Battle for the Punchbowl: The U. S. 1st Marine Division 1951 Fall Offensive of the Korean War Page: 43
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forces could have already built defenses to pull back too. Another reason these were
built is for a greater layer of defenses behind the Kansas Line to contain any potential
Communist penetration.) The construction consisted of such priorities as "clear fields of
fire, defensive wire, tactical wire, open emplacements, covered emplacements, reverse-
slope trails . . ..15
Other elements of the regiment likewise patrolled or conducted training. Most
patrols resulted in negative enemy contact though one discovered the wreckage of an
F4U Corsair plane (a propeller driven fighter-bomber aircraft used throughout World
War II and Korea by the Marine Corps and Navy for Close Air Support). Others found
caches of enemy ammo (some booby trapped), or the bodies of dead U. S. soldiers
killed in earlier fighting (some of which also were booby trapped). Some of the soldiers
found were wearing winter issue clothing and had not even been buried. Such was the
fluid and desperate nature of the previous winter's combat. The mission of these patrols
was "to determine the extent of enemy activity and unusual civilian activity. . ." in the
area. Such was a typical day in corps reserve.16
The division was in reserve for only two and a half months before it was again
committed to combat. For the men new to the division, that was not very long to "snap
in," as Marines called getting thoroughly acquainted with a new unit or weapon hands-
on.17
is Seventh Marines "Historical Diary," August 1951, Regimental Frag Orders 021400 and 071330;
Seventh Marines "Historical Diary," August 1951, 2-5; Third Battalion, Seventh Marines "Historical Diary,"
August 1951, 3; Seventh Marines "Historical Diary," August 1951, 2-4.
16 Seventh Marines "Historical Diary," August 1951, Regimental Frag Orders 021400 and 071330;
Seventh Marines "Historical Diary," August 1951, 2-5; Third Battalion, Seventh Marines "Historical Diary,"
August 1951, 3; Seventh Marines "Historical Diary," August 1951, 2-4.
1 Mar Div, "Historical Diary," August 1951, 3.43
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Montandon, Joshua W. Battle for the Punchbowl: The U. S. 1st Marine Division 1951 Fall Offensive of the Korean War, thesis, August 2007; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3938/m1/58/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .