Small Unit action, Febuary 1951

[btswanfury]

Works for me. What exactly do we want to do? I'm partial to digging out a bunker myself!

[Chicommie]

Howdy Abshire and the rest of the NC crew,
You know I'm coming as a Chi-com again! In regards
to the work weekend, the "staff" can crash at my place
at night again if you wanted for more beer, pizza, and
war movies! Let me know how I can help, if Dale can
make it this year we'll be bringing our "toys" we used
last year and one new surprise.
comrade, Patrick Hubble

[btswanfury]

Hey Pat,

Good to hear! I have the Maxim kitted out and ready to go so we have plenty of firepower to put down on the imperialist dogs!

I also have a few other tricks up my sleeve too. Looking forward to hanging with you!

Marc

[John Abshire]

Gentleman,

It looks like we are going to have a good turnout for this event, I judge the numbers to be slightly more than we had at last years very sucessful event. Its important for everyone to remember, that the events the QRF hosts are very scritped, but not so scritped that there arent objectives to overcome for both sides. The last event, there where only 2 full time Chi-coms and 1 part time Chi-com and that greatly limited the Chinese experience...with the numbers being much higher for this event I would like to take the time to extend a thanks to the chinese reenactors and hope that they will do what they can to have a chinese experience. It is important to do both sides of the coin when we do these events, because both sides suffered greatly. The only thing im willing to bend on for the Chi-coms is the sleeping gear for you guys...please fudge on this because the chi-Coms didnt have any way of staying warm, dry and honestly...alive...and a lot of them froze to death, had fingers and toes fall off, and other horrible cold weather injuries. There is always a chance for snow, rain, and other nasty climate conditions...and I dont want to put anyones health or livelyhood on the line for the sake of authenticity. NOW having said that...dont bring out fucking caming heaters, modern sleeping bags and tents and a DVD player...ill lead my soldiers into a bayonet assault and we will destroy your camp! It is not outside the realm of possibility for the chinese to have aquired blankets, sleeping bags, and such from the Americans...infact just going on common sense rather than research it makes perfact logical sense that some guys got their hands on American blankets, sleeping bags and other essentials...all that I ask is that you keep them out of site of the Americans...

For the GI reenactors, I want to send out a clear message...bring only what you know you can carry...and make sure you can carry it comfortably for an extended peroid of time. We might have a jeep or 2, but the jeeps will be busy doing Admin duties like running chow, wounded, ect and they cant be filled with junk they dont need. The basic scenario for this event will be the Americans on the move, trying to stay alive, while the 8th Army is attempting to re-group after the Chinese intervention. It is essential that everyone stay in character durring this event for it to be a sucess...we are going to have a lot of new faces at this event and those of us who were at the last event...it is up to us to make sure we keep the intergrity of the experience on a very high priority.

Hit taking:
Simple...you take a hit you live with that hit for the rest of the event. You get a leg wound...you have a hurt leg till sunday morning...so keep that in mind. The Chinese will take hits as needed, but dont "call hits" (this goes for both sides) the event is not a "win/lose' situation...it is a living history experience. This is not a tactical event persay, but it is more of a living the life of a soldier in Korea in 1951. Only a few of us will actually die, and those people know who they are...


Questions...comments post them here!

This event will be the 1st of 2 events we intend on hosting this year. There is plans for a Summer/Fall event and I will set a date before the Feb Tactical. So go ahead and start thinking about a summer impression (both sides) and start getting people who have not come to one of our events to plan on comming to the summer event.

Our goal is to host 3 events a year, 1 Winter Korean war event, 1 summer Korean war event, and 1 random time peroid (like Vietnam, ww2, ww1, civil war, ect) The events will be small, and run just like the past events...focous on authenticity, living history and overall sucess.

[btswanfury]

Here is a picture of Chinese sleeping arrangements in Korea. As you can see, there appear to be no standard blankets or sleeping bags, and at least some of them appear civilian (unless anyone knows of any military-issue plaid that isn't kilt related).

I have a bunch of Soviet WWII-vintage Plash-Palatki shelter halves, so I figure we can string those up and make a lean-to for the Chinese (I've seen images of Chinese wearing various poncho-like capes, so I assume that that's a close as we can get). If we can find a site that is out of visual range of the Americans, we can make a fire and that should keep us warm enough. I also have a million wool blankets in all colors and sizes, so at least K an I will be fine, although I may have to invest in a mountain sleeping bag

www.flickr.com/photos/32077508@N06/3073210084/in/set-72157610546729872/

[driftingfocus]

I was at the War Museum here in Seoul today, and I took a bunch of photos for folks, mostly of NK and Chi-Com stuff. I have some close-ups of propaganda leaflets from both sides, some close-ups of the crazy rubber-dipped sneakers, and some other miscellaneous equipment/uniform shots. I thought they might be useful for this event (and future ones). I'll post them later.

I'm really looking forward to this event!

- Kelsey

[John Abshire]

Opeartions Order 21, to 1st Platoon, HQ Company, 1st Bat, 23rd RCT.

OPORD 21 Operation Round-Up-1st Bat, 23rd Infantry Regiement, 2nd Infantry division

Enemy:Chinese and North korean, Units are unknown at this time, suspect high number of ChiComs working in the area.

Friendly: Able, Company is on our left flank and Baker company is in the reserve. 2nd Bat is on our right flank.

Environment

a.Weather: Tempratures will be cold and near freezing at night, bring plenty of warm clothings and sleeping bags. The possibility of snow and freezing rain is out there.

b.Terrain: Hilly areas with a few local farms with flat open areas of land. Small streams and ponds also are in your Area of Operations.

c.Civil consideration: There is a small farm in your AO, unknown if the locals have abondoned the area, so be advised there may be civillians in the area. Keep Civilian casulties at a minium.

Attachments and detachments:
Attached to your platoon will be a wire section commanded by 1Lt.John Abshire from the signal platoon.


Mission
1st Platoon will have a Wire section attached to them, and it is the mission of 1st Platoon to provide security for the wire section. The wire section will be there to set up the Command Post for the batillion. 5 days ago, the Bat HQ had to retreat by rail car, while waiting for a locomotive the train was looted, and most of the commo gear was stolen, the Bat is making due with what they have and while BAT HQ regroups, 1st Platoon will be the advanced party for the BAT HQ. Guerilla units have destroyed the Train tracks and has prevented the BAT HQ from moving up as intended, so you will be on your own for a while.

Execution.

It is the commanders intention to esablish a communications post, and set up a command post in the area near the town of Wonju. Your platoon will support the detachment from the signal platoon with a priority on setting up comms with the rest of the BAT. Move into the area, establish patrols and keep the area secure, when area is secure start work on setting up the CP, and establish comms with the rest of the BAT.

[John Abshire]

Directions to the site:

(for Mapquest, google maps, or GPS types)
2494 Toshes Rd
Chatham, VA 24531

Take rte 29 North (from Danville going toward Lynchburg)
Take 2nd Gretna Exit (Rocky Mount / Rte 40 West)
Left on 40 West
There will be a Dairy Queen on the Right go about a Mile past the Dairy Queen
Take a left onto Piney road (Road 790)
Go about 5 Miles on Piney Road
Take a right onto Toshes Road (unmarked as Toshes, but also known as Road 605)
Go about 3/4 of a Mile and you will see a White House on left (Mailbox 2494 is on the right side of the road opposite the house)
There will be a red Dirt road next to white house take a left onto that Dirt road
Follow the road left (Keep to the left) you Can't Miss us we will have guards on duty to guide you in.

[btswanfury]

For the GI impressions, are they pretty clean cut, ordinary field order looking, or are they supposed to be unshaven, with wrecked kit and the like?

Lemme know!

[pop401k]

From the Op-Order it looks like you've been in the field at least a week... maybe 2, maybe longer. By that time you'd have dumped the stuff you don't need.

Ammo, rations and bedroll would be minimum.

But that's just my take on it...

[Woodard]

One of the nice things about a closed site, invite only event... You can ditch stuff you suddenly don't feel like carrying. Plus, when the unit made contact, they all dropped thier bedrolls. We all knew that it wouldn't go anywhere and we could just go back and get stuff when the event was over.

[John Abshire]

You make an intresting point Pop, and I took that into consideration. The OpOrder is basically an outline of the mission of the event...but things change, units get surrounded and overran...im not saying that is what is going to happen...but you never know with this event staff...

[McCurley]

Hey all, we are in the final stretch before the QRF's second annual Korean 1st Person Tactical. The initial weather reports indicate 0% precipitation, Highs in the mid 40's, Lows in the mid 20's. We will see if that stays consistent throughout the week. Everyone should try to bring a pile liner, 5 button sweater, or something generic to wear in order to keep warm. Your 43's ought to do a pretty good job, especially when wools are worn underneath, but it doesn't hurt to have a little something extra.

So far, our numbers are looking pretty good. I must say "Thank You" to the guys who sent in their registrations early. This will make it easier for us to acquire rations before the event. The numbers for the Chinese are also looking pretty good, as well. So far, it looks like we have several more Chicom roleplayers than we had last year, and that will make for some interesting unit actions.

If anybody has any more questions, please feel free to message Abshire or myself.

Let's have fun this weekend, and try to keep in the back of our minds those heroes who did their duty when their country called.

Paul

[btswanfury]

Let's have fun this weekend, and try to keep in the back of our minds those heroes who did their duty when their country called.

Screw that! I'm just trying to figure out if me and my former KMT comrades can swim to Taiwan!

[Woodard]

Duly noted.

[John Abshire]

Marc, dont make me go get Sandy to bitch at you about how the French stayed on their side of the Rhine or some such shit...he will totally ranger your face Frenchie.

See ya thursday.

[John Abshire]

Here is my 1st Person, since I required everyone elese to do one, might as well publish mine!
Name: John Wade Abshire

Age: 25

How Inducted: Enlisted 1947

Pre-Induction Job: College Student

MOS: Infantry

Rank: 1st Lieutenant

DOB: 12/Oct/1925

Place of Birth: Wilmington, NC

Family Status: Parents divorced when I was 15, lived with my mother until I was 17 and moved out to attend college. I don’t have much of a family life, both parents have re-married and have new lives. I have a fiancé named Keri Moser and she lives in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

Marital Status: Engaged

Children: None

Political Views: Liberterian

Religious Affiliation: Baptized Presbyterian (No-Practicing)

Favorite Music/Performers: Hank Williams

Favorite Radio Shows: Just like to hear my records personally

Favorite Films: Battleground, Gone with the Wind, Bataan, Back to Bataan, grew up watching war films as a kid and while in College.

Favorite Sport: Football, Rugby

Favorite Team: Norwich Cadets, Washington Redskins

Education: Attened College at Carlise Military Academy and graduated as a SFC, then went to college at Norwich university where I majored in Military history. I played both football and Rugby while in college. Graduated in 1947 as a Platoon Leader with a 4.0 grade point average. Was a member of the football team, rugby team, honors society, Drill team, shooting team, literary club, history club, and was voted most Military by my graduation class.

Prior Military Service: Commissioned and 2nd Lieutenant in 1947 and assigned to the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry division on 20 May 1947. My first assignment was with supply and logistics where I spent most of my time at Ft. Lewis in the quartermaster corps. My whole cadet career I wanted to be an infantry officer but the army deemed me to be a supply officer.

In on 11 Oct 1949 (the day before my birth day) I was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

After years of playing Football and rugby in high school and College I had developed quite a large build and was always on the radar of my superiors because of my size and weight. While on duty in Ft. Lewis as a supply officer I did not work out or exercise as much as I should but I kept my food intake the same as if I were still a college athlete. This of course lead to tremendous weight gain and of course held me back on many promotions. By the time I noticed I needed a change it was to late and I was set to be chaptered out of the Army due to my size and weight. I was set to be released from the Army and to forfeit my commission in the late fall of 1950.

On 23 July 1950 the 2nd Infantry Division was moved to South Korea, and me with it. I was just waiting out a letter to release me from the service when 2 days later the North Koreans launched a massive attack into South Korea. My release was put on a pending status until the hostilities in Korea were over. My battalion commander decided the best way for me to , as he put it, “Get in shape or die trying..” was to move me to an Infantry company as the Company executive officer. I was getting my wish to be an infantry officer, but during a time of war. I was going to be placed in charge of men who counted on me for their lives, yet it seemed to me that my biggest obstacle I had to overcome was the question that plagued my mind…would the men respect a man like me, of my size and my back ground.

My Company commander at first took a strong dislike to me, but soon I grew on him with my sense of humor and despite my weight, I could be counted on in the decision making process.

ON 25 November 1950 the enemy launched a major night attack on our company position, in the process of defending the line against infantry and tanks the platoon leader of 1st Platoon was mortally wounded, and I was placed in temporary command of the 1st Platoon until a replacement officer could be sent down from Battalion. I stayed in command of 1st platoon and saw action with the platoon in Wonjun from 2 January 1950 until early in February in 1950 when the platoon was placed in the reserve pending a new platoon leader. The replacement was due to come down on 20 February 1951; I was to stay with the platoon until the new Platoon leader 2nd Lt. Marc Lauterbac was settled. I was then set to return to the company HQ and continue my job as the Company XO.


Notes about me:
I am a student of history and I like to use facts from the past to help influence decisions I make in the present. I am a big reader; before I was placed as the temporary platoon leader of 1st platoon I would take time and read as much as I can, not much time to read in the infantry. My size and weight are a constant burden as I try and keep up with men in much greater shape than me, and I try very hard not to show my weakness, but its hard to hide it when you are so large. I am not a superstitious person but out of habit I wear my old colleges football socks while I am out in the field for, of all things, good luck. I am not a very religious man, but I do keep with me a prayer book that I received while in College.

[sdfoster]

Here is mine:
Name: Douglas Foster

RA38795275

Age: 25

How Inducted: Drafted late in WWII, remained in the service

Pre-Induction Job: Purchasing Department Clerk, Continental Oil Co.

MOS: Infantry

Rank: SGT

DOB: 1925

Place of Birth: Ponca City, Okla.

Marital Status: Married

Children: Two, daughter age 4 and son age 1

Political Views: Voted for the Democrat Party in the 1948 election (Go Truman!).

Religious Affiliation: Baptist

Favorite Films: I Was a Male War Bride, Random Harvest, Notorious

Favorite Authors: James Hilton

Favorite Sport: Football

Education: High School

Life before induction:
My father was a manager at the Continental Oil refinery, mother stayed at home and took care of the family. Rather than work in the fields of the nearby farms, I would learn some machining skills in the tool shop where my older brother worked before he went to Europe. He was in the Oklahoma National Guard and was wounded in action on Sicily in 1943. When I finished high school, my father helped get me a job at the refinery in their purchasing department (always the protective parent he wanted me behind some safe desk instead of out around the pipes and oil). I was diligent and hard-working, and on my way to a more important job when I was called up.

WWII Service:
Drafted in late 1944. After completion of training I was able to take a few days leave and visit my friends and family. Before I left, I asked a certain young lady if she would marry me, should I make it back within two years. Although I hoped to make it into the 45th Infantry Division, instead I was a repple-depple into the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Inf. Division. I was assigned to them on March 31, 1945, the day before April Fool's Day. I fought with them in Germany, as an assistant BAR gunner. Just before the fighting around Leipzig, our BAR man fell ill and I became the BAR man of the squad. I remained so the rest of our time in Europe. We were one of the first divisions to return to the US but we thought it was to get ready to go invade Japan. Boy was I glad we didn't have to go there.

Post-WWII Life & Service:
With all the boys coming home, it turned out that my job at Continental Oil was no longer there for me (from what Dad's letters were telling me), and I thought with the war being done that I might as well stay in the Army for a while. At my first opportunity to be granted leave to go home, I went and made arrangements to marry my wife Mandy - I felt I needed to act quickly since so many eligible men were coming home and were eager to settle down. Mandy not only agreed to marriage, she also agreed with my choice to stay in the military long enough to save up for a house wherever we wanted to live. Our daughter was born the next year. When we moved to Ft. Lewis, Mandy was able to move near the base and work as a seamstress in a local tailor shop for a few hours every day.
Since I held the record in my platoon for good conduct, I was promoted to Sergeant in October 1947. Looking back, that probably had a lot to do with me staying in the Army.
Dad continued in his job and kept writing me letters to let me know what openings there were at the refinery (what a way to drop hints). My brother, after he healed from his injury received on Sicily, went on to be the shop foreman at the machine shop where he worked, and he also would write to let me know I always had a place to work there if I wanted. I was striving to make it to Platoon Sergeant before leaving the Army, perhaps a foolish goal as I did not quite expect to be going to the front again, ever.
The war in Korea made me wish I had gotten out sooner. I had no business being in a foreign war when I had two little children and a wife who needed me.
When the North Koreans attacked across the Naktong River, my squad took a beating. It was by far the most intense horror I have ever lived through - I had not been under artillery and mortar fire like that before. I lost 4 men out of my squad, and I was also sent off the line to a field hospital. I had been hit with shrapnel, but it was my mind that got me off the line. I have not been quite right since then, after some initial stay at the field hospital I was sent to Japan for a few months.
It was decided that I should not return to my old platoon, or even my old regiment for that matter. I was transferred to the 23rd Infantry Regiment in December 1950 after being declared physically fit for duty. The 2nd had done a lot of fighting since I was taken off the line. I was assigned to Charlie Company 1st Platoon HQ, where I have been these past few months.

[McCurley]

Name: McCurley, Paul W.

ASN: RA14146280

Rank: SFC

MOS: Infantry

DOB: 31 Aug 1922

Place of Birth: Fayetteville, Nc

Marital Status: Married

Political Views: Democrat

Favorite Music: Hillbilly, Country

Favorite Films: Harvey (recent), Destry Rides Again, Battleground

Favorite Actors:James Stewart, James Whitmore, Ava Gardner (Good Carolina girl)

Education: Associates Degree in Accountancy

How Inducted: Enlisted

Life Before Induction: Grew up in Fayetteville, Nc. I helped mom run a boarding house that was close to the tracks, downtown. We had a lot of senior NCO's and Officers stay there through the years. That pretty much wet my appetite for the Army. I did odd jobs around Fayetteville throughout my early teen years, during the Depression.

In 1940, I began my higher education at Campbell College. Mother was friends with the Dean of the school for several years, so I got free room and board. I was in class during my Sophomore year when I heard about Pearl Harbor. I graduated Campbell College with an Associates Degree in Accountancy in the Spring of 1942, and promptly enlisted. Mother would not let me do so any earlier than that.

WWII Service: When I enlisted, I was sent to Fort Knox, Ky to train with the field artillery. I ended up in a fire direction center with A Battery, 27th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Armored Division. After training stateside, the Division was sent to England, where it staged for the invasion of North Africa. I participated in the beach landings in Oran, then fought through North Africa. Upon the invasion of Italy, the 27th FA BN participated in the landings at Salerno. This began our campaign throughout Italy (during which I was promoted to Sergeant). After the Battle of Monte Porchia, in which most of my Fire Direction section was decimated during heavy counter battery fire, I was moved back stateside to Fort Bragg. There I was part of the training Cadre at the Field Artillery School there for the rest of the war. It was at this time when I married my college sweetheart.

Post WWII Life and Service: After WWII, Fort Bragg's Artillery training center ceased to exist as the Army was being reduced in size. I could've stayed at Fort Bragg, but I would have been assigned to the 82nd Airborne. Jumping out of planes did not appeal to me, so I put in for a transfer to the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Ok, but in an ever shrinking Army, I needed to do what I could to stay in. I converted to Infantry, and in 1947, I was transferred to the 4th Replacement Training Center at Fort Ord, Ca. I remained there for 2 years as part of their training cadre, and upon being promoted to SFC, I was transferred to Fort Lewis and the 2nd ID.

Korea: I have participated in every large operation that the 2nd ID has been part of since their arrival in the summer of 1950. I was involved in the actions on the Naktong River line, which began on my birthday that year. During the fall, I spent time training Katusa’s for the Division, and as December arrived, I was finally assigned to HQ Co, 1/23 RCT.

[sgtkling]

Name: Kling, Sean P.
Rank: Staff Sgt.
How inducted: Pre- WW2 National Guard
MOS: Infantry (present)
Prior MOS: Ord. Maint. Welder ( WW2)
Pre induction job: Project Manager Frenches Mustard , National Guard
DOB: 6/8/1918
Place of Birth: Bucks County , Penn
Family Status: Married , two children ages 5 and 4.
Political Views: Republican
Religion: Catholic
Favorite music: all types
favorite movies: the best years of our lives, she wore a yellow ribbon
favorite sport: boxing, baseball
favorite sports team: Philadelphia Phillies
Education: High school, some college

Life before induction: My father was a marine corp veteran of WW1 and worked as a welder. My mother was a nurse. My grandfather served in Cuba during the spanish american war and my other grandfather was wounded fighting Apache Indians during the Apache Wars. After high school i tried attending Moravain College for 6 months but found it wasent for me. In 1937 I joined the PA national guard and worked at a mustard plant in pa. In 1940 I was called to duty with the rest of my national guard unit when Pres.Roosevelt activated the national guard for one year.

WW2: When I was Federlized in 1940 I had gained the rank of Corporal. I was serving in the 28th Div. as a welder in the 477th AAA. My main job was to repair skates for guns or fix trucks. After Pearl Harbor was attacked my unit was sent all over the place to fill gaps in new forming Divisions. I was transfered to the 9th Infantry Division in 1941. Before I left to go serve with my unit I quick went home and married my girlfriend. I served as a squad leader in an Infantry company with the 9th Infantry Div. The reason i was moved from Ord. Maint. was because I had prior service experiance with the guard and thats what they needed when we landed in North Africa. I served with the 9th for 3 years and got wounded during the Battle of the Bulge. I was wounded in my shoulder. Not too bad , but bad enough for them to send me home. After my stint in the hospital, the war had pretty much wrapped up. I was sent back to the 28th Div. at Fort Indiantown Gap to help demobolize the Army. I decided to stay in the national guard instead of getting out and I was promoted to Sargent.

1945-1950
While serving in the Guard , I went back to the mustard plant and got my job back. My wife had our first child in 1945 and our second in 1949. I rose to the rank of Staff Sgt. in 1948. In 1949 there was a lay off at the plant. With it being hard to get a job, I decided to go active duty for 4 years to see how things shacked out. I got to keep my Staff Sgt. rank and was assigned a readiness NCO with 1/23 2nd Infantry Div.

Korea:
I arrived in Korea with the rest of the Div. . My job requires me to preform company leavel functions and work with the 1st sgt. I push the paper work for supplies and transfers. I also am in charge of training , promotions, leave and medal/awards. From time to time I preform patrols with the company and have seen some action. But for the most part I am in the rear fighting paper cuts and a mountain of red tape. Only 3 more years to go n this 4 year hitch. This is my second war and I am ready to go back to PA!!!