Retreat, Hell! Part 71

HEADQUARTERS, 3D ROK DIVISION ELEVEN MILES SOUTHEAST OF EAST Sh.o.r.e, CHOSIN RESERVOIR 0805 30 OCTOBER 1950.

McCoy had suggested-and General Almond had quickly agreed-that the Corps Commander should ride in the copilot's seat "because he could get a better look at the terrain from there."

McCoy rode in the pa.s.senger compartment with Captain Haig, an ROK major named Pak Sun, and two X Corps Military Policemen armed with Thompson submachine guns. With the exception of Haig, no one had ever ridden in a helicopter before, and it was obvious-at least at first-that they were more afraid of the helicopter than they were of the prospect of meeting the enemy.

Major Sun shouted in McCoy's ear, over the roar of the engine, announcing that he had attended the University of California, Los Angeles, on a swimming scholarship. McCoy just nodded and smiled.

The flight took about fifteen minutes, and as they made their approach, McCoy saw a Cessna L-19, with the X Corps' blue-and-white "X" shoulder patch painted on the engine nacelle. The small, high-wing observation aircraft was flying a circular pattern around the landing strip, which was a gravel "paved" road running parallel to the line of rocky hills on which the 3d ROK Division had set up its defensive positions.

He wondered if the airplane was there on orders, in case it was required to provide something, or whether the pilot was just curious about the black, unmarked H-19.

An ROK major general in a surprisingly natty fatigue uniform was waiting for them with a driver and two MPs in a highly polished jeep.

Major Sun began to translate the introductions, and presented Major General Lee Do, ROK, to Major General Edward M. Almond, USA. General Almond looked at McCoy with a question on his face. McCoy shook his head no, and Almond said, "Leave Major McCoy out of this, Sun."

Sun nodded his head in acknowledgment and McCoy was not introduced.

General Almond said he wanted to go up the hill, to the emplacements, to see for himself what was going on.

"Do you want to go, McCoy?"

Instead of replying directly, McCoy turned to the ROK general.

"General," he asked in faultless Korean, "where are you keeping your prisoners?"

Major Sun was as surprised that McCoy spoke Korean as was the ROK general.

The ROK general pointed down the road. McCoy saw the prisoners, and the moment he saw them-both from the bones of their faces and their quilted cotton uniforms- he knew they were Chinese.

"They don't look Korean to me, sir," McCoy said to Almond. "With General Do's permission, I think I'll go talk to them."

"I think it's best you do that alone, Major McCoy," Almond said.

"Yes, sir."

"Do you want Haig to go with you?" Almond asked.

"No, sir. Thank you. Major Donald and I have a little good cop-bad cop routine we've practiced, in antic.i.p.ation of something like this. Put on your nasty face, Major Donald, and lead me to the prisoners."

"Yes, sir," Donald said.

"I'm sorry I'm going to miss that," General Almond said as he got in the front seat of the shiny jeep. Haig and the two MPs got in the back. Since that left no room for him, the driver was left behind when General Do got behind the wheel and drove off.

McCoy went into the fuselage and came out with a Thompson. He handed it to the ROK soldier, a young sergeant.

"You come with us, please, Sergeant," McCoy ordered. "What I want you to do is point the weapon at the prisoners, acting as if nothing would give you greater pleasure than if the major gave you permission to shoot them."

"Are we going to shoot them, sir?" the ROK sergeant asked.

"Unfortunately, Sergeant, they are more valuable alive than dead."

"Yes, sir," the sergeant said. He was visibly disappointed.

"Okay, Alex, lead on," McCoy said.

The prisoners-there were sixteen of them; McCoy counted as he and Donald walked down the line-were sitting lined up against the side of the road, their backs against a vertical section of rocky hill that had been excavated. Two ROK soldiers, one with a Garand and the other with a carbine, guarded them.

The prisoners' hands and feet were bound. The ropes on their feet were further tied to the prisoner on either side, to discourage somebody from running away.

There was a double purpose-triple if you counted simple curiosity-in the march past. McCoy wanted them all to see Alex Donald glowering at them. And he wanted to see if he could detect from boots or a wrist.w.a.tch, or simply an att.i.tude, whether one or more of them, despite the enlisted men's uniforms they were all wearing, was an officer.

Alex finished his march past and stood in the road, about halfway down the line of prisoners, and glowered at them. McCoy walked in front of him. The driver took the Thompson from his shoulder and chambered a round. The prisoners looked at him nervously.

Number Four is glaring, McCoy thought. McCoy thought. His uniform is His uniform is pretty clean, too. I think I have found an officer. pretty clean, too. I think I have found an officer.

"Good morning," McCoy said in Cantonese. "The officer is from the headquarters of Generalissimo MacArthur."

Well, they speak Cantonese. There are three looks of noncomprehension. The rest are fascinated. Which almost certainly means the three "who don't understand"- including Number Four-are either officers or noncoms. Probably officers.

"He wishes to ask you all some questions," McCoy went on almost conversationally, in Cantonese. "Your answers will determine which of you will be taken to a prisoner-of-war compound and which will not."

He switched to English. "Shall we shoot one or two to put them in the right frame of mind?"

"Let's wait a bit," Donald replied.

Either none of them speaks English, or they're better at concealing fear than I think they are.

He turned and spoke softly to Major Donald.

"Start with Number Four," he said. "Let's take a chance. You say to me, 'I think this one is an officer.' We'll wing it from there."

Donald nodded, then made a curt follow me follow me gesture and walked toward the fourth prisoner in the line. gesture and walked toward the fourth prisoner in the line.

[FOUR].

TOP SECRET TOP SECRETURGENT HQ X CORPS 1015 30 OCTOBER 1950EYES ONLY SUPREME COMMANDER UNCPERSONAL MESSAGE FROM MAJGEN ALMOND TO GENARMY MACARTHUR BEGINSSIRREFERENCE: OPERATIONAL MAP 4031. AT APPROXIMATELY 2100 29OCT50 THE 26TH INFANTRY 3D ROK DIV THEN ADVANCING TOWARD THE CHOSIN RESERVOIR ALONG THE LINE COORDINATES 323.121 DASH 324.303 CAME UNDER Ma.s.sIVE ATTACK BY A LARGE, TANK REINFORCED ENEMY FORCE OF DIVISIONAL STRENGTH.2. THE LINES OF THE 26TH WERE BREACHED, AND THE REGIMENT IN SOME DISARRAY WAS FORCED TO WITHDRAW SOUTHEASTWARDLY AND HAS ESTABLISHED DEFENSIVE POSITIONS ALONG THE LINE COORDINATES 313.405 DASH 312.555.3. AT FIRST LIGHT THIS MORNING I WENT TO HQ 3D ROK DIV TO CONFER WITH MAJGEN LEE DO. IT IS HIS OPINION THAT THE ATTACKING FORCE WAS NOT NORTH KOREAN BUT CHINESE. AFTER INTERROGATION OF SIXTEEN (16) ENEMY PRISONERS IN MY PRESENCE BY ROK MAJ SUN OF MY HEADQUARTERS WHO IS FLUENT IN CHINESE I AM FORCED TO CONCLUDE THAT THE PRISONERS TAKEN ARE IN FACT CHINESE, SPECIFICALLY MEMBERS OF THE 124TH RED CHINESE INFANTRY DIVISION.4. ALL OF THE PRISONERS WERE CAPTURED WHILE ON A RECONNAISSANCE MISSION. TWO ARE OFFICERS, A MAJOR AND A SENIOR LIEUTENANT. BOTH, DURING THE INTERROGATION I WITNESSED, ADMITTED THEY WERE CHINESE, AND a.s.sIGNED TO THE 124TH RED CHINESE DIVISION. BOTH STATED THAT THE 124TH IS NOT REPEAT NOT ATTACHED TO OR SUBORDINATE TO ANY NORTH KOREAN COMMAND OR HEADQUARTERS BUT IS OPERATING ON ITS OWN, UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE RED CHINESE 42D FIELD ARMY. THE CAPTAIN STATED THE 42D FIELD ARMY IS ENTIRELY INSIDE NORTH KOREA, AND HAS THE MISSION OF EXPELLING UNITED NATIONS FORCES QUOTE FROM ALL AREAS NOW OCCUPIED BY UNITED NATIONS FORCES ENDQUOTE.5. HE FURTHER STATED THERE WERE OTHER RED CHINESE FORCES NOW PRESENT IN NORTH KOREA, CONSISTING OF AT LEAST ONE MORE FIELD ARMY, CHARGED WITH THE SAME MISSION, BUT WAS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO MAKE FURTHER IDENTIFICATION OF SUCH FORCES.RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.

EDWARD M. ALMOND.

MAJOR GENERAL.

COMMANDING X US CORPSEND PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM MAJGEN ALMOND TO GENARMY MACARTHURTOP SECRET.

[FIVE].

TOP SECRET TOP SECRETOPERATIONAL IMMEDIATEFISHBASE 1125 30 OCTOBER 1950EYES ONLY BRIG GEN FLEMING PICKERING TOKYO VIA STATION CHIEFS SEOUL AND PUSANTO ENSURE DELIVERY BOTH INTERMEDIATE ADDRESSEES WILL FORWARD FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO GENERAL PICKERING IMMEDIATELY ON RECEIPTMESSAGE BEGINSAT APPROXIMATELY 0900 THIS DATE UNDERSIGNED COMPLETED INTERROGATION OF TWO SIGNIFICANT PRISONERS HELD BY 3D ROK DIVISION IN VICINITY OF CHOSIN RESERVOIR. MAJOR SIN HOW LEE AND SENIOR LIEUTENANT WONG SU OF CHICOM 42D ARMY WERE CAPTURED BY ROKS WHILE ON A RECONNAISSANCE MISSION PRECEDING A SUCCESSFUL DIVISION SIZE ATTACK, WITH ARMOR, ON 26TH INFANTRY, 3D ROKDIV BY CHICOM 124TH INFANTRY DIVISION. THE ATTACK SUCCEEDED AND ENTIRE 3D ROK DIVISION WAS RENDERED SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT INEFFECTIVE.BOTH OFFICERS WERE UNUSUALLY COOPERATIVE DURING INTERROGATION BECAUSE OF THEIR BELIEF THAT AN OVERWHELMING STRENGTH OF CHINESE FORCES WAS ABOUT TO ENTER WAR, AND THEY WILL SHORTLY BE RELEASED FROM CAPTIVITY.THE INFORMATION THEY PROVIDED CONFIRMS IN EVERY IMPORTANT DETAIL WHAT THE UNDERSIGNED HAS LEARNED FROM OTHER SOURCES. MOREOVER, BOTH OFFICERS, WHO SAID THEY SERVED IN INTELLIGENCE LIAISON CAPACITIES BETWEEN CHICOM 4TH FIELD ARMY AND 42D ARMY, HAD AN USUALLY DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF US X CORPS INTENTIONS.THEY STATED CHICOM ATTACKS ON ROK UNITS WILL CONTINUE BUT ATTACKS ON US FORCES WILL PROBABLY WAIT UNTIL US FORCES ARE STRETCHED OUT BETWEEN EAST COAST PORTS AND THE CHINESE BORDER, WHEN QUOTE THEY WILL BE EASIER TO COMPLETELY ANNIHILATE ENDQUOTE.BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED, STAY-BEHINDS WILL BE INSERTED TONIGHT AT VARIOUS PLACES WHERE THEY WILL BE IN A POSITION TO LOCATE AND CONFIRM IDENt.i.tY OF CHICOM FORCES AS DESCRIBED BY PRISONERS. THEIR CONFIRMATION WILL FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY IF AND WHEN AVAILABLE.IN VIEW OF THE COOPERATIVE SPIRIT OF THE PRISONERS ONCE THEY BELIEVED THEY WERE BEING INTERVIEWED BY SENIOR US INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS BOTH WITH REGARD TO IDENTIFYING AND LOCATING CHICOM FORCES AND SPEAKING OF CHICOMINTENTIONS THE POSSIBILITY MUST BE CONSIDERED THAT THEY WERE ORDERED TO PERMIT THEMSELVES TO BE CAPTURED SO THAT AMERICAN COMMANDERS WOULD RECONSIDER OR CANCEL MOVEMENT TO THE CHINESE BORDER. THIS POSSIBILITY WOULD SEEM MORE LIKELY IF STAY-BEHINDS INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY CHICOM UNIT IDENt.i.tY, LOCATION, AND STRENGTH.THIS INTEL HAS NOT REPEAT NOT BEEN FURNISHED TO X CORPS OR 1ST MARDIV. IN LATTER CASE, THIS IS BECAUSE UNDERSIGNED HAS LEARNED GEN SMITH IS VERY DISPLEASED WITH TRANSFER OF PERSONNEL TO CIA.MCCOY, MAJ, USMCRTOP SECRET.

[SIX].

ROOM 39A, NEURO-PSYCHIATRIC WARD U.S. NAVAL HOSPITAL SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 0945 31 OCTOBER 1950.

When Lieutenant Patrick McGrory, MC, USN, pushed open the door he found Major Malcolm S. Pickering in pajamas and robe sitting in his plastic-upholstered chrome armchair attempting, without much success, to spin playing cards into his wastebasket, which he had placed on his metal folding chair.

"A little bored, are we?" McGrory inquired.

"I'm looking forward with immense antic.i.p.ation to the arrival, about now, of a Corpsman who will ask if I would like some canned grapefruit juice, if you find that of interest, Doctor."

"Well, cheer up, you're about to have a visitor."

"Well, then I guess I'd better clean up the mess"-he pointed to what looked like far more than one deck of playing cards on and beneath the folding chair. McGrory remembered the Ship's Store sold playing cards in packs of four decks-"before Mommy gets here, hadn't I?"

"It's not your mother," McGrory said. "It's somebody's wife. Can I leave here a.s.sured that you will behave as an officer and a gentleman?"

"Is her name Dawkins? Tiny little woman?"

"No. It's somebody else's wife. You are going to behave? "

"What does she want?"

"To bring a little cheer into your drab life, I suppose."

"I don't want to see anybody."

"Too late, I cleared her in. If there is misbehavior, there will not be martinis at the c.o.c.ktail hour. Understood?"

Pick gave him the finger.

McGrory put his right hand on his hip, waved the left, and in a feminine lisp said, "Oh, you Marines are so crude!"

Pick had to laugh.

"I'll see you in a while," McGrory said, and the door swung closed.

Three minutes later, just after Pick had finished picking up the cards, dumping them in the wastebasket, and putting the wastebasket back where it belonged, the door opened.

A good-looking young woman put her head into the room.

Wholesome, not striking, Major Pickering thought. Major Pickering thought. But, all in all, a very attractive package. But, all in all, a very attractive package.

"Major Pickering?" she asked.

"Guilty," he said.

"I'm Barbara Mitch.e.l.l," she said.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"d.i.c.k's wife," she said, and then corrected herself: "d.i.c.k's widow."

Oh, s.h.i.t! Jesus Christ, did that f.u.c.king McGrory know this? Is this his idea of therapy?

"I was sorry to hear about d.i.c.k," Pick said as he got to his feet. "He was a fine man."

"May I come in?"

"Of course," Pick said. And then his mouth ran away with him. "I'll even let you sit in the upholstered chair."

She gave him a strange look.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I guess you noticed this is the lunatic ward. I'm afraid you'll have to take that into account."

"It's all right," she said. "And that doctor-Mc-Grory? -said that you were in here only for evaluation, that you were . . ."

"Harmless? True. Ill-mannered, but harmless."

She walked past him and sat down in the armchair.

Nice tail.

What the f.u.c.k's the matter with you?

This is not a potential piece of tail; this is a lady whose husband just went in.

And what would you do with a piece of tail if one jumped at you?

Even one not the widow of a fellow Marine officer and Naval aviator fallen in honorable combat?

Being the p.r.i.c.k you know you are, you'd probably nail it.

"I got a very nice letter about d.i.c.k from Colonel Dunn," Mrs. Mitch.e.l.l said. "Actually, I got a letter about a week ago, and then yesterday there was another letter from Colonel Dunn, with a carbon copy of the first letter. He said that he wanted to make sure I had gotten the first. He said he'd given it to you to mail when you were taken off the Badoeng Strait, Badoeng Strait, but that you were in pretty bad shape and it might have been . . . misplaced." but that you were in pretty bad shape and it might have been . . . misplaced."

He didn't reply.

"Anyway, somewhere in his second letter he said that you were being sent here, so I had the impulse, and gave in to it, to come see if there was anything I could do for you. Bad idea, huh?"

"Not at all," Pick said. "I very much appreciate your coming."

"Really?"

"Really. Dr. McGrory is a fine fellow, but he's not much to look at."

She smiled uneasily.

Your f.u.c.king mouth is out of control. There was a clear implication there that you like looking at her.

What a f.u.c.king insensitive thing to say to a widow!

I hope she thinks I am am nuts. nuts.