Leaving Japan for Korea

The 40th Division left Tokyo harbor and passed southward around the southern end of the Japanese Islands. We could see the smoke from one of her active volcanoes as we then headed northward to Korea.

When we arrived, we were loaded aboard two and half ton trucks and hauled northward toward the 38th Parallel. Our first night was spent sleeping in mummy bags in foot deep snow. Later we were provided with tents that covered 4 foot deep dug out living quarters heated with oil stoves.

Enemy action was stabilized roughly along the 38th Parallel where both sides probed each other’s lines with patrol activity. Most of our fighting, however, was confined to artillery and Air Force bombings against Chinese positions, and a propaganda war of words over loud speakers, and dropping leaflets over their positions by our small cub planes.

Chinese position overlooking Kumsong at 38th parallel, with puffs of artillery smoke.

I was on such a propaganda mission flying over Chinese lines when the pilot throttled down the motor to lose altitude. The Chinese opened up with their anti-aircraft weapons. The tracer bullets appeared to float upward at us in a long arc that came too close for comfort. I tapped the pilot on the shoulder and told him to pull up.

When we landed, we were told that they thought we had been shot down. What really happened was another plane similar to ours was shot down in the next sector. I understand the pilot was the son of another division’s General.

Since I volunteered for this job, I was grounded and told not to go on any more missions like this. While up there, however, I was able to pick out the Chinese positions with my binoculars. Most of them were covered up and camouflaged.

Chinese Infiltrators

It was not uncommon for Chinese infiltrators to penetrate our lines and go to the rear areas and machine gun our troops as they slept in their tents. I was assigned to provide security for our regimental headquarters against this type of attack. To assist us we were provided with two trained dogs with their handlers.

One night, the headquarter company and regimental staff were watching a movie in a large tent, when one of the dog handlers asked me to follow him. When we were on the outside, he told me that his dog had sensed some enemy activity just beyond the tent area about 500 yards away.

I told one of my noncoms to round up a few men from my platoon and to bring along some rifle flares and extra clips of ammunition.

We followed the dog and his handler to the area where the dog stiffened, alerting his handler that Chinese were to our front. I told him to fall back, and that we would handle it from there.

I told my noncom to take one of the men on the right and I would take the left so that we were about a hundred yards apart. When we fired a flare, I whispered to him to flush the area with our automatic weapons while sounding like an army was charging the Chinese. Then I would give vocal commands to my imaginary army, and with my men, flush the area to our front.

As the first flare arched over the area and floated down attached to a small parachute, I started yelling orders to attack and all of us opened up. It sounded like a major war was in progress, but my ploy worked.

The dog handler came up with his dog, and I was informed that who ever was there had disappeared. The next day, I was told that three Chinese soldiers were killed by one of our infantry units about a thousand yards to our front, while trying to get back to their lines.

Our regimental commander was not experienced in war, and asked me why I had not told him the enemy was so close and why I had not informed him of my plans.

I responded with, “I didn’t have time, sir. The Chinese were on top of us and I had to make a quick decision. My job is the security of this outfit, and I did what I had to.”

Apparently, the Colonel accepted this. He did not argue or thank me. Frankly, I thought he was a little confused that a junior officer would take on this kind of responsibility.

A Publicity Stunt

I was not surprised a little later when his S3 or tactical officer visited me, and asked if I would take a patrol to the Chinese lines.

“That’s what I’m being paid for Major,” I said, “but what’s my mission?”

The week before a Captain friend of mine took his company up a draw alongside a mountainous spur known as the “boot,” which led down from the Chinese lines toward our front lines. It was just across the Kumsong River, which separated our lines.

The Chinese were waiting for them and had already zeroed in preparatory mortar fire in the draw. When the Captain took his troops up the draw, it was a classic U.S. infantry attack. Within just a few minutes the Chinese had swept the whole draw with mortar fire, and what the mortars missed, their machine guns finished. Half of the men in the company were killed including the Captain. His spine was torn up when his back pack was cut to pieces.

The Major told me that he wanted us to find out where the Chinese lines were.

The Chinese lines were well entrenched positions that pocketed the whole mountain to our front, which was penetrated by deep caves and tunnels. I was surprised that the major would think I was so gullible or so misinformed that I did not know what was going on.

Lt. Noorlander is in the passenger seat.

“Now Major,” I said, “if that’s all you want to know, I can tell you exactly where their positions are on a map. Remember, I flew over this area in a plane before I was grounded.” I had a gut feeling that I was being trapped into another one of those National Guard attacks where commanders do all their planning on a map with red and blue arrows, showing the movement of armies without any consideration for human life.

The Truth Comes Out

After a little more probing, I was finally told the real reason for the attack. The Major let his hair down a little and confessed that the commander wanted a little publicity for the folks back home. In other words, jobs back home were at stake and he needed some recognition for a promotion that would enhance his retirement fund. Few promotions are given following a war.

I thought to myself: “That horse’s petute is trading human lives for a little personal security.” I momentarily reflected on the past few months in Japan, where the General had almost incapacitated the whole division with venereal disease because of his bad example and lack of leadership. Now he wanted to establish a reputation as a combat general.

A New plan

Lt. Noorlander preparing for his next mission.

There was no justifiable military reason for the proposed attack. The Chinese and American lines were stabilized along the 38th Parallel, and the war was winding down. I quickly thought of my men, and of an alternative plan that would get us out of this dilemma.

“Look,” I said, “if you want a little publicity, this can be done, but it has to be done differently. Okay?”

He asked me what I had in mind. He was also taken back a little because I had challenged his position.

“I want a week’s preparation and all the artillery support I can get. I’ll also take your large ‘Los Angeles City Limits’ sign with me.” He agreed and I got busy. I thought to myself: “If they just want a show, I will give them one, but on my terms.”

Saving Lives

The following week every man in my platoon studied the aerial photographs of the area I had picked to reach our objective. We memorized every bomb hole and earthen ditch bank that could provide us with shelter in case we needed it. I decided to attack Chinese style with just enough flair to confuse the enemy.

Lt. Noorlander: “Last minute orders before the attack on Kumsong.”

I knew the Chinese understood American tactics, and I wanted them to believe we were going to attack American style. So, to soften up their positions, I planned a massive fire power against their lines using division artillery. I was not going to attack where the shells would land, however, as was the custom. I would attack between the two areas I had selected, one of which was the same general area where my friend’s company was almost wiped out.

Each man was camouflaged with white clothing since a full moon was projected for the night of the attack. We were not going up the draw American style, but across the 1000 yard open plain in front of the Chinese lines. The plain was laced with frozen rice paddies and snow.

Each man was provided with a five-gallon pail of timed explosives, flares, and phosphorous smoke grenades. Several men carried five-gallon pails of napalm, a jellied gasoline. Each pail was fortified with a long stick of black powder and a time fuse.

The evening before the attack we drove a half-track vehicle, which is a type of armored car, near the division outpost. We camouflaged the vehicle with brush and headed up the hill to the outpost. We planned to depart just before dark, with two minutes of twilight left so we could cross the Kumsong River. The river was not deep, but I was glad we wore insulated boots, because the temperature was dropping rapidly.

Overlooking Kumsong at 38th parallel. Lt. Noorlander is in the plane looking over enemy lines.

Heaven’s Help

Just before our departure, I was called to the outpost phone by the Major. He told me that some of our tanks had penetrated the area where we were going and that they were fired upon by machine guns. He said that we could back out if we wanted to. He apparently was having second thoughts about this mission. I was glad that at least he appeared to have a conscience.

“No Major,” I replied, “I think we can handle it.” I then led the men down the backside of the mountainous outpost to wait for the artillery barrage, which was our signal to cross the river.

Inwardly I felt a little uneasy. I said a little prayer as I led the men down the slope. I normally did not petition my Creator for any special help that was involved with the military. It was against my principles to ask for favors that our enemy had a right to. I reflected on one of my flights over the Chinese lines where I could see the puffs of artillery smoke, and remembered thinking to myself, “If I were the God of the heavens, and all these combatants were my children, who would I favor and who would I select to win the battle of that day.” I thought of the many men in the division who behaved immorally in Japan, to the point of total debasement. I thought of the Chinese and of the great moral principles taught by their teacher Confucius.

In spite of this thinking I did ask the Lord for some special help that evening. I asked that He would give me the courage to lead my men into combat that night, and that I would not reflect any fear to them. I also asked for the first time in my military career that I would be able to bring all the men home with me that night. I knew my men were not perfect, nor was I, but I did not believe I could live with myself if just one man was incapacitated or killed for this publicity stunt.

Korea, 1951-1952. Left to right: Dick Snaer, Eugenio Chavez, Paul Bousquet.

As we crouched down next to the river, waiting for the artillery, I looked at my watch. All of a sudden the audible whine of artillery shells went directly over our heads and exploded to our left and right on the Chinese positions as planned.

I motioned the men to follow me as I crossed the rather wide river. In the middle of the river I noticed my men were over cautious and this was slowing us down.

Then I had a very strange experience. It was as if I was being informed that no one was watching us—I knew that the Chinese could not or were not looking in our direction.

I stood up from my crouched position and waved my men on. They all stood up and walked across the river without any more hesitation. They followed me all the way to the edge of the Kumsong village, long before evacuated because of the war. We traveled rapidly so the Chinese wouldn’t have second thoughts about where the attack might take place.

By prearranged hand signals, I directed one squad to the left. I took a second squad to the right. Another squad stayed behind, making a corridor to our rear. This made escape possible if our flanks were attacked by the Chinese.

Again, my men hesitated. They knew that a Chinese machine gun position had been reported in that area. I had the same feeling come over me as before—I knew that no one was watching us or could see us. This may be difficult for some to believe, who have never had such an experience. I have read of similar reports on other occasions in our day. For example, when the Jews were fighting their Six Day War in Israel. Of course, the Bible is full of such stories. I am one who believes that the Lord still intervenes whenever the situation warrants it.

At that moment, as before, I stood up from a deeply crouched position. My men looked at me in disbelief. Nevertheless, both squads went about their business as planned, without hesitation or fear. We planted our explosives throughout the village. We lobbed the smoke grenades closest to us. We lobbed the flare grenades just in front of the smoke grenades, so the brilliant light would reflect against the smoke and not expose our positions. All the explosives were timed in ten minute intervals so the last ones would go off about an hour after the first ones.

Soon the napalm exploded in what appeared to be small atomic mushrooms rising from the center of grass roofed huts. Soon the whole village was on fire as explosives literally tore up the town. In all my 4th of July experiences, I have never seen such a beautiful display.

We left the village at a fast trot, just as we came in. I knew the Chinese would counter attack, or at least send a patrol to investigate this new type of warfare.

Back (from left to right): Leo Dmochowski, Ralph Holguin, Paul Bousquet, Cha(?), Coyle, Cahill; Front: Dick Iserhagen.

As promised, we didn’t leave before putting up the “Los Angeles City Limits” sign on a conspicuous post, so the whole division could see it from our lines with binoculars.

Mission Accomplished

We returned to our outpost and looked over the inferno we had started. I called for artillery on the Chinese who were by then pouring out of the hills. The artillery officer asked me over the outpost phone when we were going to quit. He assumed that he was talking to me over the sound power phone the third squad had laid down for us, in case we needed artillery support to get us out of Kumsong. “We left there twenty minutes ago,” I responded.

I could not see any artillery shells land on the Chinese, nor did the mortar fire we called for from the outpost hit its prearranged target in the center of Kumsong. I suppose the forward observers could not believe we were not still in Kumsong. I kind of believe that the Lord was protecting the other side as well. I used to listen to all the propaganda about the buck toothed Jap who sat in coconut trees resembling monkeys. I found out after the war that they were just like you and me. A few months before I talked to a Japanese soldier who lost his arm in the battle of Guadalcanal. He was a rice farmer inducted into the army to serve his war-lord masters. It appears that all nations have them.

Newspaper Report

Julian Hartt, the Los Angeles Examiner war correspondent, came the following day to interview my platoon. I gave plenty of credit to my company commander. By doing this, I was able to get every one of my men a long deserved promotion or rating and the pay that went with it.

Julian Hartt’s newspaper account. Click to enlarge.

Bronze Star

I received a Bronze Star for valor, when in reality there really wasn’t much risk taken that night. I just put into practice some lessons I learned about military tactics while serving in the Solomon Islands during World War II, and petitioned for the extra help I knew I needed, knowing I had done all I could do myself.

Regimental commander, Lt. Col. Richard F. Lynch, presents Bronze Star Medal to Lt. Noorlander during an informal ceremony near the front.

Final Reflections

When we returned with our half track the following morning after our attack, the rest of the company was eating chow. I watched my men. They were proud of themselves, as was the rest of the company. I felt good inside, because I knew I had given all I could. The success of the mission made the headlines in southern California, where many of my men came from. It told how the 40th division had wiped out a snipers town on the 38th parallel.

I also knew that the attack could have gone the other way. I had plenty of experiences on Guadalcanal and New Georgia like this one. I was thinking about this when I went to church services in a dug out room with a tent cover. The services were conducted by my friend Chaplain Nelson. I did not hear much that day because a battery of artillery was pounding away at the Chinese positions, and because my thoughts were elsewhere.

After the meeting, Chaplain Nelson told me how he and Captain Christiansen, a Colonel’s aid from the artillery division, not only made sure we got the artillery I requested, but were on their knees the entire one and a half hours we were on our mission to Kumsong, petitioning our Creator for help in my behalf. It was nice knowing I had friends like this, and all the back-up support that came with it.

A Christian Nation

It was not long after the raid on Kumsong that I was eating in the officer’s mess tent. Several officers were swapping stories about their sexual conquests and experiences in Japan.

I noticed a Korean Army officer quietly taking it all in. Later, outside of the tent, he approached me and asked me a very pointed question because something was bothering him. He asked me if it was true that America was basically a Christian nation. When I responded in the affirmative, I was not quite prepared for his observations: “You Christians really do not believe in the teachings of Christ, do you?”

Up to that moment I had not realized how much the Army’s conduct was influencing the opinions of our Allies regarding our moral character. I tried to convince him that all Americans were not made out of the same mold, and that back home the folks were, for the most part, moral people. I gave him a leather bound copy of some scriptures I had in my footlocker. He appeared very grateful for this gift and thanked me, but inside myself I had a difficult time that day. I wondered if I really told him the truth. This was, in fact, a citizen’s army, and I hoped that the conduct of some men did not reflect the moral standards of the whole nation. If it did, then we as a nation were in deep trouble.

Going Home

Soon after the attack on Kumsong, I was sent home. I had served my time in the army, and I went home to rejoin my wife and two little daughters.

After arriving home I received a letter that made all the effort worth it. It read in part:

Dear Lt. Noorlander,

Our son Bob has written, “The only good thing in the army will be gone when Lt. Noorlander goes home in a few weeks.”

Before you go, I should like to express a little of how much his father and I appreciate your guidance and influence on him and undoubtedly the rest of your boys. I have felt that you have been an answer to all of our prayers for Bob’s safety and for his wholesome attitude while in Japan and Korea. We received at least two long letters each week filled with the accomplishments and virtues of his Lieutenant.

I’m sure Bob will value your counseling and friendship all of his life, and for it we will always be grateful, too.

Sincerely,

(Mrs. Ray) Harriet Gardner

1715 East 80th Street
Seattle 5, Washington
April 3, 1952

Sgt. Monte Rubin with Lt. Noorlander. Korea 1951-1952.

Sgt. Hand, John Tomiko, Lt. Noorlander. Korea 1951-1952.