DMZ Flashpoints: The 1963 Jeep Ambush

The height of the “DMZ War” was between 1967-1972 where a number of provocations by the North Koreans killed dozens of US troops.  However, if there was an event that could be looked back at as the start of the DMZ War it would probably be the 1963 Jeep ambush.  In the early morning of July 29, 1963 three soldiers from A Troop, 1st Recon Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division were driving down a dirt road 50 yards south of the Korean Demilitarized Zone to relieve a guard post.  As they passed over a bridge they were ambushed by a 5-7 man North Korean squad.  They used small arms fire and grenades which killed the driver and caused the Jeep to rollover into a minefield.  The three soldiers in the Jeep did not stand a chance at being able to defend themselves from this cowardly ambush.  The below picture of the acting 1st Cavalry Division Commander Brigadier General Charles Pershing Brown sums up how angry American soldiers at the time had to be about this ambush:

The attack made front page news back in the US because it was the first time the North Koreans had launched an attack on the South side of the DMZ:

Here is how the Stars & Stripes initially reported on the ambush:

What I find fascinating about this incident is that the US responded to the North Korean provocation much the same way we still do today, with United Nations letters and harsh rhetoric that was so famously lampooned in the movie “Team America: World Police“.  A follow on Stars & Stripes article would provide further information about the attack to include naming the casualties:

The two soldiers killed in the attack were:

• Private First Class Charles T. Dessert, 19 of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania
• Private David A. Seller, 24 of Theresa, Wisconsin

Here is an article with David Seller’s picture on it that was sent to the Korean War Educator by his family:

Here is a picture of his flag draped coffin during his funeral in Wisconsin:

Here is another article with a picture of the other deceased soldier Private First Class Charles Dessert:

The wounded soldier from this attack was:

• Private First Class William L. Foster, 26 of Baltimore, Maryland

Amazingly Foster survived the attack despite being shot in the chest, hip, abdomen, and hand.  Doctors at a hospital set up a Kimpo Airfield were able to extract three of the four bullets.  The fourth bullet was lodged next to his spine so the doctors decided to leave it there.  What is even more amazing about Foster is that he fought and was wounded at the age of 15 in the Korean War as well:

Here is a picture of him as paratrooper in the Korean War via Getty Images:

He may be the only US soldier ever wounded in both the Korean War and the DMZ War.  I could not find out what ever happened to William Foster, but I hope he is living a long life right now to make up for the tribulations he went through in Korea as a young man.  He would probably be a fascinating interview if he is still alive and a journalist was able to track him down.

Anyway the next day after the attack that killed Dessert and Seller and wounded Foster, a four man North Korean patrol was found south of the DMZ.  The US and ROK forces were able to kill the four man infiltration team, but not before another US soldier and a Korean soldier were also dead:

The US soldier killed in the attack was:

• Corporal George F. Larion

Corporal Larion was a member of the 1st Cavalry Division and received posthumously a Bronze Star Medal for his actions during the engagement with the North Korean infiltrators.  Another soldier, Sergeant Abraham W. McManus also received a Bronze Star Medal during the same attack.

All of this combat happened just two days after the 10 year anniversary of the signing of the armistice to end the Korean War.  It was pretty clear that the North Koreans were using the date to send a symbolic message to the US much like they continue to use significant dates to signify provocations to this day.  Their provocations today have only been deadly against the Korean military, however as history has shown the North Koreans will attack US military members if they feel they can get away with it.  Obviously in 1963 and throughout the DMZ War period the Kim regime at the time felt comfortable that they could commit these provocations with little blow back due to the US being tied down in Vietnam and their support from China and the Soviet Union.  If the North Koreans today develop a reliable nuclear weapon capability would they feel confident again that they could launch attacks against US soldiers with little blow back?  Time will tell, but for soldiers serving in Korea today, this attack 1963 should serve as a reminder of what the Kim regime is capable of.

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