1ST MARINE REGIMENT - HISTORICAL DIARY - DECEMBER 1950

Korean War

Korean War Project Record: USMC-2855

CD: 25

United States Marine Corps History Division

Quantico, Virginia

Records: United States Marine Corps

Unit Name:

Records Group: RG 127

Depository: National Archives and Records Administration

Location: College Park, Maryland

Editor: Hal Barker

Korean War Project

P.O. Box 180190

Dallas, TX 75218-0190 http://www.koreanwar.org DECLA_SSIFTF.D Korean War Project USMC-04100033 ...... , llllilli. :.:.. .,.....; 6&86/946 .nH Ser ' 1'· """ J,, \1. "'. '! .. );$~

h:f:k J il 1~~1 SECOND ENDORSEMENT on lstMar H1etor10A1 D1a~y-for-D;;•l960, ltr of 2 Jan 1951

From: Commanaing Gene~al, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific To: Cowm&.ndant of the Harine Corps

Subj; Historical u~ary for December 1950

J. C. BURGER Copy to; CG, .La vr-1a.rul. v.

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41-1/1du Ser ·_ ~ -_ ,....--- i8Ji8 - . 1 0 H:Jt it.:lbi FIRST ENDORSEMENT on lstMar Histor~cal Diary for .uecernoe:r .i.i:IOU, l t1~ of 2 Jan 1951 From: Commanding General, lat Ma.r·ine Division, FMF To : Commandant of the Marine Corps Via : Commano.ing General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific Subj: Hii'torical Diary for Decemt,er, 1950

1. For~larded. lJJw~- • 1 :fi, -S, WALSE'l'H Denuty Chief of Staff for Administration ·····.,,,, . }~" ··~ :..(.

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HEADQUARTERS. FIRST MARINES FIRST MARINE DIVISION, FLEET MARINE FORCE, 0 iO FLEET POST OFFICE, SAN F'RANCISCO, , I 2 January, .L 'dO.L

From: CommanCling Officer To: Commandant of the Marine Corne Via: Commant"~ing General, 1st Marine Division, FMF Subj; Historical Diary for December, 1950

(a) r~r~~raph 11401, Marine Co~¥S Manual (b) Division General Order No~ 16 l. SUMifARY At the opening of this period the let Marines was occupying positions in-the Chosen Reservoir Area of Korea as follows: - Hagaru-ri VIA 6271); 0u.on, lst Marines Sec 75mm RG Plat, ATCo, lstM.ar ' Koto-ri (TA 5559): H&SCo, lst Marines 2Q~n, let Marines ATCo (-). lst Marines 4.2mm Mortar Co, (-) let Marines Chinhung-ni (TA 5549j :lstBn, 1st Marines lstPlat, 4,2"mm Mortarco, lstMar Sec 75mm RG Plat, Ar·co, lstMar-

The tanl: platoc·n of the RegimentB.l Ar:ti-Tank Oom:pe.ny ~rae unaer tJ1e operational control of the lst Tank Battalion, let Marine Division.

During the perioil 1 - 11 December this regiment 1~ae engaged in continuous combat with the OCF, varying from patrol activity to all out assaults on Hagaru-ri and Koto-ri by the CCF in their attempt to overrun and annihilate the lst M:arines.

On ? December, in conjunction lr>Tith other units of the lst Marine Division~ this regiment commenced. tbe advance from the Chosen Hese:rvo1r Area to which was culminated on the evenin~ of 11 December when all elements of this re~iment arrived at an assembly area b~tween Hamhung ana Ch:Lgyong in~'l'A 6813, on 12 December the lat Marines, leas 2d and 3d Battalions moved to G:r·een Beach #2 iri. Hungnam followed. by the 2d and 3d. battalions on l.V December. Emb;n'ikat1on of t:roops and loading

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------Historical Diary for December, 1950 (Conti d) ------of equipment !,;<;a.e comcJenced this same Ctate vri th troops bol!rd.ir-~ e.nd equip­ the MS~PS GBnera.l COLLINS and the bulk of the vehicles being: loaded on the USS MONTAGUE (AKA 98). Loading and - ment for embarkation was completed and the HSTS.Generai COLLINS sailed Pusan Harbor at 1400! on 14 December, arriving and dropping anchor on 15 December, At 12001 the same date in Pusan Harbor at lOOOI ·~ the General COLL!NS pulled ln alongside the dock. debarkeO. • or~. 16 December• the 2d ana. 3d. Battalions; lst Marines; AssemblY Are~ north of Masan and entrained for the Re~imental0 -- -- "' of the re~Ziment...... , on 1? in TA- 6:'98----, _ fcllowea. bv... the remainder - Decen:ber .. From 18 December through the remaindel' of the period oover··ed by this report the lst Marines was located ln TA 6298. 2. CHRONOLOGICAL NA?JtATIV"E Snecie.l Action Report for this period, l = 15; See lst Marines -~ -

16: 2c1. Rn0. 3d. Battalions Clebarked from the MSTS General COLLI!lS, at clock in Puaan, ana ;.ras transported bJ raid to the rev,imental assembly area in Yongdong-ni ('fA 6298 i. 17; Regimental Headquarter-s and Service, 4.2nmm l·fortar,. end Anti-Tank Companies and_ the lst Battalion d.ebe.. r1-~ed_ MSTS General assembly COLLii:·IS and ~·ta.s transported by train to the !'egimental area .. ' 18 - 31; Throughout this perioCI. the ls t Marines remained in regiment the Yonoon~-ni asRembly area.- All organizations of the macle every-effort to catch up on the back log of administrative ""'ork and official reports ae 1.vell as to reorganize, reequip, and cary out an intensive schedule of tJ•aining prepar.9.tory to further commitment in combat. This t:rEtining consisted of small unit problerraJ up to company level to intergrate the many new replacements which hRd been received, conditioning hikes, and firing of in: dividual wee:oons of men now armed with a weapon which they haa not previously fired. Arrangements have been made for fir~ng. of crew served weapons as soon as such we1~pons can be repal!'ea. or replacecl. by lst Ord.nance Battalion.

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------Historical Diary for December 1960 ------( Cont' dj ------·------... ---- .... Th~ 1st ~~r-1n~~ ~~~ a=8!gn*d a da!ly ~~~r pa~cl or re1ntorced v;:t~~Aft~~~t~h!0mi~!f~nt:~ ~:;~::~m~:n;::~g::!ai~t!:;a~~g-ni inter~og~tlng n;tiv;;-Q";;-;m;- en-&m.y-;,;·tivity-a~ound til~£;u;ea:- 'l'h1a patrol has baen negative to date. On 24 December a warning order was receiT eli from let Marine • Division to be pr~pare~ t~~~v~! on or~~r, ET. trai~ and.~t~r~ .. -co an area approxaa teJ.y a:JV iil.J..eii nor"t;il. 'inl.& ora.er &'iia liea. li.O&'t; move wou .La. nOt be made pr-ior to l January 1951. .• -":~ ..~- J . .~ .4 It~ -r,.. 1.• .-..-~ ·z.."'' ""• B. PULLER

.Appendices: ( li' Directives received and ieslled.

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DECLASSIFIED DECLA_SSIFTF.D Korean War Project USMC-04100038- ©~©ri.~$$llWO~fiD -- H~ARTERs, FIRST MARINES, FIRST MARINE DIVISION, n.Ell)T ~INE_Fl:)!!-~!ii.L __ _ ojo FlEii'l' POST OF~·ICE, SAN FRANCISOO, OAL.Lr"O&i..i.A..

App~n~ix l to let Y~~inee Hietor1aal Diary tor December= 1950

1. Directives received! Ordel"iii a. let Marine Divieion Operation I

2. D1reot1wes issued: a. let Marine OPeration Ordere: 16-50 of '7 Dec 1960 l?-50 of l8 Dvo 1950

b. let ~1ar-L:e Operation Plans:

E--50 of 2'? Dec 19!50

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