Engineer Memoirs
to that effect. General Willoughby, the Army G-2, flew to X Corps headquarters
to determine for himself whether or not the soldiers we captured were Chinese.
I remember Willoughby saying to me, "They're not Chinese, they're North
Koreans.
"I'm certain they're Chinese," said. I told him I was no anthropologist, but the
epicanthropic fold of their eyes proved that the prisoners were Chinese and not
North Koreans.
"Don't give me that scientific nonsense," Willoughby said.
Willoughby remained skeptical up until the time the Chinese hit us in force on
November 27th. Only then did he become convinced that the Chinese had moved
south of the Yalu.
When the Chinese struck, they did so in their classical manner. They blew bugles
and whistles, beat metal drums, and yelled as they attacked at night. They struck
terror in the hearts of our soldiers who were not used to this type of warfare. The
Chinese went directly for our logistical supply bases, our artillery, and our tank
parks. They hit us where it would do the most damage, that is our firepower and
logistical support.
The Chinese ambushed an artillery battalion of the 7th Division, killing many of
its men and burning its artillery pieces and vehicles. They blew up the division's
artillery ammo dumps, leaving it in shambles.
Q ..
How long after the Chinese hit was it decided to evacuate?
A
Immediately after the Chinese struck, the decision was made to pull back into
defensive perimeters and then move south and east toward Hamhung. The 7th
Division rolled up into defensive positions rather quickly. The marines were more
dispersed and moved more slowly. By the time the marines formed a perimeter,
a bridge across the chasm at Koto-ri near the Chosen Reservoir had been blown.
The marines finally gathered into a defensive perimeter on the Chosen plateau but
were cut off from evacuating to the south.
Q ..
I understand your engineers were involved in building a C-46 airstrip for medical
evacuation and in air-dropping a bridge to allow the marines to move out of their
perimeter.
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