This introduction to the Wolfhounds occurred on Koje- Do Island (POW Camp) in very early January, 1952. I arrived as a corporal following completion of Infantry Leadership at Fort Jackson, SC. A Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) was immediately presented, a replacement award. The honor of assistant BAR man was reserved for PVT-2 and PFC's upon arrival for two weeks only, then promoted to BAR man. I was assigned to 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Company A.
The battle weary Wolfhounds were recently relieved from the Korean central front, in the Iron Triangle area. They were shaggy, cold weather beaten and mean. Meanest of all was a veteran Corporal Hutael, a Pennsylvania coal miner. His personality was developed in part to the escorting of his brother's body home in 1951, with orders to return to the Wolfhounds. All Chinese and North Korean POW's appeared to know his name. We experienced few difficult instances following the initial testing of the Wolfhounds by the hard core communists of compound No. 66.
Wolfhound tradition was ubiquitous throughout the command, from M. Sgt. Thissen (2nd Plt Sgt) up to an excellent regimental CO, Colonel Edwards. We were informed of the Wolfhound Siberian history, their Pusan Perimeter stand and of course Capt. Millett's bayonet charge, etc,etc.
Approximately 90 days in the Mundung-ni Valley, Wolfhounds returned to the eastern front following intensive training of considerable replacement strength. This arrival was in time to use the U.S. Army's best technology breakthrough of the Korean War -- the infantry light insulated winter boot (the Mickey-Mouse boot). The young 2nd platoon of Co A was commanded again by what we thought was the best infantry officer in the U.S. Army -- LT E. K. Chandler, an LSU ROTC alumnus. He had recently recovered from his wounds suffered on the central front during late 1951. Considerable evidence remained in the Mundung-ni Valley by elements of the gallant 2nd Division's final drive north -- mostly abandoned Sherman tanks between the Wolfhounds and the enemy. We were also introduced to the Wolfhounds best Korean flank strength -- the Turk Brigade. The Turks adored any reckless Wolfhound with a sharp bayonet (or long knife) or an automatic firing weapon. The seasoned South Korean's (ROK) were also good allies.
We endured the first 30 days in the Mundung-ni Valley. Following countless night patrols and mortar fire -- mostly enemy 120-mm mortars -- on the 2nd Platoon without a KIA. The most ferocious fire on the entire 25th Division occurred following a ROK officer desertion. We must credit our survival long enough to be rewarded Combat Infantry Badges in part to a few WW II veterans. Some survived the "Battle of the Bulge" and Guadalcanal beach head. The Guadalcanal veteran was then a 14 year old Marine BAR man. We observed the most unusual WW II experience through a Pvt. Francisco Mesa, from Guam. He gained his early combat experience with guerrillas as a teenager. His short-fused and unorthodox tactics caused the blood pressure of many Wolfhounds to rise. The 1952 Wolfhound fighting edge was also created with street wise -- big city, mountain, cowboy and swampland grown soldiers. Other general accounts of Wolfhound action in the Mundung-ni Valley are presented in reference No. 4. A premature departure from the Mundung-ni Valley
After avoiding serious injury by considerable incoming fire, some short rounds, outrunning a booby-trap uphill (heard fuse ignite), hanging a loose boot heel on a mine trip wire, and thinking I was outrunning a crashing Navy Panther jet (collided with an L-19 spotter), an unmanned mine in front of our lines near out listening post -- finally got me on 23 May 52. Although I will probably carry some shrapnel located immediately below the beltline -- in the rear -- to my grave, eternal verbal indignities concerning my wound will continue. Only a Swedish Red Cross nurse in Pusan gave me any psychological comfort. A visiting British General to the same hospital in Pusan made sure I knew "shrapnel" was named after General Henry Shrapnel of the United Kingdom. In spite of enduring the verbal abuseses of my wound, I was more fortunate than another Wolfhound farther down slope. He received lung wounds from the same exploding mine (I cannot remember his name). The next best Army technology during the Korean War -- the litter helicopter (Bell H-13) -- may have saved my fellow Wolfhound's life. However transporting the two of us to the Regimental Aid Station for helicopter evacuation to MASH was another problem. Other Wolfhounds -- two were Cpl. Whitmore of Virginia and Cpl. Martinez of the El Paso, Texas area -- retrieved us from the mine field under enemy observation, carried us uphill at least half a mile on hand litters, then on a litter jeep down hill, and then evacuation on an armored (track) personnel carrier about two miles down the Mundung-ni Valley to the aid station under incoming artillery fire. I must say we never knew a medic that did not perform admirably during a crisis.
Return to the Front Lines
After three weeks of hospitalization (MASH, Wonju and Pusan), I returned to the front lines without the former youthful reckless abandonment. Travel back to the lines was unorganized and required about three days on a steam engine train as well as many forms of Army vehicle transportation. This travel was very uncomfortable with my wound still draining but after the hospital experience -- I was prepared to take my chances with the Wolfhounds again. The Wolfhounds had been relieved from the Mundung-ni Valley to a rest area and returned to a relatively calm front line section -- somewhere between the Satae-ri Valley. We only knew we were in the Heart Break Ridge area. Shortly after returning as 2nd Platoon Sergeant, we were ordered to relieved the Turk Brigade at higher elevations. This was a emotional experience. Upon arriving at the relief area, we could not locate our advance squad leader (a red-headed, mustachioed, BS degree Dairy major from Michigan State with a sharp M2 Carbine bayonet) named Sergeant Joe Graf. The Turks had apparently mistaken him for a prophet and proceeded with the wine and dine routine. We finally located a Turk sentry outside the platoon CP. Most of the remaining Turk platoon (which included only one sergeant and one corporal) was located on a noisy listening post with a bonfire. Probably because only the Turks commanded more respect than the Wolfhounds, we were not attacked, at least by mortars, during this noisy-unorganized relief.
Wolfhound Bonding
Sometime near mid-summer, the 1952 Wolfhounds were developing an intense fighting edge as they were ordered to a nearby secondary position. Because of long hours of continuous training and work in secondary positions, morale dropped a little when Wolfhounds were ordered back to front lines. However, during the next three months, considerable Wolfhound tradition was reincarnated. First Battalion Wolfhounds drew the lot of defending the most difficult and strategic location on Heartbreak Ridge -- "Sandbag Castle" -- in the Satae-ri Valley. Sandbag Castle was a very small pinnacle near 1000m elevation. Control of this summit provided superiority over the entire Satae-ri Valley cross-section. This summit was only large enough to accommodate one full strength platoon. Listening post Ages provided an eye ball environment for Wolfhounds and Communist forces.
A Charlie Company platoon occupied the Sandbag Castle summit during the first few weeks. Company A was located down slope -- the highest elevation Sherman tanks were located. Second Platoon served a considerable portion of their time as litter bearers for Charlie Company. WIA's included Cpl. Lee Yong Suk -- a ROK quadruple amputee (Ref No. 4). Within weeks, 2nd Platoon, Able Company was ordered to occupy the summit for a long stay, 96 days. Second Platoon, Baker Company occupied a slightly secondary position and shared equal duty on listening post Agnes. This platoon was commanded by the best West Point 2nd LT. we had known in Korea. His presence compensated for the usual non-presence of an officer associated with our platoon (or at least a experienced officer) was considerable distance from to the Able Company CP, commanded by 1st Lt. Roschelle and a gritty executive officer -- 1st Lt. Mitchell of 2nd Platoon. Because of 2nd Platoons precarious position, we were given a direct communication line to the 1st Battalion Headquarters. Our communications were often directed to a former Able Company Wolfhound, Sgt. Gerald Yeary (S-3 operations Sgt). This open door was now our ace and we learned immediately to use Navy Corsairs, eight inch howitzers and harassing quad .50's in our defense of Sandbag Castle.
Second Platoon had not experienced a KIA during 1952 until some few weeks after accepting responsibility for Sandbag Castle's defense. A young Pvt. from Tennessee was fatally hit by a sniper while working his way to listing post Agnes. A few days later, a visiting major from 1st Battalion met a similar fate.
The usually good intelligence informed 1st Battalion Wolfhounds that enemy strength was continually increasing in the immediate vicinity of Sandbag Castle. On one occasion, 2nd Platoon was advised to take cover in our deepest granite holes. Eight inch howitzer back-blast covered the entire Sandbag Castle area.
Shortly after midnight on September 6, 1952, 2nd Platoon's CP was aroused by ferocious burp-gun fire on listening post Ages, followed by continuous heavy barrages of incoming artillery and mortar fire. The Wolfhound News reported that more than 1,100 rounds hit the 1st Battalion area. Fortunately, most of the Wolfhounds at this point were well trained (over 3 to 9 months of combat experience), well disciplined and possessed characteristics of excellent Wolfhounds. During this attack, little command was needed or could be given above the squad level. They needed support fire immediately and additional small arm ammunition very soon. I lost my cool immediately when informed by 1st Battalion Headquarters that we were operating on an ammunition quota system. Within hours many 1st Battalion Wolfhounds were serving as ammo bearers for Sandbag Castle Wolfhounds. Two of these ammo bearers were critically wounded by a direct hit immediately behind our platoon CP. I will always regret that we could not give them immediate aid.
The vital time needed for 2nd Platoon and supporting element to establish some momentum was provided by Cpl. Martinez and his three Wolfhounds on listening post Agnes. Most of us probably owe our survival to these Wolfhounds. I can only remember two Wolfhounds escaping the North Korean held listening post (one was critically jaw wounded), well after daylight. At this point, 2nd Platoon had lost about 50% of its strength (about 25), mostly to WIA losses. After daylight, Lt. Roschelle and weapons platoon M.Sgt. Boggs (accompanied with 2nd Platoon radioman -- Pvt. Sullivan from Virginia) were serving as 60-mm mortar FO's. The FO position was located by the enemy. Only Pvt. Sullivan survived. During or near this sequence of events, Pvt. Sullivan lost a boot sole by a 120-mm dud. Twenty dollars that I owed Lt. Roschelle for R&R purposes was contributed to the Wolfhound Orphanage.
Lt. Mitchell was the only Co A's only surviving combat experienced officer. Shortly thereafter Navy Corsairs arrived with napalm bombs. The air support established a status-quo until Captain Hinman, a battle experienced - steel nerved Wolfhound (Love Co., a WW II veteran) walked into 2nd Platoon CP. I was probably more exhausted from our stand than any Infantry Leadership School training in near 100 degree F days at Fort Jackson, SC. Elation permeated me because this Love Company. C.O.'s firm - smooth commands, told me we had won the battle. Within hours Love Company had recaptured listening post Agnes and was prepared for possible counter attacks. By late afternoon on the sixth of September, Sandbag Castle was considered efficiency safe for the 1st Battalion CO to visit. The Love Co. CO. departed a few days later in the same manner that he came - unescorted, ahead of his Wolfhounds. We recovered Cpl. Martinez and the other Wolfhound bodies near an apparently very brave North Korean officers body. Wolfhound life on Sandbag Castle thereafter was rather routine. One attributing factor was the cold monsoonal type rains. All Wolfhound bodies were cold and wet for weeks. I will always be eternally thankful for a warm dry bed. However some misery subsided when offered the Army's excellent coffee or dry clothes from supply Sgt. Joe Reber.
Within a few days, Wolfhounds exposed to more secondary positions were asked to volunteer for a special mission. A commando-type platoon was trained to neutralize enemy build-up immediately in front of Sandbag Castle well after midnight. Their penetration was sufficiently close enough to use shape charges on enemy CPs. All but one man returned safely back through our lines -- LT Flanagan. We earned our well deserved relief in early November, 1952 from Sandbag Castle. Forty plus points gave me a rotation trip home, leaving SFC Ruthledge, a recent returnee from the hospital, in command of 2nd Platoon -- consisting of about 80 to 90% strength with ranks less than E-4. I left comfortable with his abilities to mold another crack Wolfhound Platoon, because the command of 2nd Platoon had oscillated between the two of us for more than six months.
Memories
Almost 20 years later, Mr. Norman Theriot - a former 2nd Platoon Cpl. from Golden Meadow, LA - shared his copy of ref No. 4 with me. I was elated to learn that Cpl. Martinez was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. His actions were indicative of our motto - Nec Aspera Terrent. He could also lead other Wolfhounds with few words and commanded respect from all 2nd Platoon Wolfhounds. My memory urges me to believe that a Silver Star citation was originally proposed for Cpl. Martinez, probably by Lt. Mitchell, if so updating Cpl. Martinez's award may compensate for the lack of awards for many deserving Woflhounds.
Proud Moments
More than thirty years later - January 1985, an invitation was extended for a farm land soil erosion control presentation at the National Association of Conservation Districts Conference in Hawaii. Subconsciously, I tend to believe that viewing the silt laden Yellow Sea, under moon light, on the way into Inchon attributed to my career dealing with soil erosion control research. While participating in the Ohau Island circle tour, we approached Schofield Barracks main gate. A native Hawaiian tour guide only wanted to discuss the Wolfhound Orphanage, the greatest Wolfhound act of benevolence. A visit to Schofield following my conference obligations was arranged with the January, 1985 1st Battalion Adjutant. I had never seen our peace time home. However, the Wolfhounds were preparing for a return visit to Korea. In spite of the "red carpet treatment" and my biases, I was convinced the Nec Aspera Terrent attitude continued to permeate the 1985 Wolfhounds, including Lt. Col. Linke.
Hilarious Moments
1. A replacement Sherman tank is crawling out of a stationary firing position near daylight in the 2nd Platoon, Co A sector, down slope from Sandbag Castle. In order to negotiate a 90 degree turn, the driver backs up, brakes fail, the driver jumps, the tank rolls end over end to a position about 1,000 feet lower in elevation. This lower elevated position is 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry's Headquarters. When the dust clears and we learn no one is injured, the life saving sprints by all headquarters personnel were humorous to share with others.
2. SFC Rutledge and I were discussing our 2nd Platoon defenses for the night - near sundown. We hear an incoming 120-mm mortar round that travels down slope behind us. We both dive simultaneously for a nearby ammunition bunker opening. We experienced considerable difficulty in gaining freedom of movement again.
3. Observing new 2d Lieutenant dive for cover upon hearing the sound of an outgoing artillery round.
4. Huge rats run across the noses of Wolfhounds in trenches during the wee hours of night - also minor earthquakes.
5. Showers in areas removed some distance from the frontlines were rare opportunities for Wolfhounds. On one occasion, in a hurry to board a truck for travel back to my unit, I collided with considerable force through the tend flap into a Lieutenant General. All I could inadvertently utter - (expletitive) three-star general!
6. While in a rest area, some Wolfhounds, obviously cold, stole a 5-gallon can of gasoline instead of fuel oil. They connected the gasoline can to their squad tent stove and entered a chow line. Some minutes later, the entire squad area blew-up with all it's ammo.
7. A veteran Wolfhound company clerk commits a courts-martial offense for selling the monthly beer rations to replacement Wolfhounds. I think the Wolfhound Orphanage received the profits as well as a pay loss for the clerk.
8. Listening to Wolfhound chatter concerning cold dehydrated chow and other rations expletives that I can not cite.
9. Best grenade arm probably among 1952 Wolfhounds (Pvt. Zubelinski) was used to harass adjacent Company sectors on quiet nights.
10. Daylight evidence of night moving stumps or rocks immediately in front of Wolfhound riflemen.
11. Major General Swift, 25th Division CO, pays a surprise visit to Wolfhound front lines in the Mundung-ni Valley. He is intercepted and welcomed to the 2nd Platoon, Co A sector without Company, Battalion and Regimental knowledge.
References Cited
1. Ruthefored, William de Jarnette. Ca 1945. 165 Days - 25th Division on Luzon (a pictorial history).
2. The 25th Division and World War 2. 1946 Capt. Robert F. Karolevity (ed.) and Lt. Donald A. Mandt (illus.), US Army, 25th Division. Army and Navy Publishing Co. Baton Rouge, LA 202 p.
3 Battleground of Korea - The Story of the 25th Infantry Division. 1951 Allan A. David and Norwin E.Austin (eds.) US Army, 25th Division. unpaged, illus 32cm.
4. Tropic Lightning in Korea. 1954. Richard T. Pullen, Robert E. Christensen and James C. Lotten (eds.) US Army, 25th Division. Albert Love Enterprises, Atlanta GA, unpaged, illus, maps, 31cm.
5. Wolfhound News, 1952. Vol 1 No. 215 (Sunday, 7 Sept. 1952).
6. Posthumous Medal of Honor Citation - Corporal Benito Martinez - US 54-055-424.
Copyright, 1995, George Langdale, Used with permission Also see: Wolfhounds of Sandbag Castle: A 96-Day Defense
