The
Siege of Wonsan
"In
July," said IT Lampe, "we were told by a prisoner
that the minefields protecting the eastern beach of Kalma
Gak were in two rows, and that a boat could go safely from
the middle of Tae-do to the western tip of Hwangto-do without
crossing a mine line. Since the garrison platoon on Hwangto-do
had been asking for food, ammunition and additional men,
the situation warranted trying to take the LCVP to the island.
That particular day, a strong westerly wind made it impractical
to try to send the usual sampans. It would have been necessary
to scull all the way from Yo-do, a trip that would have
taken all night.
Therefore
I loaded the LCVP with all the things Hwangto-do needed,
and I headed for the island following the route recommended
by the POW. The trip was without mishap and turned out to
be the first of many. Thereafter, I took all the supplies
into Hwangto-do by LCVP, always at night.
In
early July 1951, Captain W. L. Anderson, USN, was CTG 95.2,
embarked in USS Blue (DD-744). While discussing the effectiveness
of the ships' gunfire with the captains of the Blue (CDR
R. S. Burdick) and the USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754, CDR G.
L Christie), it was brought out that the fire might. be
.more effective with a Shore Fire party stationed - close
in to the targets I assured them that the island of Hwangto-do
could be used for this purpose and would be an ideal location.
We
made out a list of the things the party should take with
them: Included was all the food they would use, the kind
of clothing and bedding; the kinds and numbers of weapons,
and the amount of ammunition and the. radio gear most suitable.
A volunteer Party was picked, and a night chose to go in.
Volunteers were requested because the party could-expect
to be under close, accurate enemy artillery and mortar fire
and , of course there was the ever present threat of an
enemy landing.
Raiding sampans coming out from the south couldn't be detected
by radar from the siege ships, and the ships would be unable
to take them under fire when they were close to the island.
Even so, everyone wanted to volunteer.
On the night of 5-6 July - I951, I took them in to Hwangto-do
in one of the destroyer's whaleboats and got them 'squared
away'. The whaleboat carried a radar reflecting screen,
and the ships kept a close watch on our progress. We landed
on the only beach on the island. This beach was on the west
side of the island and was very exposed to enemy fire. The
rest of the island coast was rough rock and couldn't be
approached because of underwater rocks. Nearby was a cluster
of ten fishing huts.
The shore fire control party holed up in one the fishing
huts. The Korean Marine Corps garrison platoon was most
happy to have them on the island.
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"The
Fightin' Floyd B"
