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[ Editors Note:
This article was published in Don Belcher’s book Fifties Frogs:
Journal of the Underwater Demolition Teams. He has graciously granted
permission to republish it here. Since there is renewed interest in CDR Mack
M. Boynton’s account of the Evacuation of Hungnam, we decided
to republish it for those who do not have the book. See Fifties Frogs:
Journal of the Underwater Demolition Teams for more photos.]
On 8 December 1950, MacArthur
ordered X CORPS to evacuate through the Port of Hungnam, and re-deploy to
South Korea as part of the Eighth Army. Given the size of the Force and the
near presence of the Chinese, the withdrawal had to be a carefully
orchestrated event.
Setting up a special
Evacuation Control Group, UDT Detachment Bravo, included, General Almond
directed the first MARDIV evacuation from 9 - 15 December. It was
followed by the ROK 1 CORPS from 15 - 17 December, the Seventh Infantry
Division from 18 - 21 December, and the Third INF. DIV from 21 - 24
December. All this occurred while coordinating shipping with Navy Task
Force 90. Uploading thousands of tons of supplies and maintaining a
secure perimeter, as Forces were evacuated; Detachment Bravo took over the
defense perimeter.
The withdrawal from Hungnam was
accomplished successfully despite all the potential dangers. The X
CORPS arranged for the withdrawal of over 105,000 troops, 18,422
vehicles, 350,000 tons of bulk cargo, as a bonus some 98,100 refugees.
One of the problems Detachment Bravo encountered with the refugees was their
looting of the "nice yellow cord" (prima cord). We solved
that problem by stringing it (out of their reach) from telephone poles. We
had Naval gunfire support all during this period. We worked with the
Army to coordinate a massive demolition plan, to destroy any cargo too bulky
or sensitive (frozen dynamite).
The X CORPS out loaded all
its elements on a strict timetable and moved them by sea to Ulsan, just north
of Pusan.
The last troops from the THIRD
INF DIV were embarked on the waiting ships, Christmas Eve' 1950. As
they departed, UDT 3 Detachment Bravo was completing their firing of
assemblies. The defense perimeter had been withdrawn, the Chinese troops were
swarming into the harbor area, and Detachment Bravo was receiving heavy
gunfire from them. As prearranged, Detachment Bravo began their
withdrawal to the edge of the breakwater.
FIRE IN THE
HOLE! (continue) |
