Trip in Time

Wonsan Harbor North Korea

By Al Bliss

Wonsan Harbor is located on the East coast of Korea and a location actively concentrated on during the Korea War by the US Navy. The Maddox DD731 was frequently there because our ship was the home for the Squadron Commander, Captain Buckley who was in charge of removing Macarthur from the Philippines on his PT BOAT. Our Captain, Commander Hanna, and Captain Buckley would routinely man the bridge when the North Koreans shot at us so that they could keep track of the number of rounds that missed us. The ship was constantly changing course and speed to avoid being hit. We did get hit twice and had one sailor die from his wounds.

The US did have a handful of Marines on the three small islands just south of the peninsula that guards the entrance to the port. I was fortunate enough to spend Wednesday afternoon and night, Thursday and Friday morning with the Marines to help with the spotting information. I really do not have any idea if I was of value but I do know that virtually every time that I hunkered down to sleep or eat, one of the guns in the cave on the peninsula would pop out and take a shot at our little island. By the way, that really p---ed me off and I could not wait to return to the Maddox and shoot back.

There is a thin strip of land leading to the peninsula that furnished a simple route to bring supplies to the troops there manning the guns. After returning to the ship, sometime the next week, I think, I was in the Main Battery Director but the normally assigned officer was absent. Made me in charge. We were inside the harbor east of the peninsula when the range finder operator, Ray Forester, said that a small crew of North Koreans were bringing supplies to the peninsula and that included one head of cattle. Ray an excellent range because the supply group was moving very slowly with no concern or thought of being shot at.

I instructed Mount 51 to load a 5” common round and to be ready for two more rounds to fire for effect. The single shot took out the two North Koreans with the main supply material and the beef. The leader of the group who was in front of the others, he set a speed record getting to the peninsula.

After the fact, I did not enjoy the feelings that resulted but I did try to explain my actions to the Assistant Gunnery Officer who he returned to the Main Battery Director long after our single shot.

Chigrin – North Korea

This is the current rendition of another section of the East Coast of Korea quite a bit north of Wonsan where we deposited/allowed a small team of South Koreans and two Marines (I think) to go ashore in a very small boat. The game plan was to retrieve them and their boat in three days. The point where we dropped them off was the river south of the main populated area. It was a foggy night. I was in the Main Battery Director and it seems fog helps sound carry a long way because I remember hearing some kind of gun breach slam shut and I fully expected immediate/prompt gunfire directly to our starboard side. BUT, nothing happened. After the team left, it was necessary to back down straight out to deeper water because we did not have room to turn around.

When we returned to recover the team, we found the boat and two dead South Koreans. A first class Bosons Mate and I jumped into the boat and discovered the bodies and he saw what appeared to be a booby trap in the bow of the boat. I have never moved that fast before or since in the process of climbing out of the boat and returning to the Maddox fantail. The Bosons Mate stayed behind and recovered the bodies and then we detonated the explosives