by Griff Hosker
As we waited for the truck the Lieutenant and Williams were still checking the detonators and timers. Sergeant Major Thorpe looked worried, “Are you certain about this, sir?”
“The planners have already tied our hands by sending us out so quickly with inexperienced men. In a perfect world, I would refuse to go, Sarn’t Major, but we both know that this is an imperfect world. You and I have a hard task ahead of us. We have to turn these keen young men into professionals, without getting them killed.”
He nodded, “Just come back safe, sir. I am getting too old to lose good officers!”
“Don’t worry, Ken, I will do my best! I have three children to watch grow!”
Just then the truck arrived. I turned and shouted, “Come on Lieutenant, we have an aeroplane to catch!”
As I climbed in the cab the driver said, “The Colonel is at the field already, sir.”
“Good.”
The field was close and we were there within twenty minutes. I saw transports, fighters and fighter bombers. It had taken some time to recapture Seoul and MacArthur did not intend to relinquish it easily. There was a Quonset Hut which the driver drove towards. “The Colonel said to have your men put their gear in there and I am to take you to the tower.”
“Right.” I clambered out and said, “Lieutenant, take the men into the hut and have my gear unloaded. I will be back shortly.”
“Don’t worry sir, Marine Williams and I have plenty to do yet!” I saw Williams roll his eyes.
We drove the two hundred yards or so to the tower. I left the cab and climbed the stairs. A flight sergeant pointed me to a room. The Colonel and the two pilots were studying a map. “Ah, Major Harsker, this is Captain Waring and Lieutenant Stonebridge. They are taking you in tonight.”
They saluted and the captain said, “This is all a bit sudden, eh sir?”
“You could say that. What height are you flying in at?”
“Not as high as we would like, sir, the mountains are a little high but we appreciate that you have to be low to make certain that you hit the target.”
“What strength is the wind?”
“That is the other issue, sir, the North Koreans do not share their weather data but we estimate that it will be twenty to thirty miles an hour when you drop and it will reduce to five or ten by the time you are on the ground.”
I had been studying the map while he had been talking, “I know it is asking a great deal but if you could fly south to north and use the road as a guide it might make our job easier. We can march down a road faster than down a mountain. We might well be a mile or two out. My lads are fit and we can run.”
“We can try that but what we don’t know is the strength of the air defences.”
I laughed, “Captain, what we don’t know would fill a hanger full of Dakotas!” He laughed too. “Whatever you can do to get us close would be appreciated.”
The Colonel said, “It will be the 1st Marine Division which is the spearhead of the attack. They have been warned to look out for friendlies but…”
“I know, sir. Don’t worry, we will be circumspect.”
“Well, I will be off and leave you chaps to go over the finer details. I will be listening on the radio although as there will be radio silence until contact is made, I am hoping that I just listen to static. If not, it may presage a disaster!” With that cheerful thought, he left.
When he had gone, I said, “Look, Captain, if we are dropped too far north it will not be a disaster. We just have to stop reinforcements from the north. Just get us close to the road and not in the town and we will be happy bunnies!”
He laughed, “Don’t worry, sir, I know my business. We will head west when we leave the field. We believe that the North Koreans are watching the airfield. This way was can deceive them and gain height so that I can bring her around to the right course. It adds time for the flight but we are close enough for it not to matter.” I nodded. It was a sound strategy. He lit another cigarette, “Sir, I think I have heard your name before. Wasn’t your father an ace in the Great War?”
“He was.”
“Then your brother must be the pilot he set up that company with.”
“No, I have no brother, I am a pilot too.”
“That explains a lot!” He laughed, “You know the problems we face, then?”
“As well as anybody. I am happy to be in your hands, Captain, and I will go and see my men. We have a long twenty-four hours ahead of us!”
I returned to my men who looked up expectantly when I entered, “It could be a little windy up there. “First things first and then we will check and pack our chutes.” I had learned that packing your own parachute was the best way to ensure that it opened. I made certain that I had their attention. In my head, I had a checklist and I ran through it. “Lieutenant, make sure that you and Marine Williams split the explosives. detonators and timers between you then if we are separated we have a chance of pulling off this magic act.” They nodded. “To that end, Williams you will be right behind me at the front. Lieutenant, you will bring up the rear.”
“Sir.”
“Ashcroft, you and the radio will be behind Williams. Corporal, you will be next, then Smith, Lofting and Fox. When we go out, we try to do it so that we are as close together as possible. I have asked the pilot to take us from south-east to north-west along the valley and the road we will be using. It means if we are strung out, we can use the road as a marker. Marine Lofting, you will be northern lookout along with Fox. You watch the road to the north. Corporal, you and Smith will watch the road to the south. I hope we are undisturbed but with our air cover during the day I know that the North Koreans will move men during the night.”
The Lieutenant said, “And if that happens, sir?”
“Then we think on our feet! Now pack your chutes.”
There was total silence as we packed our parachutes. I noticed that a couple of the men watched and then copied me as I packed mine. I had been the same the first time I had done this. They had all done this, at least once, but it was more reassuring to watch a veteran do it. When they were all packed and stacked, I said, “I know it is a little late for this but we have been pressured into this operation. Were you all taught to improvise booby traps from hand grenades and parachute cord?”
Their blank looks gave me the answer.
I nodded, “When we land, do not throw away your parachutes.” I went to my Bergen and took out some parachute cords. “These are from my last jump in World War Two!” Taking a grenade from my battle vest I showed them how to use the cord to trigger the grenade. “You can use paths, stones, vehicles, anything. Booby traps saved me and my men on many an occasion. We are few and the enemy is not! The parachute itself makes great cover in snow and, remember, winter is just around the corner. In addition, you can use it for bedding.” I reached into my Bergen and took out some summer camouflage netting, “And I have this from the war. When we get back, I will have the Colonel source us some.”
The Lieutenant said, “Why did they not teach us this in training, sir?”
“For the simple reason that we were never taught it either. We learned in the field and when new men came, we passed it on. You, as you progress through the ranks, will pass it on to others and, I have no doubt, you will learn new skills. We play a dangerous game, Lieutenant, for we are behind the lines more than any other unit. If you want to survive then use any means at your disposal.”
Corporal Dixon nodded, “The Major is being modest, lads. In the last war the Germans had an order, the Hitler Order; all Commandos, even in uniform, were to be shot!”
Sam Williams said, “So you were never caught then, sir?”
“Oh, I was caught, in North Africa by the SS but I escaped!” I made it sound simple but Bill Hay and I had been lucky and we both knew it. “Anyway, check your bags and then get some rest.”
My words had the effect of focussing them on the mission. All of them assiduously packed their bags. I repacked mine and then applied
the camouflage to my face and hands. That done, I sat on my chute and lit my pipe. Would this be the last team I would lead? I had thought that the section which I had first led at Donbaek-ri would have been the last but I was wrong. Where were they? There was no Hitler Order but I doubted that they would be treated well. As our men in Burma had discovered, the eastern mentality and attitude to war was different from that of the west.
My pipe had just gone out when Lieutenant Stonebridge and the Flight Sergeant came in, “It is time, sir.” The windowless building had hidden the fact that night had fallen.
“Come on lads. Chutes on,” Matt Dixon took charge and watched each man for me. We all donned our parachutes and we each checked the next man’s. We would do so again before we jumped. You could never check the parachute too many times.
We walked across the tarmac to the waiting Dakota. I entered first and jammed my Bergen and machine gun under the bench. Williams sat opposite me and Matt Dixon next to me. We had plenty of room. The Flight Sergeant waited until we were all seated before he closed the hatch and took his seat. There was lighting but it was, perforce, dim and just cast an eerie glow on the interior. When we were close to the target it would change to red.
Corporal Dixon could see the nervous looks on some of the faces and he tried to make it easier for them, “You know that the Major can fly?” Their faces all turned to me. “That’s right, isn’t it, sir? You can fly one of these.”
“Yes, Corporal. They are a solid aeroplane but hopefully, I will not be required to give a hand!” They laughed and the tension was eased. “If we had longer in the air, I would be so confident I would have a nap but, as it is…”
Just then the engines fired up. I saw the Flight Sergeant plug in his headset. Conversation would be difficult for a while. The pilot knew his business and we were soon in the air. I felt the aeroplane bank and heard the engines working hard as we climbed. We had mountains to cross and then he would descend. It was a relatively short journey and we would not be in the air for long. When we heard the steady beat of the engines, I knew we were at the right altitude. I looked at my watch. I estimated that we would have less than forty-five minutes of flying time.
I saw the Flight Sergeant nod and then stand. I put on my cap comforter and parachute helmet. He unplugged his intercom and after walking to the hatch he turned the light to red. I stood and slid my Bergen and gun from under the seat. I took my hook and clipped it on the rail. Then I hung my machine gun from my battle vest and put my Bergen so that it was before me with the straps behind my arms. The Flight Sergeant checked my hook and nodded. I heard a click behind me and then Marine Williams tapped me on the shoulder. My chute was fine. I turned and checked his. The Flight Sergeant came back down the line and plugged his intercom back in. He gestured for me to move towards the door. We all shuffled down. I could feel Williams’ Bergen in my back and knew that my words had been heeded. I knew when we were getting close for the Flight Sergeant opened the door and there was a rush of cold air. Through the open door, all that I could see was the black of night. The red light above the door would turn off and the green one light when it was time. With my arms wrapped around the Bergen, I stood as close to the door as I could. The American’s arm was across the door and I could hear the wind whistling. The sergeant was listening intently to the pilot.
No matter how many times you did this it was always a critical time just before you stepped out in to darkness. You relied on the skill of the pilot and his crew. The Flight Sergeant grinned, nodded, and, as the light turned green, moved his hand away. I was ready and I stepped out. The shock of the cold and wind hit me. I resisted the temptation to watch for the chute opening; I looked, instead, at the ground. I could see nothing yet. I heard the crack as the chute opened and, as I was jerked upright, my descent slowed. There would be little point in looking above me for all I would see would be the canopy. If all had gone well then my men would be behind me and following my flight. I took hold of the cords I would use to steer. The wind was from the south and I saw below me something which indicated buildings for a light flashed and then darkened. That would be a door opening. That helped me to locate the long black snake which was the road. I realised that I was being taken too far to the east and I adjusted my parachute and saw that I was now following the road. I had to hope that the light I had glimpsed had been Pyonggang. It did not really matter where we landed on the road so long as we reached it.
I must have been five hundred feet or so from the ground when I saw, in the distance far to the north, a dim glow. It had to be vehicles coming down the road. This would be a race to land, gather our parachutes and then hide! I concentrated on my landing. I adjusted the cords so that I was aligned with the road which was mercifully straight although I had no idea what the surface would be like. I braced myself and as my feet hit the ground began to run. The wind behind caught my parachute and I began to reel it in. As soon as it deflated, I was able to stop. I could not see the headlights any longer but they were coming in our direction. I bundled the chute and then, after dropping my Bergen, I took off my harness and put the whole lot into my Bergen. I slung my Tommy gun over my back and took out my Colt. I fitted the silencer as I turned. Williams was off to the side and was struggling to get his parachute under control. The Corporal and Ashcroft had also made the road.
I ran to the Corporal, “Dixon, there is a convoy heading down the road. Get the men under cover. I will go and help Williams.”
I ran and grabbed Williams’ parachute which was in danger of inflating again. “Sorry, sir. I came down fast and I thought I was going to hit you.”
“Don’t worry. It is my fault. I should have realised you had more weight with the explosives. Put your chute in your bag and take cover. There are trucks heading down the road.”
I ran back to the road. I saw, way in the distance. the dimmed lights of North Korean trucks. Corporal Dixon ran up to me, “All the birds have landed. They are all taking cover.”
“Then let us join them.”
We hurried to join Williams who had found a jumble of rocks behind which to hide. I risked looking down the road and I was gratified that I could not see my men. I could now hear the trucks as they laboured up a slight slope.
I could not see my men but I hoped that they could all hear me. “They are close. Cock your weapons but don’t use them until I give the command.” I had no idea how many trucks there were. If it was just one or even two, we might have risked an ambush but that would jeopardise the operation. I ducked back down and listened. The engine noise grew louder and then there was a sort of echo as they neared us. I was able to count the trucks from their engine noise. There were six trucks and the last vehicle sounded like a GAZ, the Korean equivalent of a Jeep. I had driven one and knew the sound. Then the trucks receded south. I risked standing and could see nothing so I said, “On me!” I hurried back to the road. “Corporal, gather them here. Set the vanguard and rearguard. Williams, when the Lieutenant arrives bring him to me.”
I hurried up the road. I knew what I was looking for but not where to find it. I had to estimate where I had heard the echoing noise. It had been a culvert or bridge. I went to the side of the road where I found the drainage ditch. It would be a perfect place to leave charges. The Lieutenant and Williams found me when I dropped to the bottom of the water-filled ditch.
“Sir?” I heard the urgency in that one word. It was now 0300 and we had less than two hours to plant the charges but I had found the perfect place.
“Here, Lieutenant, we have a culvert under the road. There is a stream. I heard the corrugated iron echoing when the trucks drove over it. You won’t need to dig and you can use the rocks to channel the explosion upwards. Can I leave you two to it?”
His teeth shone white against his camouflage as he grinned, “Yes sir! This will be the work of a moment.”
“Take all the time you like, Lieutenant, but get it right. When they are set, head back to Ashcroft and the Command Post.”
I ran back down the road. I was wearing my rubber-soled shoes rather than my boots. When winter kicked in, they would be redundant. I passed Lofting and Fox, “You two can wait up ahead where the Lieutenant is laying his charges. When he is done follow him to the CP.”
The rest of my men apart from Smith and the Corporal were with Ashcroft. “Did the radio survive?” They were a lot less bulky than the ones we had used in the last war.
“Yes, sir but the proof will be when I try to use it.”
“This is the Command Post. Cock your weapons and keep watch. I will not be long.”
“Where are you off to, sir?”
I could hear the worry in his voice, “Don’t worry, Marine, I am just going to find us a way out.” I took out my compass and began to walk eastwards. We had to get as far away from the road as we could. I saw the side of the valley rise rapidly to some peaks. I took a course to the south and east. It was a risk but I wanted to make certain that we would be close enough to the town to be able to see when the Marines had captured it. This was rough ground and had, as far as I could see, never been farmed. I suppose animals might have grazed but there appeared to be more rock than things which grew. I kept turning to keep an eye on the road. We had to be far enough away so that we would not be seen but close enough so that if the explosives failed to go off then we could do something about it. I reached a steep part. There was no trail to be seen but there were some enormous boulders. I guessed they must have fallen from above at some time. There was no direct way in and so I had to climb over them. I found a perfect place to hide where the huge boulders circled a void; it looked like an animal den. I climbed back out and headed back to the road. I checked my watch. It was 0345; the attack would be starting in forty-five minutes.
