by Donald A. Wayman.
The following description of events is a product
of my personal recollections, war diaries,
action reports and deck log of the destroyer,
Ernest G. Small.
The Events of 10 October 1951.
Ernest G. Small (DD-838) was a
Gearing-class
destroyer launched in June 1945, by Bath Iron
Works (Bath, Maine). Sponsored by Mrs. Ernest G.
Small, she was commissioned on 21 August 1945,
and named for Rear-Admiral Small who was awarded
the Navy Cross for Extraordinary Heroism in
Action against Japanese surface units off Savo
Island, 11-12 October 1942.
The destroyer
would distinguish herself nine years later. In
October of 1951, the E.G. Small would get
her first opportunity to actually engage the
enemy since commissioning.
The E.G. Small transited the
Panama Canal in June of 1950 as war broke out in
Korea. We were ordered to proceed directly to
Hawaii, refuel, and rendezvous with units of the
Seventh Fleet in the Sea of Japan. We had never
heard of Korea, but that was where were were
going. We were part of DES DIV 72, which
included U.S.S. Mackenzie (DD-836), U.S.S.
Hanson (DD-832) and U.S.S. Taussig
(DD-746). Taussig would join up
with us at a later date.
On August 1st, we were steaming in
company with Task Group 53.7, composed of
Clymer (APA-27), Fort Marion
(LSD-22), Pickaway (APA-222),
Whiteside (AKA-90), Alshain (AKA-55),
Horace A. Bass (APD-124), Mackenzie
and Hanson. At 1800 hrs, Henrico
(APA-45) would join the formation.
The following day, the amphibious group, in
column formation, entered the port of Pusan,
Korea. The First Provisional Marine
Brigade from San Diego disembarked. The
Marines would reinforce the embattled Eight Army
defending the Pusan perimeter. In September, the
First Marines would make a successful amphibious
assault at the port of Inchon, on Korea's west
coast.
The E.G. Small would take part
in the Inchon Invasion, the landing at Wonsan on
the east coast in October, and the evacuation of
Tenth Corps at Hungnam after the Battle at the
Chosin Reservoir in December. Marines, of
course, did not use words like 'retreat';
therefore, this operation was called a
'withdrawal' or 'redeployment'.
For most of our first tour of duty in Korea,
we were assigned Plane Guard and ASW
(Anti-Submarine Warfare) screening duties to
every "bird farm" in the 7th Fleet. Most often,
we replenished at sea. General Quarters (GQ) was
sounded day and night as carriers conducted
flight operations in support of the United
Nations troops already ashore. Usually, we
were chasing Sicily (CVE-118) or
Badoeng Strait (CVE-116). We shot up
jettisoned wing tanks and investigated fishing
boats that probably were on minelaying missions.
Sonar contacts were pursued and, at times, depth
charge attacks were made. After the war, both
sides denied the use of submarines..
We seldom received reports on the
fighting ashore, but it was apparent that things
were not going very well. Green and
poorly-trained soldiers were "bugging out",
breaking ranks when under attack and heading
south. Many were captured without weapons
and then shot, hands and feet bound. The
casualty rate was high among officers and non-comms,
but they stood their ground and fought on.
General Dean, commanding officer of the 24th
Division, was captured after hiding out in the
hills for a month. He would remain a prisoner
for the duration of war.
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to Pg. 2
