Korean Winter

by Griff Hosker

  I stepped into the compound, I walked slowly to the tower, checking all the time to see that I was not observed. It was a metal ladder and, after tucking my Colt into my belt, I began to climb. It was a risk but I hoped that the men would not look over the side and, if they did, the snow and the parachute would disguise me. I still had no sight of my men. That meant the camouflage worked. There was a light in one of the buildings to the east of me. I could now hear the two North Koreans talking above me. I had enough Korean to pick out the odd word but that was all that it was, an odd word. I saw an open hatch above and a glow. They had a brazier of some sort and that would help me. It would spoil their night vision and I knew that their attention would be on it. I was acutely aware of the time but haste might cause me to make a mistake. The voices helped me to identify where they were. The two of them appeared to be on the south side of the tower. That explained why I had not seen them. As I neared the top I drew and cocked my Colt. It was now or never. I pulled myself up with my left hand and saw the two Koreans seated on stools playing cards. I fired two shots. They were less than five feet from me and they died instantly as the two bullets struck their foreheads. I checked there were no other sentries and descended. When I reached the bottom, I tapped Entwhistle on the shoulder and pointed to the tower. I mimed for the two of them to use the machine gun. As they clambered up, I waved for Corporal Dixon to bring over the rest of our men. The first part was done; now I had two more sentries to kill and then we could start our rescue.

  I did not wait for my men to follow me as time was of the essence. I ignored the tents and ran, instead, to the smaller building to the right of the main one. I was hidden by the tents and although I could not see the sentries, I doubted that they would have moved. As much as I wanted to take them prisoner, I had the lives of almost forty of our own men in my hands. The sentries were soldiers and sudden death was an occupational hazard. When I reached the smaller building, I glanced at my watch. It was 0515. I had taken longer than I had hoped. As I headed to the main building, I saw that it had a large door on the eastern side. As I began to creep along the side of the main building suddenly the sky to the west was lit up by a huge explosion. The Americans had detonated something. It mattered not what it was the garrison would be alerted. The two Korean sentries obligingly stepped out and both died without knowing whence the bullets had been fired.

  I ran to the tents knowing that the bridge would soon blow. I was not a moment too soon for I heard an alarm within the main building and a searchlight from the north-west tower began to sweep across the compound. Lofting had wrapped the barrel of his gun in parachute shroud and that not only hid the muzzle flash it dampened the sound a little. I knew the sound but I doubted the North Koreans would. He sent a whole magazine at the tower. The light went out and there were cries. A final shot eliminated the threat. I shouted, “Commandos coming in. Grab your gear!”

  The tent flaps opened and I saw Lance Corporal Pike emerge. He saw me and grinned, “Get the lads! It is Major Harsker!”

  Faces appeared in the tent doorways. I shouted, “Corporal Dixon!” Pausing only to fire at the open door of the main building my sergeant ran to me. “Get the men back to the camp, Dixon!”

  “Sir!”

  “Smith, you and I will cover them!”

  Just then the sky to the east was lit up as the bridge blew. I glanced at my watch and saw that it was on time, to the second! I jammed my Colt in my belt and swung around my Thompson. A North Korean officer stepped out of the building only to be struck in the chest by one of Lofting’s bullets.

  “Right sir!”

  “Come on lads, you heard the Major.” I heard Sergeant Grant’s voice.

  My sergeant and my men poured out of the tents. I could see that some were having to be supported by others. Time was of the essence and I could not afford the time to scan the faces to see if Polly was still alive.

  I heard the Korean machine gun, operated by Hall and Entwhistle, open fire. It was a heavy gun and huge holes were torn in the door of the building. Smith knelt next to me. I saw that the North Korean watchdog was with us and lay in the snow next to my Lance Corporal. I cocked my Thompson and watched the side of the building. As I had expected men had left the side entrance. I fired a short burst as soldiers appeared. Three of them fell and the others took shelter; I was buying time for our men to get to the camp. Behind me, I heard my men as they encouraged the prisoners and helped those who could barely walk. I was desperate to turn and see who, other than Godfrey Pike and Sergeant Grant, had survived. There were too many North Koreans before us.

  “Smith, pull the pins on two grenades. Send one to the left and one to the right.” I sprayed the west corner of the building and then the right. I had less than half a magazine left.

  The din from the building as men fired at us and orders were shouted was so loud that I barely heard Smith as he shouted, “Grenade.” I threw myself to the ground and covered my ears. The air was filled with flying shrapnel. As I stood, I emptied the last of my magazine and pulled two hand grenades. They were American ones and I shouted, “Grenade!” as I threw them and then hit the ground. As the concussion washed over me, I changed magazines and looked behind me. Smith and I were alone, with the dog! I fired a short burst and said, “Run! I will be right behind you.”

  Our grenades had hurt the North Koreans but I heard the sound of motors. They had vehicles and that spelled disaster for us. I fired a second burst, drew a grenade and threw it. This time I ran for the gap in the fence. The wall of concussion had largely dissipated by the time it reached me. I had run so fast I could have represented Great Britain in the Olympics!

  As I ran, I shouted, “Hall, Entwhistle, Lofting; time to go!”

  Hall had the presence of mind to throw the machine gun over the side of the tower rendering it useless when it smashed on the ground. They slid down the ladder and were waiting for me at the fence. Smith and Lofting were also there. “Can’t any of you obey an order?”

  Smith grinned, “Couldn’t go without you, sir!”

  I pointed to the north and then threw a grenade under the tower, “Run!”

  We were safely behind the building when the grenade exploded. I heard a crash and knew that something had fallen; I hoped it was part of the tower. So far all had gone well but we now had a company and a half on our tail. Faces appeared in the doors of the town as we ran but when they saw our guns they ducked back inside. I stopped as we neared the edge of the town and the solitary building which marked the end of the inhabited section. I could hear vehicles behind us. I saw that the rescued men were still shy of our defences. “Right lads, let us hold them here for a while.”

  They lay down on the ground; it was easier for them with their rifles. My submachine gun meant it was easier for me to stand. I heard the GAZ as it hurtled from the compound. “Lofting, empty a magazine through the engine block. You other two get grenades ready.”

  They had a machine gun on the Gaz but it was bouncing and sliding on the slippery road and the bullets were striking the building and the road rather than us. I fired a short burst. The Thompson was inaccurate but the bullets zipped over the vehicle, making the driver swerve. I heard Lofting’s Lee Enfield and then the crack as they hit the North Korean vehicle. They did not damage the engine block but the cloud of steam from the front told me that they had hit the radiator. “Throw your grenades and then run back to the lads!” I emptied my magazine, spraying from side to side and then ran. We used the building for cover and the exploding grenades did us no harm.

  I heard as we covered the ground to Fort Zinderneuf, the sound of Lieutenant Morrison’s voice, “Wait for my order to fire!”

  Behind us, I heard the sound of a truck. I had used one and recognised its sound. We could have used a bazooka but hindsight was always twenty-twenty! We did not have one. We threw ourselves over the snow-covered, soil-filled parachute canisters. “Lofting, you know what to do.”

  “Yes, sir!”

  I tur
ned to Sergeant Major Thorpe and Lieutenant Morrison, “Any casualties?”

  “None, sir, but half of them are in a bad way.”

  Sergeant Major Thorpe nodded, “Pikey has been their only doctor. Major Poulson might well lose his leg. We have fifteen wounded and another five who have, like the Major, more serious wounds.”

  Although I was relieved that Polly was alive this was becoming depressing, “Any unwounded who can fight?”

  “There are twelve, sir. They are mainly our lads but Major Poulson is the only officer. The others are from the 1st Middlesex.”

  I looked at Ken Thorpe, “Have spare weapons issued to the twelve. They can use the guns from the mortar crews, machine gun crews and medics. They are looking after Major Poulson, aren’t they?”

  “He is their priority. Powell’s training might help, sir. If we get a moment, he will need to speak with you.”

  Just then Lofting shouted, “Here they come, sir.”

  My friend and the medics would have to wait. I nodded at Jake who shouted, “Wait, for it, wait for it!” The Korean truck barrelled towards us and fifty or more North Koreans, screaming and waving their weapons charged at us. I aimed my Thompson. The Lieutenant judged it well and shouted, “Open fire!” when they were just a hundred and fifty yards from us. Our defences absorbed the odd bullet which struck us while the mortar shells, sent as fast as Fox and Foster could drop them, scythed through the infantry. We were lucky in that one shell managed to hit the truck and explode its tank. The vehicle lifted in the air as it blew up. It was the end of their attack. They fell back to the safety of buildings and the edge of the town. More than seventy of their men lay dead, dying or wounded. I saw some crawling back. John Lofting raised his rifle, “Let the wounded go, Lofting. If we shoot them it will anger them and this way they have to look after them.”

  “Sir!”

  “Sergeant Major, feed the prisoners. I want to move as soon as we can.”

  “In daylight, sir?”

  “If we have to.” He left to obey my orders.

  “Well done Jake. Do you have explosives left?”

  He grinned, “Yes sir, and, while we were setting them, Marine Williams found some boats on the river, sir. They were barges and they are north of the blown bridge. He said they might be a way out and I think he might be right.”

  “Is the river navigable?”

  He shrugged, “The boats must go somewhere.” My lack of enthusiasm dampened his spirits. “It was just an idea, sir.”

  I smiled, “And a good one too. Don’t mind me, Jake. I am just worried about my friend.”

  “He looked in a bad way when they brought him in but he was still smiling.”

  I said, almost to myself, “That is Polly for you!”

  “Polly, sir?”

  “A nickname.”

  I looked at my watch. It was still early in the day but the snow had stopped. What would the North Koreans do next? I had no doubt that the airwaves would be filled with chatter. They had to know that the Americans were the greater threat in addition to which there was a push towards Pyongyang. Even now the North Korean capital might be in allied hands. I had to trust my men. If the Sergeant Major thought that the men were too sick to move unless there was no alternative then I would have to believe him. I might be forced to delay our departure until dark.

  “Make sure everyone eats. Keep a watch for the North Koreans. Can you take charge, I would like to see my men?”

  Jake’s face suddenly looked almost ancient as he nodded, “Of course, sir. Take all the time you like. I have this.”

  I took out my pipe and began to fill it. I had cleaned it on the aeroplane as it had kept my hands occupied and my mind focussed. Wally Bridges was just coming out of the hut, which we had cleared. He shook his head, “Sir, it is not right what the North Koreans did to our lads. They have had nothing but rice water and stale bread since they were captured. They all have the galloping shits.” He shook his head, “Sorry sir, dysentery.” His eyes pleaded with me, “Will we get them home, sir?”

  “Bridges, I don’t make promises I can’t keep but I will do my best. These are good lads.”

  “You are right there, sir.”

  I opened the door and stepped in. It was dark and it was Stygian. There was a smell of antiseptic in the air. Corporal Lowery stood, somewhat unsteadily and saluted, “We knew you would come for us, sir. These foot sloggers didn’t believe me but I said Commandos never leave men behind.”

  “And you were right. Now sit down and rest. We are not out of the woods yet.

  Powell and Lance Corporal Pike approached me as he sat. Their faces told me all I needed to know. Waving them to join me outside where we could talk, I stepped to one side and said, “Give me the worst.”

  Godfrey nodded, “The Major is a game ‘un sir, He kept us together and fighting even when he was wounded but his leg is infected. I am just a medic but I knew something needed to be done. I asked the gooks, sorry sir, North Koreans but they played dumb.” He sighed, “He has to lose the leg below the knee. We have used the penicillin the lads brought but it will not be enough. If the infection spreads then…”

  I nodded. Polly had always been a fit man and his life was the Commandos. I could not envisage him with life outside. I trusted my men. I turned to Powell, “Your opinion?”

  He nodded, “He is right, sir but it might be too late, it should have been done much sooner.”

  I did not need this distraction but I owed it to my friend. I knew he was just one of many but I had a chance to save someone and I was damned if I would ignore the opportunity. I had lost too many friends I could not save. “If you take the leg?”

  Powell took a step back, “Me sir? I…”

  “The alternative is a St. John’s ambulance man and Pike here. Answer me. If we do not take the leg then what happens?”

  His shoulders sagged and he shook his head, “He dies, sir.”

  “And if we operate and take his leg?”

  “He might live.”

  I nodded, “Then there is no argument. Do what you have to do to prepare. We take the leg and we take it now! We leave here after dark and the North Koreans will come as soon as they are reinforced.” I stared at Powell and knew I was being unfair. He nodded, “Pike, get Bridges and clear a space. I will go and speak with the Major.”

  He gave a wry smile, “That is all he has been asking for. He is a tough one. I will get a fire going. We have to cauterize the wound or the operation will be a waste of time.”

  “I know.” I turned to Marine Powell, “Thank you, Peter, I know I put you in an impossible position and I apologize.” I think he was in shock for he just nodded, dumbly. I went back inside. I walked over to the pile of parachute bags my men had made for a bed for Polly. I smiled as I approached the pale shell of the man I had known for almost five years. “Well, look at you! A bed fit for a King.”

  He nodded, “I am sorry, sir. I have let you down! I lost so many men!”

  “Look at the ones you saved. Pike told me what you did. This is bad luck.”

  “Williams, Barton, Smith. They died. Wilberforce, Tenby, Golightly, Caygill, Inns, Gowland, they were the new lads and they all died.”

  I nodded and held his hand in mine, “And that is not your fault. They were thrown into a conflict for which they were unprepared.”

  He winced, “This bloody leg!”

  He opened his eyes and I held his gaze, “You have to lose the leg below the knee or you will die.”

  His eyes closed and his head fell back. I saw a tiny tear seep from his eye and I gripped his hand. He just said, “Bugger.”

  I laughed, “Bugger, indeed. It is not as bad as it sounds, Powell trained as a doctor.”

  He opened his eyes and said, “This means we can’t leave. I won’t be the cause of more men’s deaths!”

  “Hey!” I forced steel into my voice, “I am still in command! We leave when I say and not before! You are a brevet major and don’t you forget it.�
� He nodded, “Besides, it would be suicide to leave here in daylight. We will take whatever they throw at us and then try to leave after dark. The new Lieutenant has found some boats. We can take a Korean cruise.”

  He relaxed and smiled, “Just so that it is not me who holds things up.”

  I nodded, “You won’t be.”

  “When will they…”

  “As soon as they are ready. They have no anaesthetics; just some morphine.”

  He stared at me and then grinned. He was Polly once more. “You know I always fancied being a writer. This could be the start of a new career. I should look at all of these experiences as a challenge.”

  I looked into his eyes and saw both fear and pain, “If I can I will be here for you.”

  He shook his head, “Knowing that you are on the line fighting, sir, will be enough. You are worth a whole section. Sir, if this goes tits up, I want you to know that serving under you and with you has been a privilege and…”

  I stood, “None of that, commando! You are not going to die on my watch and that is an order!”

  He laughed, “That is it, sir, never change. It is what we love about you! I shall do my best.” He raised his right hand and saluted. I returned it and left. I felt lower than I had ever felt. Once I stepped into the snowy sunlight Corporal Dixon approached and saluted, “Sir, we have heard engines. They are back.”