 29, 1950. He was awarded the Silver Star.
“The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class William M. Kitchens, Jr. (MCSN: 658413), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Assistant Gunner in a Machine Gun Squad of Company E, Second Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 29 November 1950. When a numerically superior enemy force penetrated several sectors of the line and gained positions on three sides of his platoon in a sudden, vicious onslaught, Private First Class Kitchens unhesitatingly volunteered to cross an open fire-swept area to obtain ammunition for the machine guns when the supply became low. Braving the heavy small arms, grenade and machine gun fire, he seized the ammunition and brought it back to his squad. Later in the action when the supply became almost depleted, he again crossed the fire-swept area to obtain replenishments and, on the return trip, encountered and annihilated four enemy soldiers. Mortally wounded as he delivered the ammunition, Private First Class Kitchens, by his bold initiative, great personal valor and heroic actions at great risk to his own life, contributed immeasurably to the repulsing of the enemy attack, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”
Nov. 30-Dec. 1 – 2nd Infantry Division passes through Kunu-ri “Gauntlet” while withdrawing. One-third of division killed, wounded or missing
Dec. 23 – Eighth Army establishes defensive positions around Seoul
Dec. 31-Jan. 7, 1951 – Third Battle of Seoul results in loss of city to communist forces
1951
Jan. 12-Feb. 15 – 1st Marine Division routs guerilla forces in Masan-Pohang-Sondong-Andong areas
Jan. 25 – U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division, including the 5th Cavalry, and the rest of 8th Army began to counterattack and advance back north. The advance was slow and methodical, averaging only two miles per day against fierce Chinese resistance.
Jan. 29-30 – Battle for Hill 312
The battle was fought in hand to hand combat between American soldiers of the 5th Cavalry Regiment and the Chinese. Chinese positions were destroyed.
Army 2nd Lt. Green Berry Mayo, husband of Ruth Julia Souther of Henderson County, died during this combat. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
“The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Green Berry Mayo (ASN: 0-962708), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Second Lieutenant Mayo distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Omaegok, Korea, on 29 January 1951. While Lieutenant Mayo’s platoon was participating in an attack against a well fortified and determined enemy force on Hill 312, it was suddenly subjected to intense and accurate fire from two enemy machine-gun emplacements, forcing the men to take advantage of the little cover available to them on the side of the hill. Lieutenant Mayo immediately realized that it would be impossible to withdraw without suffering heavy casualties and yet, to remain in their present position would subject the men to threat of annihilation from grenades rolled down the slope by the enemy. Instructing his men to stay under cover, he scrambled from his position and moved forward to assault the enemy emplacements. Single-handedly. Charging directly into the heavy fire, he began to throw grenades rapidly at all of the enemy strongpoints visible to him. As he drew closer to the enemy positions, the hostile troops rolled numerous grenades into his path, one of which exploded and fatally wounded him.”
Feb. 1 – Battle of Twin Tunnels with 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division
Feb. 13-15 – Battle of Chipyong-ni; Massacre at Hoengsong; Battle of Chuam-ni
One soldier from Henderson County died in the Massacre at Hoengsong and one soldier from Henderson County was taken prisoner at the Battle of Chuam-ni.
The Battle of Hoengsong, called the Massacre at Hoengsong by American soldiers, took place from Feb. 11 to Feb. 15. It is where the most concentrated number of U.S. killed in action casualties of the Korean War took place.
Army Pfc. Edgar L. Green of Henderson County was killed in action Feb. 13, 1951, during the Massacre at Hoengsong.
Following is an excerpt from the 15th Field Artillery: “At one point, GIs of the supporting 15th Field Artillery (FA) Battalion (2nd Division) encamped for the night, relying on ROK (South Korean) infantry for protection. When the Chinese attacked in the dark, the South Koreans fled. The enemy swarmed over the U.S. position. Some 204 artillerymen ultimately died, resulting in one of the most concentrated losses of American lives in the entire war, according to Joseph Gould in Korea: The Untold Story. Retreating ROKs streamed south past U.S. support forces, allowing the Chinese to flank American positions. Soon, the Chinese owned the narrow, twisting valley north of Hoengsong and the road that ran through it — the only escape route. Steep hills rose up on both sides of the road, turning the valley into a shooting gallery. The Chinese relentlessly rained mortar fire down on the withdrawing and vastly outnumbered GIs. Later came the hand-to-hand fighting. ‘At times,’ said one battalion commander, ‘U.N. troops lined up on one side of the road and tossed grenades at the enemy attacking from the other side of the road.’”
The Battle of Chuam-ni was fought between Feb. 12 and Feb. 17 at Chuam-ni, South Korea, for control of a supply line.
Army Pfc. Samuel K. Watkins of Henderson County was captured during this battle on Feb. 14. He will later die in a prisoner of war camp.
The Chinese were aware of a gap of about 12 miles between the 9th Infantry Regiment and the 23rd Regimental Combat Team. The 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment on Hill 444 four miles east of Chip’yong-ni were attacked by two Chinese battalions and withdrew northwest of Wonju. On Feb. 13, the Chinese began moving toward the 2nd Reconnaissance Company, of which Watkins was a soldier, east of Chuam-ni. The 2nd Reconnaissance Company having been sent out to patrol Route 24 in the gap in the defensive line around Wongju, were reinforced with “L Company”, 9th Infantry Regiment. Almost immediately they were attacked by Chinese forces from the northeast, which was repulsed. The Chinese then tried to encircle the two companies bringing about the withdrawal of the companies to a blocking position on Route 24 at Chuam-ni. On Feb. 14, the Chinese launched an attack against the 2nd Reconnaissance Company and “L Company”, 9th Infantry at Chuam-ni. Suffering large casualties, the two companies withdrew south along Route 24. Having been surrounded, the companies fought a fighting withdrawal suffering further casualties. The result of the withdrawal was that the 23rd Regiment had been cut off.
Feb. 16 – Siege of Wonsan begins. Siege ends July 27, 1963. Longest effective siege of a port in U.S. Naval history
March 1951 – Raids by Eighth Army into North Korea
March 7-31 – U.S. forces drive Communists back to 38th Parallel
March 14 – U.N. forces retake Seoul
March 23 – Paratroopers from 187th Regimental Combat Team dropped near Munsan-ni in second largest airborne operation of war
April 1-21 – 1st Marine Division advances north to Hwachon Reservoir. Chinese launch “Spring Offensive.” April 27 situation is stabilized.
April 12 – First major aerial duel. B-29 formation attacked with loss of two bombers. Eleven MiGs destroyed.
April 22-29 – Chinese launch First Spring offensive. Five U.S. Army divisions and 1st Marine Division participate
April 30 – Chinese offensive stopped north of Seoul
May 15-20 – Chinese launch Second Spring Offensive. Four U.S. Army divisions and 1st Marine Division participate.
Army Pfc. Uncas B. Hardin of Henderson County was killed in action May 18, 1951, during this offensive. He was awarded the Silver Star.
From the General Orders of the Second Infantry Division, United States Army – NARA related to PFC Uncas B Hardin, SS, 2nd Infantry Division, HCO, and General Order: 210-51, Date of Action: May 18, 1951:
Posthumous Award
AMENDMENT TO GENERAL ORDERS as pertains to Private First Class Uncas B Harden, RA14364515, Company H, 38th Infantry Regiment, as reads “Private First Class Uncas B Harden” is amended to read “Private First Class Uncas B Hardin.”
“Award of the Silver Star: By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 9 July 1918 and pursuant to authority in AR 600-45, the Silver Star for gallantry in action is awarded posthumously to the following named enlisted men:
“PRIVATE FIRST CLASS UNCAS B HARDEN, RA14364515, Infantry, United States Army, a member of Company H, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, distinguished himself by gallantry in action on 18 May 1951 in the vicinity of Kunmul-gol, Korea. On that date Private Harden was a member of the mortar platoon of his company which had the mission to hold and defend positions on a high hill. The mortar platoon was under intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire and ammunition was running low, when Private Harden, heedless of his own safety, volunteered to bring up more ammunition. In so doing, he had to cross an open field which was under constant enemy fire. As he returned with a load of ammunition, Private was severely wounded. Determined to carry out his vital mission, he courageously proceeded on his way with the critically needed ammunition. As he neared his platoon positions, he was struck a second time by hostile fire and fell mortally wounded. His tenacious devotion to duty enabled his comrades to defeat the advancing enemy force. The gallantry and heroic self-sacrifice of Private Harden reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.”
May 20-June 10 – Eighth Army counter attacks and pushes enemy north of 38th parallel
June 1-20 – Battle for the Punchbowl with 1st Marine Division northeast of Hwach’on Reservoir and succeeds in taking ridgeline.
Aug. 18-Sept. 18 – Battle of Bloody Ridge with 15th Field Artillery and 1st Marine Division advance to Soyang River northeast of Punchbowl.
Sept. 13-Oct. 15 – Battle of Heartbreak Ridge with 2nd Infantry Division seizing ridge
Army Cpl. Ivan F. Hefner of Henderson County was killed in action Oct. 12, 1951, at the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge.
At Bloody and Heartbreak Ridge, the 2nd Division was engaged in the fiercest action since spring. Infantrymen crawled hand-over-hand up towering, knife-crested ridges to assault the enemy who would yield a ridge only in desperation, then strike back in vigorous counterattack. The same crest often changed hands several times each day. In late September and early October 1951, a month-long battle focused on the complex structure of enemy defensive positions protecting the seven-mile-long hill mass that became known as Heartbreak Ridge. North Korean soldiers in bunkers effectively slowed the American advance, throwing fragmentation and concussion grenades. The battle raged until Oct. 14, when the enemy seemed to be willing to reopen the truce talks and the last ridge was secured.
1952
June 6-14 – 45th Infantry Division launches attacks on Old Baldy area
July 17-Aug. 4 First Battle for Old Baldy fought by 2nd Infantry Division, first in Chinese tactic to attack line of resistance in order to inflict casualties
Aug. 9-16, Sept. 5-15 – Battle of Bunker Hill fought by 1st Marine Division
Aug. 29 – War’s largest air raid over Pyongyang
Sept. 1 – Largest all-Navy air raid destroys oil refinery at Aoji, North Korea
Service at the front was just as dangerous in 1952 as it had been prior to truce talks. A savage, seesaw struggle was repeated on mountain peaks and ridges during 1952, as the two sides struggled over the no-man’s-land that separated the battle lines. Sporadic battles continued to be fought.
Army Pvt. Charles Marion Gentle of Henderson County was killed in action Sept. 6, 1952, in North Korea during the defense of the Heartbreak Ridge area a few miles north of the 38th parallel.
Sept. 17-24 – Outpost Kelly with 65th Infantry Regiment of 3rd Infantry Division besieged and falls in midst of aggressive Chinese assaults and firepower
Oct. 14-25 – Battle of Hill 598 (Sniper Ridge) with 7th Infantry Division battles Chinese near Kumhwa is a failure
Oct. 26-28 – Battle for the “Hook” with 7th Marines encounter stiff opposition
Oct. 27-28 – Jackson Heights with 65th Infantry Regiment fails after stiff resistance and heavy casualties
Nov. 3 – Heartbreak Ridge area held by 2nd Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment of 40th Infantry Division
Dec. 25 – T-Bone Hill with 38th Infantry Regiment of 2nd Infantry Division repels Chinese
1953
Jan. 25 – Assault on Spud Hill with 31st Infantry Regiment of 7th Infantry Division failed
March 17 – Hill 355 (Little Gibraltar) held by 9th Infantry Regiment of 2nd Infantry Division in Chinese assault
March 23-24 – Old Baldy/Pork Chop Complex held by 31st Infantry Regiment of 7th Infantry Division
March 26-30 – Outposts held by 5th Marine Regiment after heavy attack by Chinese
April 16-18 – Battle of Pork Chop Hill with 17th and 31st Infantry Regiments of 7th Infantry Division, heavy casualties
May 28-30 – Chinese launch regimental strength attacks against U.S. I Corps sector, Marine Corps tanks and artillery used to support Army’s 25th Infantry Division
Army Pfc. William C. Johnson of Henderson County was killed in action June 24, 1953, in North Korea.
This was in the “iron Triangle,” north of the 38th Parallel. “Boomerang Hill” was attacked and overrun by waves of Chinese soldiers.
For detailed description of this battle visit: https://donmooreswartales.com/2013/02/27/andy-branzei/
July 6-10 – Battle of Pork Chop Hill results in 7th Infantry Division ordered to evacuate its defensive positions and heavy casualties
July 13-27 – Battle of Kumsong River Salient is last Communist offensive
“The Communists exerted pressure upon several scattered points along the Eighth Army line in an effort to take long contested hills and outposts prior to the signing of an armistice. The reasons behind this pressure were difficult to fathom, since all of the threatened points fell in the demilitarized zone and would have to be abandoned by the UNC forces anyway. As it turned out, the Communists had to surrender possession of their new gains shortly thereafter.
“The operations along the front during the last week of the Korean War subsided again to small-scale probes and patrols, as each side now anticipated that the armistice soon would be signed.”
http://www.history.army.mil/books/korea/truce/ch21.htm
Army Pfc. Earl C. Saltz of Henderson County was killed in action July 16, 1953, in North Korea.
Army Pfc. James E. Ward was seriously wounded by an enemy missile July 21, 1953, at Christmas Hill in North Korea and died of those wounds later that day.
July 24-26 – Final U.S. ground combat with 7th and 1st Marine Regiments holding hills
July 27 – Last air-kill of war by United States military
July 27 – Armistice signed