Re-enactment Honors Inchon Landing's 60th Anniversary
(September 18, 2010) |
|
| SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 15, 2010 – Inchon, South Korea,
took on a movie-set quality today as U.S. Marines and their
South Korean and U.N. counterparts re-enacted the massive
amphibious landing 60 years ago that ultimately turned the
tide in the Korean War.
About 2,500 Korean War veterans, dignitaries and local
residents looked on as explosions erupted from the water,
“fired” by the USS Dennis, four South Korean and one
Australian ship in the waters off Wolmi Island.
Amphibious landing craft buzzed the shoreline, helicopters
and fighter jets roared overhead, paratroopers dropped from
the sky and 167 U.S. Marines from Twentynine Palms, Calif.,
scaled the seawall and stormed the beach. |
Just as the action appeared to come to a close, Marine Corps Capt. Michael
Borneo thrilled the crowd as he marched across the beach amid a flurry of
confetti, costumed as Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur, with fellow Marines
depicting his key officers in tow.
They demonstrated what Army Gen. Walter L. “Skip” Sharp, commander of United
Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea, called “one
of the boldest operations conducted in U.S. military history”
“This history-making operation not only helped to turn the tide of the war,
but it highlighted the kind of cooperation between our services and between
the nations that continue to help keep the Republic of Korea free today,”
Sharp |
|
Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur, depicted by Marine Capt.
Michael Borneo, right, marches across the beach amid a flurry of confetti, with
fellow Marines depicting his key officers in tow during reenactment ceremonies
of the Inchon Landing in the Republic of Korea, Sept. 15, 2010. |
|
told Korean War veterans attending the 60th anniversary commemoration. |
|
Navy Adm. Patrick M. Walsh, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet,
praised the “undaunting courage” exhibited during the
operation -- one that “had been dismissed as not doable” by
many due to extreme tide shifts.
“It's humbling,” Walsh said. “We are standing in the shadow
of giants.”
MacArthur, who had pressed for the surprise attack to take
place while the main North Korean fighting force had focused
its effort on the southeast, finally overcame those
challenging his plan, and “Operation Chromite” was launched
Sept. 15, 1950.
U.S. and South Korean Marines, along with their counterparts
from Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand
and the United Kingdom, launched the landing in three
separate locations.
Lead elements of 10th Corps hit “Green Beach” on the north
side of Wolmi Island. Its landing force consisted of 3rd
Battalion, 5th Marines, and nine M26 Pershing tanks from the
1st Tank Battalion.
Meanwhile, Combat Team 5, which included 3rd Battalion South
Korean Marines, scaled the seawalls along “Red Beach.” After
overpowering the North Korean defenses, they opened the
causeway that enabled tanks from Green Beach to enter the
fight. |
Marines from 1st Battalion, 7th Marines,
from Twenty-nine Palms, Calif., storm the beach of Wolmi Island in the
Republic of South Korea during ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of
the Inchon Landing. |
|
To the south, the 1st Marine Regiment arrived at “Blue
Beach,” where they encountered little resistance because
North Korean forces already had surrendered.
The successes in Inchon ultimately broke the North Korean
army's supply lines and paved the way to the liberation of
Seoul in late September 1950.
South Korean Lt. j.g. Junsung Lee called the surprise nature
of the attack a key in catching the North Koreans off-guard.
“The Inchon landing operation was crucial for us to take
back the initiative,” he said. “It was a key event.”
William Cheek, a Marine corporal assigned to an anti-tank
assault unit during the operation, recalled during today's
ceremonies the challenges he and his fellow Marines
encountered. After overcoming 30-foot tides in Inchon
Harbor, their amphibious landing vessel Amtrak got stalled
in the sand, forcing Cheek to dash about 100 yards across
the beach, dodging North Korean tank and infantry fire.
Ultimately, they fought their way to Seoul, supported every
step of the way by South Korean civilian volunteers.
Standing beneath a giant Ferris wheel on the landing beach
that's blossomed as a popular tourist attraction, Cheek said
he felt proud to see South Korea become “a modern economic
miracle.”
“I'm glad some of us were able to help make that possible,”
he said, “helping drive out the elements trying to enslave a
great nation.”
Navy Vice Adm. Scott R. Van Buskirk, who assumed command of
the U.S. 7th Fleet in Japan last week, said the Inchon
landing provides a classic example of the Navy-Marine
“blue-green team” concept. It also underscores the
importance of amphibious landing capabilities that remain
critical today, he added.
Marine Corps 1st Sgt. Alex Leibfried, led 167 members of 1st
Battalion, 7th Marines, who stormed the beach during today's
reenactment, and he said it felt good to get the opportunity
to demonstrate those capabilities.
“It's probably the No. 1 way we come ashore,” the 18-year
veteran said. “It's good seeing that the Marine Corps is
finally getting back to its amphibious roots.” | |
Article and photos by Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2010
Comment on this article |
|
