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Submitted by Bill Mellott, of McClure, who said it was written by Capt. M. W. Goss, of Lewistown.
By Capt. M. W. Goss, S-3, 176th Armd FA BN
On the morning of 19 August 1950, the Lewistown, Danville, Sunbury and Waynesboro National Guardsmen were once more being mustered into federal service. For a large percentage of them, it was the second time in 10 years that they, as Pennsylvania National Guardsmen, had been called upon in the defense of democracy.
The battalion, commanded by Lt. Col. Fred B. Fiigon, from Lewistown, moved to Camp Carson, Colorado, to undergo an Army Ground Forces, 28-week training program. To the many old timers, this was just like going to summer camp. The preparation of camp had the same familiar air, and to make it even more so, the training schedules were taken from NGTP subject schedules.
There was much enthusiasm, coupled with hard work, in buckling down to the extensive 28-week program. However, the program as such was short-lived. After one week of training, the battalion was notified that its training was to be stepped up to a six-week program. Further, a readiness date of 1 November 1951, was set for overseas shipment to the Far East Command.
It was quite a job to squeeze 28 weeks of training into a six week period. The training day was stepped up to a 12-hour day, and the training week to five and a half days. Needless to say, however, the training week was sometimes a seven-day week. Every type of infantry weapon was mastered, and each man received infantry training in addition to becoming an artilleryman.
Making artillerymen was no simple job. Artillery pieces and equipment had been scarce back at the home stations. The battalion arrived at Carson with only 60 percent of its authorized personnel, and 30 percent of its equipment. Being an armored unit, effective training depended largely upon rolling equipment.
Soon after the readiness date was set, filler personnel began rolling in. They came from ERC, RA, AUS and Federalized National Guard Units. Twenty-five of them were furnished by the 28th Division, then in training at Camp Atterbury. All officers fillers came from the inactive officer reserve corps, and reported direct to the battalion from their homes.
Time for service practice was inadequate. Field exercises were few, because of the many subjects to be trained in the short time available. The firing batteries taking the Army Field Forces Training tests proved that more time was required for gunnery training. The lack of vehicular equipment had limited the training in sectional team work, radio operation (all armored radios are mounted) and tactical maneuvering. Only one battery passed the training test, but the battalion was commended by the post commander, Brig. Gen. Walter Hess, for the showing it made under the extreme training handicaps.
By the time the fillers had all arrived, the battalion had already received its alert order. When the full T/O&E of equipment was received, it went direct to the shops for preparation for overseas shipment.
On 17 February 1951, the battalion landed at Pusan, Korea. A Republic of Korea marine band greeted them at the dock. The executive officer, Major Cecil C. Zimmerman, of Lewistown, was presented with a wreath of flowers by the Mayor of Pusan, and a Lorean government representative. Everyone, especially the UN forces, was glad to see additional artillery land in Korea.
Camp was set up at Kumhae, about 25 miles from Pusan. There, extensive field training was commenced. For five weeks the battalion maneuvered through south Korean hills, became acquainted with Korean terrain and practiced shooting their weapons. The battery and battalion training tests were given by a testing team from I Corps Artillery Headquarters. All tests were passed with flying colors, and on 3 April 1951, the 176th was loaded onto three LSTs for shipment to Inchon.
On 7 April 1951, the battalion fired its first round of 105mm in anger. They were attached to the 25th Division, reinforcing the fires of the 159th FA Bn in support of the 24th Infantry regiment.
Many lessons in gunnery were learned in a hurry. Gunners became experts almost overnight. Regular army forward observers expresses amazement at the accuracy of our fires. Infantry battalion and Company commanders found it hard to believe that the devastating fire was being placed in their support by a National Guard outfit. They had visualized the National Guardsmen as being made up of hobby soldiers, with partial know-how, but their opinions were quickly and respectfully changed. The proof was in the pudding.
During the following weeks, the assignments and missions varied from direct support of armored task forces to direct support of Infantry Battalions on special penetration missions.
During the early hours of the battalion’s 16th day of combat, the Chinese Communist forces kicked off on their spring offensive. The 176th at that moment had the distinction of being the Northernmost Artillery battalion in Korea. They were 10,000 yards short of Chorwon, the western base of the Chinese troop concentration, and were in support of the Second Battalion of the 27th Infantry Regiment. The 27th received the shock of the initial onslaught of the Chinese offensive. The howitzers howled from 0300 until 0530. The Chinese could not break through, so their attack rolled off to the east and west. They penetrated the lines between the Turkish Brigade and the 3rd Division on the west, and the lines of the 6th ROK Division in the east. The 176th was thanked by the commander of the Second Battalion for their devastating artillery fire during the attack. He stated that more than 700 dead Chinese were counted in front of his two companies.
The retrograde movements were many during the next few days, as flanks were threatened from time to time. The cost to the enemy its history.
On 24 April 1951, the battalion moved from the 25th Division sector and became part of the 11th ROK-American Regimental combat team in the 1st ROK Division. This was a new experience for the battalion, but was a common type combination in the effective team of UN forces.
The 1st ROK Division will stand up alongside any American division in its efficiency, its holdfast stubbornness, and its courageous outmaneuvering of the enemy. It is truly Korea’s finest. The division is organized and equipped under USA T/O&E’s, officered completely by Korean officers, and advised by American officers from the Korean Army Military Advisory group. A language barrier between the Americans and the Koreans is overcome by Korean interpreters. In the 11th Regimental Combat Team, liaison officers are sent to the battalions by the 176th, but forward observers are furnished by the Koreans. An interpreter team stays at battalion fire direction center and works hand-in-hand with the S-3 in conduct of fire.
Effective teamwork between two nationalities was proven at the outskirts of Seoul. The 176th had joined with the ROKs at Imjim River, helped them break contact with the enemy and withdrew with them to Seoul to foil the chink attempt at outflanking them. At Seoul, the second phase of the Chinese offensive hit, with the object of capturing the Seoul-Inchon area. It was stopped dead by a wall of artillery. Again, the 176th was credited with over 300 enemy casualties, but this time they had stopped the drive with slightly more than 700 rounds of ammunition.
After numerous stabbing task force missions with the 11th ROK regiment, the 176th advanced back to the Musan, 28 days after they had left it. During its first 44 days of combat, the battalion fired 1,357 tons of 105 ammo and inflicted 5,377 enemy casualties. In 1,397 fire missions, it has knocked out 23 mortars, 12 artillery pieces, two tanks, 31 machine guns, four vehicles, two gasoline dumps, two ammo dumps and destroyed two enemy occupied villages.
In a very short time, the unit has become an experienced combat force. The 17-year-olds that left with the guard are now thinking and fighting like veterans.
All the men are well taken care of and are well supplied. Each month, a large group are sent to Japan for rest and recuperation. Each three days, a group is sent to the battalion-operated rest camp, miles behind the lines, at the Service battery area. They are getting more G.I. cigarettes than they normally smoke. They receive regular issues of beer and Coca Cola. Through good conditions, as well as bad conditions, the men of the 176th Armored Field Artillery Battalion are living up to the standards and traditions of the Pennsylvania National Guard in another great fight for democracy.