The Soldiers of Task Force Smith
It has been 55 years since the Task Force Smith Battle against the communist North Korean forces on July 5, 1950 at the beginning days of the Korean War. The battalion of soldiers called Task Force Smith after their commander Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Smith was quickly deployed from occupation duty in Japan to Korea to delay the North Korean advance until more American units could arrive to fight the communist aggressors. History tends to record Task Force Smith as a an example of military blunder, but the fact of the matter is, that Task Force Smith really did fight the best they could with what they had and should not be looked down upon as being an example of poor soldiering. They were great soldiers and Americans that fought well in defense of freedom for America. To truly understand Task Force Smith it is important to examine the morale and psychology of the unit at the time.
The soldiers that composed Task Force Smith were from 1st Battalion, 21st Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. The 24ID was located in Japan and were conducting peacekeeping operations. The priority of the military at the time was on occupation and reconstruction duties in Japan and not collective unit training. Plus the soldiers were living a soft life that included personal shoe shine boys and flirting with numerous prostitutes. Even the lowest private felt like a king in 1950 Japan.
American Occupation Troops Raise Old Glory Over Yokosuka, Japan
Plus many of the soldiers in the Army at the time were not old enough to have fought in World War II. They were young teenagers during World War II and grew up believing the US and especially the military was invincible. However these young soldiers had no idea what real combat was like, but John Wayne had taught them on TV that combat was glorious and you can run around the battle field with out fear of bullets and when somebody does gets hit they just spin around and lie on the ground motionless. There was no movies like Saving Private Ryan that conveyed the real horrors of actual ground combat.
The soldiers of 1-21IN, 24ID were not a lone and unique example of untrained soldiers at the time, as the unit is sometimes referred too. The unit was in fact a microcosm of the entire post-war military in 1950. The army was filled with untrained but highly patriotic youths brought up to believe America and it’s military were the best in the world without appreciation for the realities of the hard work and training it takes to stay the best. All the John Wayne movies in the world do not make up for tough, realistic training. Unfortunately for them, they would soon learn this reality in the far away hills of Korea. A place many of them had never heard of and would soon give their lives for.
My grandfather was a high ranking NCO in the 19th Inf regiment of the 24th Inf. Division sent over to Korea. The story I remember him telling me about the most was during that winter. He talked about trying to get his soldiers to march around at night to stay warm, but some were so exhausted, hungry, and cold, they couldn't do it and layed down to freeze to death.
Don't blame "John Wayne" (or Hollywood) for the lack of training. They did not command any units not control the training, equipment, or R&D budgets.
Our political and military leaders knew–or should have known–what was required. Our political leaders decided to take the easy road and not spend the time and effort in training our Armed Forces adequately and many young men paid with their lives.
Don't forget that should you become a leader!
The John Wayne mentality is what added to the over confindence in their abilities and also the over confidence that the North Koreans would just turn around and run the minute they saw a US Army soldier. Nobody told them that the Norks never watched John Wayne.