The City Lights Reporter - Glory, Honor & Lies

Glory can be found in the eyes of children as they listen to the stories of old men recounting battles of the past. Honor can be found in the recognition of a grateful nation for the extra ordinary sacrifices of every-day men and women to duty and country. Lies can be found in official reports intended to reinforce stereotypes and prejudices that deny the accomplishments of those who have earned Glory and Honor.

June 1st 2000 through November 11th 2003 is the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War and I wanted to take a minute to tell the true story of the 24th Infantry Regiment, 159th Field Artillery Battalion, the 77th Combat Engineer Company, and the 2nd (Airborne) Ranger Infantry Company. These were the last segregated all black combat units of the US Army. Most Americans assume that segregation ended when President Harry S. Truman signed an executive order in October of 1946, which called for the desegregation of the armed forces, but it did not become an actuality for all military services until years later when President Kennedy took office. For the Army however, segregation ended in 1951, with the help of false accusations, intentional misstatements and outright lies. Lies that were told by men like Major General William B. Kean, who unjustly characterized these segregated units performance as “untrustworthy and incapable of carrying out missions” and Army Chief of Staff General J. Lawton Collins who wrote; “The black 24th infantrymen broke and ran repeatedly until the regiment was disbanded”. Let us take the time now during these anniversary celebrations to recognize and restore the glory and honor earned on the blood soaked battlefields of a foreign land in defense of liberty and democracy.

At this juncture, I must take the time to point out that this article is not intended as another opportunity to bash the white man or whine about the injustices of racism and discrimination. For that is not what the brothers of the Duce-Four (24th), or the Airborne Rangers (2nd) did. They saw Korea as an opportunity to dispel the lies, myths, and stereotypes that blacks faced every day in America. They fought bravely and honorable, if not for the country they loved, or for the Koreans they were defending, they did it for themselves and their brothers in arms. As Congressman Charles B. Rangel (a decorated Korean veteran) told me; “There is no place for racism in a fire fight. You do what you must to protect your buddies and accomplish your goals”. And that’s exactly what happened on the battlefields of Korea as black’s and white’s learned to trust, defend and respect each other.

African-Americans have proudly served this country since its inception and were one of the first to shed blood in the revolutionary war. And in that glorious tradition, blacks in Korea held fast to their long and proud military history. The battle cry of 2nd Ranger Company was “Buffalooo” in honor of the black buffalo solders of the old west. The 24th could trace its legacy back to July 1866 when the US Congress wishing to honor the 186,000 black veterans of the Civil War officially created them with a special act of Congress. In Korea black units were the first in, first to win a major battle, saw the most combat, and became the most decorated units of the war (including 3 Medal of Honor accommodations). Yet, with all these accomplishments when you look up the official history of the Korean War you will find these black segregated units have become synonymous with controversy and worse yet, with cowardice.

It seems like lately pop culture has taken to celebrating veterans in books, on television and at the movies. But with all the TV specials on and accolades of, Pearl Harbor, Vietnam, and the Gulf War, let us not forget the most berated and unacknowledged war of all, Korea. The Korea War is commonly known in American history as the “Forgotten War”. It did not have the grand scale or clear-cut Icons of evil like World War II. Nor did it have the technological marvels of Vietnam or the Gulf War. There was only the blood sweat and tears of the men and women forced to fight a war they did not expect, were not prepared for, nor supported in. They were sent thinking this was a “Police Action” and soon discovered it was an all out, hand-to-hand, kill or be killed “War”.

It all began in June 1950, when Kim Il Sung, the leader of North Korea, with the approval of China and the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea with the full force of his army, (some 900,000 men). The surprise invasion spanned from coast to coast, all along the disputed 38th Parallel. The Americans and South Koreans (ROK) was caught totally flatfooted. The ROK army numbering 95,000 at the time of the attack could account for only 22,000 men six days later when President Truman ordered US troops into Korea. The 24th Infantry Division was the closest to the area, being based in Japan, and so, were flown in on July 2nd. According to Lt. Col. Charles Bussey (nominated for the Medal of Honor), the prevailing attitude was “…We’d go over there and we’d have a show of force in the field and those ‘gooks’ would go back across the 38th parallel and we’d come home in six weeks. We were not ready to fight a war. That’s what it amounts to. That’s the long and short of it….”

The advance elements of the 24th Division, designated “Task Force Smith” a delaying force of about 500 men, dug in to wait for the North Koreans. They did not have long to wait. On the morning of July 6th 1950 North Korean tanks were observed advancing south on the city of Osan. The lightly armed troops were no match for Soviet-built T-34 tanks, backed by the full force of a North Korean division. So by early afternoon, survivors from the task force were running for their lives. By the next day they could only assemble 250 men of the original Task Force Smith. They fought valiantly over the next few weeks sacrificing lives and ground for time, as they retreated southward delaying the enemy advance while the full division was arriving from Japan.

On July 20th, after being reinforced by the segregated black 159th Field Artillery Battalion and the black 77th Combat Engineer Company, the 24th got their chance to stand and fight at a small village called Yechon. You must understand that the black soldiers of the 24th had not received any new equipment since World War II and without armor, effective antitank weapons, or air support they were being asked to hold the line against two divisions of well armed and motivated North Korean troops. In the words of Corporal Donald Carter; “ We were told ‘this is it.’ We were improperly trained: A bunch of green soldiers going into combat, half of them not knowing which way was up and which way was down. We set up our perimeter around there and I said, ‘men you got to hold your ground’.” They held their ground, killing at least 258 North Koreans at a cost of 2 dead and a handful of wounded (including Lt. Col. Bussey who killed most of the enemy). The US press made a big deal of the battle of Yechon with headlines like ‘Black Unit Wins First US Victory In Korea.’

The 24th like other white army units fought a bloody delaying action, and suffered many defeats at the hands of an overwhelming and determined enemy. The unit began to encounter misfortunes and what followed was a massive, unorganized and chaotic retreat, which partially led to the capture of their commanding officer General William F. Dean (the first man to be awarded a Medal of Honor in Korea). According to the official US Army reports; “There was no single reason for what happened [to the 24th]. An aggressive enemy, old and worn equipment, inexperience at all levels, leadership failures high and low, casualties among key personnel, and a lack of bonding and cohesion in some units all played their part. There was no lack of courage among the officers and men. A number of well-trained squads, platoons, and companies of the 24th Regiment performed ably.”

This time period is believed to be the genesis of many of the rumors and stories that were being spread about black soldiers “Bugging Out (considered an ethic slur)”, “withdrawing without a fight”, “leaving wounded white officers to be captured”, etc. etc. Much of the same thing happened in the other American and ROK units fighting in Korea at that time. The reasons for failure were present and the same process occurred for all. Never the less US forces fell back to the tip of the Korean peninsula and on the 29th of July, (at what would soon be called the “Pusan Parameter”) Lt. General Walton H. Walker issued what the press called a “Stand or Die” order. Walker emphasized that the retreating must stop. The army had been trading space for time and was running out of space.

Meanwhile back in the UnitedStates, President Truman issued a call for volunteers and Congress began the draft intent on reinforcing our troops before America experienced its first defeat ever. The result of this call for volunteers had a two fold effect in regards to opportunities for black soldiers; The combat activation of the all black 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (“Triple Nickles”) which trained and gave birth to the elite units of the 2nd Ranger Company and the 3rd Battalion of the 505th (soon to be known as the world famous 82nd Airborne).

All these brave and outstanding patriots had to volunteer multiple times in order to join these elite units; first they volunteered to join the Army, second to become a paratrooper, third for combat or hazarders duty and in the case of Rangers, a forth time for special forces training. These black pioneers were all exceptional men following the example of the Tuskegee Airmen. Specially selected they were former university students and professional army WW2 veteran noncoms. A major element in their success was that unlike other black infantry units, (some officered by southern whites) these units were entirely black, from commanding officers down to the newest privates.

The volunteers endured a concentrated, strenuous and purposefully hard training course. Being based in Fort Benning Georgia, meant not only enduring the rigors of training but also the slings and arrows of the Jim Crow south. This experience built an esprit de corps that can only be explained in the words of one of the original-founding members of the “Triple Nickles”, Lt Col. Bradley Biggs (then in 1944 a second Lt.); “ We became a superb organization because of our belief in ourselves and each other. We worked together. We were not greedy for promotion and publicity, nor did we engage in the army's political games. Our game was soldiering. It took a total effort and a collective frame of mind that recognized that everything we did was for a special purpose. As black men in competition with whites, we knew that if we failed it might be a long time before we were given another chance.” You will find this attitude in every unit trained by, or associated with the members of the 188th Airborne Battalion (“Triple Nickles”) .

On December 30th 1950 the Rangers were deployed to Korea and immediately sent into combat areas. Within three days of their arrival, they drew blood. Facing nearly 150 enemy guerrillas harassing a medical aid station, a single company of Rangers repelled a full frontal attack by laying down a wall of expertly laced firepower. Some got away but the ground was littered with dead bodies and there were no more attacks against the aid station. On March 1951, the 2nd (Airborne) Ranger Infantry Company became the first United States Army all-Black unit to make a combat parachute jump behind enemy lines when it jumped with the 187th Airborne at Munsan-ni. The hard-hitting company, commanded by Captain Warren E. Allen of Los Angeles, CA, (inductee in the official US Army Rangers Hall of Fame) was attached to the 187th specifically for this daring mission.

After jumping out of C-46 airplanes at only 800’ above the ground, the Rangers landed in the rice paddies, moved up to the primary objective (Hill 151), on through enemy rifle, machine gun, and mortar fire to higher terrain and killed many enemy troops; capturing 30, and routing the remainder of the resistance. They were seen moving north engaging in guerilla raids by reporters from Life magazine, which published an expose on their exploits. They did exactly what they were trained to do, move 40 to 50 miles, cross country in 12-18 hours and stir up havoc, sow confusion and escape. They were experts in demolitions, sabotage, and close combat. The Rangers mastered every American small-arms weapon, as well as those used by the enemy. Members of the 2nd Ranger Company earned numerous awards for valor including 10 Silver Stars and 11 Bronze Stars.

The Ranger’s enviable reputation was becoming legend throughout Korea. They were nomadic warriors, attached first to one regiment, and then another. They performed “out front” work: scouting, patrols, raids, ambushes, spearheading assaults, and as counterattack forces to restore lost positions. They fought gallantly from offense to defense to offense, and to pursuit. These units exhibited a high degree of aggressiveness and flexibility of arms that gained them the respect of everyone both in-country and back in the states. They are accredited with being part of the founding core of the subsequent Special Forces (Green Beret, and Delta Force), as well as training and serving in more airborne units in peace and war, than any other parachute group in history.

African-American accomplishments on the field of battle in Korea are legendary and should be correctly recorded in the military annals of the United States Army. To many this has become the last and most important battle of the Korean War. Even now 50 years later, past and current officers and NCO’s are fighting to rectify the official government and military records. This is not anything new or exclusive to only blacks but is a battle that all freedom and truth loving people have supported. General Matthew B Ridgway, UN Supreme Commander in Korea is on record as stating “African-Americans were not given the credit some individuals and some units deserved for their service rendered in combat in Korea. The service of Lt. Col. Charles Bussey would seem to be a prime example”.

In 1951 upon hearing of the injustices being inflicted on blacks in Korea, Thurgood Marshall (soon to be appointed Supreme Court Justice) traveled to Japan to investigate the proceeding of the court-martial of 32 black soldiers. He found out that half of them had been sentenced to death or life imprisonment, and identified many miscarriages of justice; such as one man being in the hospital at the time he was accused of being AWOL and four other soldiers were doing mess duty when they were accused of cowardice. General John T. Corley sought to defend the combat record of the 24th by pointing out that in action ‘exceeding in roughness’ anything he had witnessed in Europe, the 24th infantrymen had fought as well as his own 1st Infantry Division soldiers during WW2.

In 1992 the Los Angeles Korean-American Community Advisory Council while observing the 47th anniversary of South Korea’s independence day selected Capt. Donald K. Carlisle as their principal honoree. This act was meant to recognize and honor the tens of thousands of African-American soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors who had fought and died so that the Republic of Korea might remain free. Capt. Carlisle, a Korean War veteran has personally lead a remarkable effort to restore honor to the last of the four US “Buffalo Soldier” regiments. In my interview of Congressman Charles B. Rangel of the United States 15th Congressional District of New York, he promised to join the cause and investigate congressional records on behalf of the war veterans. Congressman Rangel was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart in the battle of Kunuri. His unit of the 9th Infantry Regiment, was surrounded and over run by Chinese troops. They suffered 90% causalities and he though wounded personally lead the remaining 40 men out from behind enemy lines.

Secretary of the Army John O. Marsh responding to political pressure from Congressman Gus Hawkins and then House Armed Services Chairman Les Aspin convened a special board of review in 1988 to determine the truth about the 24th Regiment in Korea. They concluded in this recently published nine year extensive study that;

The results of the study clearly suggest that what happened to the 24th Infantry in Korea was a product of injustices that afflicted black Americans prior to the formal integration of the Army. Until recently, historians have tended to interpret the regiment's performance without recognizing those prejudices and the corrosive effects they had on cohesion within the unit. The whole story is much different. If it reflects lapses of command and deficiencies in leadership, training and equipment—the sort of failings that burdened all units during the initial stages of the conflict—it also contains displays of honor, commitment, selflessness and heroism that are in keeping with the best traditions of the United States Army. Indeed, that the 24th Infantry achieved what it did – at Yechon, in the early weeks in Korea, at the Han and Hant’an River crossing, and elsewhere – can only underscore the courage and determination of those among its members who chose to persevere and to do their duty in the face of adversity.

In conclusion, as we celebrate the hard won freedom of a proud and grateful people, let us not forget that Korea was the setting and the catalyst for one of the most significant social experiments in American history. Integration of the military was a quiet revolution with as profound effects on American society as the civil rights movement of the 60’s. Yet few knew it was going on and worse yet it is hardly remembered. Let us honor the men and women of all races who worked together not only to defend the people of Korea but also to set the building blocks in place for us to enjoy the social freedoms we experience today.

When you hear of the many planed activities and ceremonies to commemorate the 50th anniversary, remember the brothers of the 24th Infantry Regiment, 159th Field Artillery Battalion, the 77th Combat Engineer Company, and the 2nd Airborne Ranger Infantry Company (“Triple Nickles”). Contact you local veterans groups and governmental representatives to support their efforts to correct the official records and give credit where credit is due. Help these brave veterans experience the Glory and Honor that only we, the children of their sacrifice can give them in the telling and retelling of their exploits of bravery, and commitment to duty, honor and country.

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Glory, Honor & Lies

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