"The Check Points at Hagaru'ri-Koto'ri"
Chosen Reservoir, North Korea, 27 November 1950 through 6 December 1951
27 November 1950 Unknown to the X Corps Headquarters,in the evening the Communist Chinese Army would launch a suprise attack and strike hard at Task Force Faith, the 7th Infantry Division, in its defensive positions on the east side of the reservoir.
The Chinese force, estimated to be eight to ten divisions, would deliver a heavy blow also at Yudam-ni, blunting a simultaneous attack northward by the 1st Marine Division. Deployed southwest of the Reservoir along the road from Hagaru-ri to Yudam-ni, the Marines would find themselves in a defensive posture against a numerically superior Chinese force. The weather was unbelievably cold, and driving winds and snow would also hamper defensive operations. |
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1030 hours By [10:30 AM] 1LT Van Buskirk and SFC Lester J. Klein detailed the last two of the six X Corps MP Company detachments along the Main Supply Route between the port city of Hamhung (south) and Hagaru'ri (north), North Korea.
The detachments were situated at the small village of Koto'ri and eight miles north in the town of Hagaru'ri, the latter being the northern most, situated at the southern end of the Chosin [Changjin] Reservoir. Both MP detachments were in the operational area of elements of the 1st Marine Division. |
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The Koto'ri control point was manned by, SFC James G. Lewis, CPL James M. George, CPL Dennis H. Ramsey, PFC John H. Porter, and PFC Francis W. Connors.
The Hagaru'ri control point was manned by, CPL James C. Foster, CPL William J. St.Pierre, CPL Robert Harley, PFC James O. Ederhart, PFC Donald P. Chaput, and PFC Harold R. Farnsworth.
Their detachment's were assigned to control orderly flows of military traffic on the Main Supply Route for the Allied northern pursuit of the North Korean Peoples Army.
Hagaru'ri Detachment
The traffic control point was situated at a "Y" intersection that directed traffic off the Main Supply Route, around the Chosin Reservoir, east to Task Force Faith, and west to 1st Marine Division elements. In addition the detachment was also responsible for regulating the flow of traffic from a large supply depot in the area with access to the Main Supply Route. Their Command Post and shelter was a small mud brick shack at the intersection.
That night and into the next morning the Chinese Communist Forces launched their suprise attacks and cut the road between Hagaru'ri and Koto'ri south of them.
The nearest allied unit was situated on what they called "Signal Hill," on the west side of the Main Supply Route. The hill, officially known as Communications or East Hill, was defended by elements of a platoon, of the 4th Signal Battalion, and D Company, 3d Engineer (Combat) Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. |
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The next two days the Chinese attacked the Hagaru'ri perimeter including East Hill during the night and into the next morning.
With no traffic to occupy them, the detachment MP's spent the next two and a half days going out as far as one-and-a-half miles onto the unsecured frozen reservoir and recovering wounded troops who were trying to make their way to Hagaru'ri on foot. In addition to combat wounds many also suffered from severe exposure to the cold weather. They placed the casualties onto their jeeps and 3/4 ton truck and a Korean sled and transported them to a M.A.S.H. unit (yet identified) inside the Hagaru'ri perimeter. During the night they remained at their post defending the perimeter.
When the Chinese push threatened the Hagaru'ri lines the detachment was ordered to abandon their traffic control point at the intersection and return to the Company "however they could."
The detachment moved out of their mud brick shack into the M.A.S.H. compound where they directed traffic gathering for the allied withdrawal and, assisted loading the wounded onto C-47's at the nearby air strip. Once the last of the wounded were placed aboard the C-47s of the HAF's (Hellenic (Greek) Air Force) 13th Transport Squadron, 21st Troop Carrier Squadron, USAF, the MP's boarded the last flight.
3 December The six members of the cut off check point at Hagiru'ri returned safely to the Company Command Post at Hanhung.
On 13 April 1951 all six detachment members, CPL James C. Foster, CPL William J. St.Pierre, CPL Robert Harley, PFC James O. Ederhart, PFC Donald P. Chaput, and PFC Harold R. Farnsworth, would be recommended for and receive the Bronze Star Medal for Valor.
Koto'ri Detachment
Koto'ri was a very small village located on the Main Supply Route approximately eight miles south of Hagaru'ri. The detachment command post was set up in a small house also occupied by a Korean family.
During the first night the Chinese attacked the Koto'ri perimeter ending their traffic control assignments.
Without traffic to regulate the detachment MP's volunteered to move to the defense of and perform security at an emergency air strip hastily constructed just outside the village. The air strip became a favorite target of the Chinese who repeatedly attempted to seize it.
The Koto'ri defensive position began plans to move out and fight their way south down the Main Supply Route towards the coast, the MP's joined them.
5 December The five members of the cut off check point at Koto'ri made their way safely back to the Company at Hungnam.