Leadership in Korea
Sam Williams

Leadership........a personal perspective.


The C-47 rattled down the makeshift runway, already littered with debris, loaded to its maximum capacity with wounded and frostbitten men who, in many cases didn't want to go. As the little (by today's standards) aircraft roared and shook, and finally left the ground at Hagaru-ri, many of us had mixed emotions....that of being free of this place and the other of having to leave others behind.

As the plane became airborne I began to wonder the obvious......How the hell did I get here and why? Six months ago, I was a 19 year old civilian, married, with a pregnant wife, a job and the beginning of a promising family life. In my senior year in high school, I joined the Marine Corps Reserve, in Santa Monica, California, in early 1948 because it seemed cool at the time. I had been a young teenager during WW II and hadn't really been able to contribute much. I had heard about the performance of the Marines, during that period and wanted to associate myself with those Marines. I, at that time new or cared very little about Korea, a nation that my 3rd grade class had studied as a class project, many years before.

At the beginning of the Korean war I received orders that all drills were mandatory and that I should appear at the next meeting with an alert of possible mobilization. I attended as ordered and was given the chance to apply for some special consideration due to my family status. I declined and, of course, found myself at Camp Pendleton, wearing a uniform and learning how to be a "real" marine with the First Battalion Seventh Marines. While still learning, we found ourselves aboard a couple of ships, the USS Okanogan and USS Bayfield, going on a journey that I had never even dreamt about. Honolulu and Kobe provided some liberty but back to the ship for Inchon, and what turned out to be an extremely good combat training period, especially with its terrain and good weather. Places like Inchon, Kimpo, The Han river, and finally Uijung-bu and participation in an advance patrol while the 1st Cav came through on their way to the north.

Inchon again, Wolmi island and back on LSTs for a stormy and long trip to the east coast. Being a voice radio operator, I was able to stand watches on the ship and drink lots of navy coffee. I also learned a lot about what we were doing. All good training for this ex-civilian, but not yet a marine in reality. You see many of us got most of our initial training at Camp Pendleton, aboard ship, and in South Korea. A few frills, like boot camp had been set aside.

With magnificent leaders like LtCol Ray Davis and the officers and staff NCOs and men of the battalion, both regular and reserve, we put together an impressive team. Impressive enough, I assume, for CG lstMarDiv to put our Regiment and our Battalion out front for the march to the Chosin.

Wonsan, Hamhung, and Hungnam, were all nice places to visit but I wouldn't want to stay there any longer than necessary, and we didn't. At Wonsan, a little close involvement with the LVT I was heading to shore on and the approaching USS Missouri, reminded me that sometimes its better to be on dry land. Shortly after that, we didn't see much unfrozen water.

Participating in the activities, south of Sudong, the Chinese, the tanks, and the one tank that almost ruined my night....the following morning and the scene on the other side of the river... all these things are well documented and the stories have been told over and over. I, and my SCR 300 radio just kept doing what we had learned.

Koto-ri was another story. It did help, though, for our cold weather training.......Damn, it really helped because it really got cold Thanks to my First Sergeant, I didn't just die of the cold. This southern California boy really needed some help. I began to really respect my leaders. I learned that at 19, there are a few things left to learn. Its especially important if you want to survive.

A little sunbathing at Hagaru, some good meals....at least larger ones. Personal hygiene and head digging was in order. It seemed quiet for a little while. How about Turkey Hill. It was the day before thanksgiving, but who cared. It was real food and although a little cold, tasty. Spent the night there and woke up giving an interview with a reporter and having me and HM1 R. A. Bond getting our picture taken .....later finding out that that picture was the first my family in California had heard or seen of me in some time.

The next morning we moved down the hill to the quaint little village of Udam-ni, set up shop and planned to stay awhile, while other units passed through. There was a great deal of activity back up the hill from whence we came so parts of the battalion went back to assist. A single tank stopped and parked adjacent to the road across from my position. A lot of noise in the valley, a lot of movement, and terrible cold. As for me, I stood my watches, made my hole deeper and better and occasionally ducked as incoming rounds hit the trees around our position.

A couple of mornings later we gathered our gear went to the road and waited around while the real heroes of this action worked their way up the hill to our left. I followed. My radio was still OK, and we slipped and slid and struggled up that hill. A couple of artillery rounds came in, one just making a furrow and not detonating. Lots of fire up the hill ahead and still slow movement. Nightfall and still walking or stumbling up the hill with grenades and small arms doing their job. Being on the battalion net gave me up to the minute activity reports, even though a few elements to the rear of the point.

About here is where I learned the true value of those who lead. At this point, I thought I had reached the end of my road. I was overwhelmed with exhaustion and not really even comprehending what I was hearing on my radio. I fell to the ground after falling down several times, only this time I don't think I cared. I just couldn't get up.

Then, something happened. I don't even remember his name. I doubt he even remembers that he picked me up and put me on my feet and pointed me in the right direction. Then with language useful for the encouragement of a 19 year old SCR 300 operator, he "urged" me up the (adjective deleted) hill.

Finally, daybreak came and there was a long flat area that we had to traverse. With no acceptable choices other than doing it, and with most of the Chinese fire suppressed, I, with others sauntered into Fox company's positions. I got within about 10 feet of some makeshift detection devices....strings and C-ration cans, and made myself a new home for awhile. Then we moved under some trees on a different slope and spent the night, waking up to a brief firefight in the morning.

I am not going to detail here, the CP because it told the real story of what went on for the past few days. Those stories have been well chronicled, if you just read the citations on the awards for those few days. That CP reflected the true courage of all and the strength of our leadership when the chips are down. From the tail end of the column that I had been in, to the pass and those who held it , and the column approaching on the road there was an abundance of the greatest leaders and their guidance.

Without our leaders, from General Smith, down to individuals in our battalion we would probably not have been able to extricate ourselves from that situation. Most of them were well publicized but there were a lot of individual stories of heroism and leadership, yet to be reported and they too can be recognized.

Later that afternoon, my radio now useless, I joined a squad sized team to sit on the knob overlooking the pass as the column on the road passed through. At dark, we moved down on the road and just walked and stumbled, finally coming to what appeared to be the head of the column with burning vehicles. A few of us continued on. Sometime later that night we were challenged at the Hagaru roadblock. I was taken to the an aid station and the next morning I was on that plane to Fukuoka and on to NAH Yokosuka by train....the beds were too short on the train but it was warm.

I felt here that I didn't finish all that I should have and that others who were later to join me in that crowded hospital, had given more than I. But life goes on. In a few short months, I learned that leadership is the most important combat weapon. Leadership from the top down. We even learn from those we lead.

Well, this young marine finally ended up at MCRDep San Diego and decided to try to become a real Marine, and to live up to the standards that I had observed in Korea. I reenlisted for 6 and again and again and got commissioned during Vietnam and retired but never forgot the lessons that I had learned by my leaders in 1950..........there are no schools as good as that school . Im proud to have served.


Captain Samuel G. Williams, USMC Retired.  Note Capt. Samuel served in Weapons co.

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