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 Elements of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade
boarding ships at San Diego, CA July 1950. The 1stBn5thMarines were
embarked on the USS Henrico(APA-45). The Henrico did have problems shortly
after leaving San Diego, and had to go to Oakland for repairs. After
several attempts the repairs were satisfactorily made and the Henrico
arrived at Pusan, South Korea on 2Aug1950
Excerpt from U.S. Naval
History
Ground forces of the brigade
embarked at San Diego in the three attack transports of Captain Sharp''s
Task Group 53.7, George Clymer, Henrico,
and Pickaway; in the attack cargo ships
Whiteside
and Alshain; and in the LSDs
Gunston Hall
and Fort Marion. Air group personnel and
equipment boarded the transport General A. E. Anderson
and the attack cargo ship
Achernar
at Terminal Island; aircraft
and airicrews were embarked on Badoeng Strait. On 12 July, exactly ten days
after the receipt of the warning order, the LSDs sailed from San Diego
with the tanks and the amphibious tractor companies, and two days later
the rest of the convoy followed |
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 Pusan Harbor, South Korea..A busy place July and
August 1950. Immediately after the Henrico (not in picture)arrived there,
troops and equipment left the ship and so started our experiences in South
Korea. The Brigade would be used wherever needed to plug holes in the
lines and hold off the North Korean Forces. The Marines would be tested
over and over the next few days and proved themselves to be more than a
match for the enemy forces. It wasn't easy and along with the enemy
forces, there was the heat to contend with. The high heat took a toll on
the Marines and proved to be a very important factor in the early
stages. |
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 Action came quickly after landing at Pusan on 2Aug
1950. Scenes like this would become more or less a common happening. We
were fortunate to have among us, many WWII veterans who helped us green
troops learn how to handle this situation. This period in time was my
indoctrination to combat, and was a very enlightening experience. The
sounds of war, whining bullets going by, thud of mortar rounds falling,
the whistle of artillery rounds overhead, all served to awaken us to
the seriousness of the times.
 Tanks in action at the Naktong. At the Naktong
enemy forces would put up a serious effort to overwhelm the Marines, but
even with the heat, Marines were able to make themselves a force that the
North Koreans would long remember
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 Enemy tank done for the duration. The Marines with
their anti-tank weaponry would prove to be too much for tanks such as this
one. Our internal Weapons Company commanded by Major John Russell gave us
the support needed to handle these tanks. In addition the tanks that were
attached to our unit made themselves known and with great success. An
infantry unit is always glad to see these anti-tank forces as they do
their thing. |
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THE COMMANDERS
1st
Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade Left to Right: Lt Col George Newton, Bn CO; Major
John Russell, Weapons Company, CO; Capt. John Stevens, "A" Company, CO;
Capt. Ike Fenton, "B" Company, CO(Capt. Tobin had been wounded and
evacuated and Capt Fenton became the CO) Capt. Walter Godenius, H & S.
Company, CO.
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