Recalled to Duty

By Mark Douglas

Lee Harrison Stewart, a Seaman Apprentice, was stationed at a backwater naval station in Astoria Oregon. There was nothing for a teenager to do in this salmon canning community and he wanted out. He requested a transfer to sea duty anywhere on any kind of ship. Shortly thereafter, the North Koreans invaded South Korea. A month later, Lee received orders to report to Naval Shipyard Yokosuka for further transfer to the 'PF Detail.'
Upon arrival, Lee was assigned to something named PF-5 and he was to help restore this bedraggled, beat up, LendLeased Soviet Navy sabotaged hulk to active duty. He was instantly assigned to the Radio Shack where he discovered the other five Radiomen were pissed off USNR-R sailors that did not attend Reserve meeting, wear uniforms, or draw pay who were not supposed to be recalled until all USNR sailors who did attend monthly training meetings, wear uniforms, and draw attendance pay were recalled. President Truman, a WW1 combat veteran in France, decided its was better to recall WW2 combat veterans rather than wet-behind-the-ears USNR sailors. Lee was one of seven USN sailors assigned to PF-5 to rehabilitate the ship. Eventually, after nearly two months of corrective work, the USS Hoquiam PF-5 lights off one of two boilers and steams to a pier where she will be recommissioned.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781682227749

Mark Douglas

Mark Douglas served as a sailor in the US Navy for twenty years. In his career, he served on three attack transports, a destroyer, a cruiser, and a patrol frigate. He currently lives in Florida.

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Chapter 1 JUNE 1950

Following World War Two, the Republic of Korea was partitioned along North Latitude Thirty-eight degrees, commonly called the Thirty-eighth Parallel. North Korea let it be known they were going to force the consolidation of North and South Korea.

The U.S. Army organized the Military Assistance and Advisory Group (Korea), or K-MAAG, with headquarters located in Seoul, South Korea. K-MAAG—later KMAG, coordinating with Headquarters, Republic of Korea Army, placed U.S. Army observers and instructors in key locations where South Korean soldiers were garrisoned.

One detachment in Imjingak had as their office and billet, a moldy, weather beaten, sandblasted building that creaked with every gust of wind sifting dirt through the walls with every breath of wind. The building, roughly five hundred yards south of the neutral zone, had been the Imjingak passenger and freight depot on a busy railroad during the Japanese occupation. Passenger and freight trains regularly moved between Seoul and Pyongyang, and points north and south, until Korea was partitioned in 1945. The North Korean Peoples’ Democratic Republic of Korea closed the border with a locked gate and removed a section of railroad track on their side of the Thirty-eighth Parallel.

K-MAAG Detachment Imjingak consisted of First Lieutenant Elwood Q. Roner, USA Inf., Sergeant First Class Steven Powers, USA, Staff Sergeant Clinton L. Carver, USA, and Corporal Andrew S. Campbell, USA. The U.S. Army Infantry detachment was not under arms.

Two jeeps fitted with ignition keys and equipped with the only radios the detachment had, were parked under open skies next to the rusty, overgrown railroad tracks just outside their office. South Korean Army sentries closely guarded those jeeps to prevent theft by civilians and other soldiers.

One of the jeeps, driven by Corporal Campbell, with First Lieutenant Roner and Sergeant First Class Powers as passengers, had departed for Seoul yesterday about 1200 hours to attend a barbecue and beer bust at K-MAAG Headquarters. They were expected back at 1200 hours today.

Chapter Two

0415 Item, June 25

U.S. Army K-MAAG Detachment,

ROK Capitol Infantry Division

Imjingak, South Korea

Staff Sergeant Carver, asleep in his sweaty skivvies, woke abruptly, heart pounding, wondering what spooked him. He sat up, twisted his legs over the side of his cot to the floor, gripped the sides of his cot with both hands and listened, turning his head back and forth for the best sound. A faint rumble of many engines caused the window by his bunk to buzz in vibration.

Tanks? Is that tanks?

Carver strained his ears to identify the sound. His belly tightened.

Shit yeah, those are tanks and my ROK troops don’t got tanks! he said in a savage, angry tone.

Scrambling out of the bunk in his khaki skivvy shorts and shirt, he dashed to the door, opened it carefully, and chanced a look outside. While he was trying to locate the tanks, the rumbling of many engines at idle suddenly changed to a deep-throated roar, accompanied by squealing of metal moving against metal, as Soviet-built T-34 tanks moved toward the locked gate.

God DAMN it! he yelled, gripping the doorframe.

The ROK sentry tensely peering in the direction of the noise whipped toward Carver with his rifle at the ready. He shouted something to Carver, pointed in the direction of the noise with his rifle, crouched lower, and sprinted toward the border.

Staff Sergeant Carver ran back inside. Without wasted motion, he rapidly dressed in his fatigues, shook his boots upside-down for critters, jammed his feet into those cold, damp boots, stuffed socks in a pocket, put his helmet on, then grabbed a map case, canteen, field glasses, and keys to the remaining jeep. He froze momentarily as the thump of mortars and sound of machine guns and rifles came from the north. Shit, he spat out harshly as he realized his ROK troops were dying. Heavier explosions hammered his ears. His hearing memory was much too rusty to identify the weapons being fired. He looked left and right in the early morning darkness trying to pick out his field pack.

Damn!" he said, remembering he had pulled his field pack apart last night to air out.

Time to go, Carver. Get your ass out of here!

Carver stepped back to his door and slid out, peering cautiously in both directions before dashing to the jeep. He tossed his stuff in the back and jumped in. He had to observe and radio a report to headquarters in Seoul what was going on with this border clash.

He fumbled nervously with the key, finally jamming the key in the ignition, and cranked the engine.

Come on, come on, start, you bastard. The engine started with a roar and the jeep was rolling in a second. Poking the nose of the jeep around the corner of the building onto the main road, he spotted a Russian T-34 tank, about three hundred yards away, rolling cautiously toward him. Its turret swung back and forth slowly looking for targets. On the swing away that passed behind him, he jammed the gas pedal, bounced across the tracks, and gunned it, horn blaring, across the road into a narrow alley, already filling with Korean civilians trying desperately to get out of the way of the armies.

Faces contorted with fear, the civilians yelled at him in anger as he forced the jeep through the alley, just as the T-34’s shell exploded at the alley entrance. Carver looked behind him at the bodies scattered there. Can’t help them, now, he muttered.

Staff Sergeant Carver, a veteran of the World War Two European campaign, fervently wished he had any kind of weapon and prayed he didn’t run into any more tanks. He drove with one hand on the wheel and the other on the horn button. The jeep horn beeped constantly to move the Korean civilians out of the way. He stopped nervously at every alley and street crossing to check for troop movement before moving across the street.

He wanted to get up on a hill where he could view this latest intrusion. There, it should be safe to radio K-MAAG headquarters in Seoul without getting his ass shot off. To his knowledge, the Peoples Democratic Republic of North Korea had never used tanks on previous border incursions.

North Korean artillery joined in. It was massive! Looking over his shoulder as he drove southwest through Imjingak, he could see flashes in the north, many flashes, as cannon fire erupted all along the border. Shell explosions were so close together that the roar of exploding shells and concussion were continuous.

Oh shit! Those guys aren’t stopping, they’re coming on!

If the situation weren’t serious, he might have taken time to admire the gunfire’s rapid flashing, spread out east and west along the border. Carver reached the hill and drove to the top where he could see Imjingak and the border and compared it to the map laid out on his jeep hood.

This is bad shit!

Staff Sergeant Carver stepped to the rear of the jeep and flipped the radio power switches on. Adjusting the volume control, he picked up his handset and keyed the transmitter.

ANDOVER ANDOVER THIS IS ANDOVER THREE SEVEN ANDOVER THREE SEVEN—OVER

He was antsy. There was nothing more he could do here. He had to leave here but he also needed to report this incursion. Bursts of static sounded in the radio speaker but no response from Seoul.

ANDOVER ANDOVER THIS IS ANDOVER THREE SEVEN ANDOVER THREE SEVEN—OVER

He was edgy and getting angry—K-MAAG Seoul Radio Room should have answered by now. The artillery explosions were definitely rolling closer. Small arms fire crackled, stuttered, and popped faintly between artillery bursts. Grenades exploded. There were many fires breaking out down in Imjingak: smoke settled low in the early morning light.

He jammed the handset in one ear and plugged his other ear with a finger, straining through the static and background hissing listening for K-MAAG Seoul’s reply. Frowning in the morning twilight, Carver leaned over the receiver mounted in the back of the jeep and checked his adjustments. His voice had an urgent sound as he keyed his handset again. Carver heard shouts at the bottom of the hill. He looked down at the North Korean soldiers pointing at him.

Fuck! I don’t have much time.

His voice had an urgent sound as he keyed his handset again.

ANDOVER ANDOVER THIS IS ANDOVER THREE SEVEN ANDOVER THREE SEVEN—OVER

The receiver snapped dead silent as a powerful transmitter was keyed. The radio operator couldn’t keep the sound of boredom from his voice.

ANDOVER THREE SEVEN THIS IS ANDOVER—OVER

THIS IS ANDOVER THREE SEVEN—STANDBY TO WRITE@—

BREAK

FLASH—ENEMY CONTACT REPORT

BREAK

(Staff Sergeant Carver paused to think through what he wanted to say.)

MANY TARE THIRTY-FOUR TANKS CROSSING BORDER AT IMJINGAK 0415 ITEM X HEAVY ARTILLERY ROLLING BOMBARDMENT FROM NORTH KOREA COMMENCED ALL ALONG LINE SAME TIME X MACHINE GUN AND SMALL ARMS FIRE NEARBY X NORTH KOREAN INFANTRY CROSSING BORDER IN STRENGTH X ROK TROOPS ENGAGING SUPERIOR FORCE AND FALLING BACK X THIS IS NOT REPEAT NOT A BORDER INCURSION X HAVE ABANDONED ANDOVER THREE SEVEN HEADQUARTERS X MY LOCATION IS HILL SIX SEVEN SEVEN EAST OF SEOUL HIGHWAY X ADVISE

BREAK ACKNOWLEDGE OVER

The K-MAAG Seoul operator’s voice was crisp and rapid as he responded to Staff Sergeant Carver’s message.

ANDOVER THREE SEVEN THIS IS ANDOVER, ROGER YOUR FLASH ENEMY CONTACT REPORT OUT

The radio operator dropped the microphone and raced from the Radio Room with the message to find the duty officer.

Staff Sergeant Carver crouched down, checking the North Korean troop and tank positions. Two Soviet-type YAK-15 fighter-bombers flashed by below his level, strafing South Korean troops along the Seoul road and railroad tracks.

ANDOVER THREE SEVEN THIS IS ANDOVER—OVER

THREE SEVEN—GO

THIS IS ANDOVER—THIS IS A MOVORD X REPORT TO

HEADQUARTERS ASAP—OVER

THREE SEVEN—WILCO OUT

Carver dropped the handset and dashed around to jump in the jeep. He heard the thump of mortars leaving their tubes. Staff Sergeant Clinton L. Carver did not hear the mortar impact on the seat next to him.

Chapter Three

1630 Item, June 26

Headquarters, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Far East

U.S. Naval Base, Yokosuka, Japan

The conference room door swung open.

Attention on deck, called the admiral’s Aide.

There was a nervous scramble as senior Navy and Marine Corps officers stopped talking and stood at attention, facing the door as the Vice Admiral entered the conference room and hurried to the podium.

As you were, gentlemen, as you were. Please be seated.

Chairs scraped the floor as people sat down. The commander of all U. S. Naval Forces in the Far East (ComNavFE), looked at the assembled senior officers, picked up the wooden pointer, and turned to the map on the wall. He did not waste time.

Let me quickly summarize the situation, he said, pointer tapping the Korean peninsula on the map. About 0400 this morning, the People’s Democratic Republic of North Korea Army crossed the Thirty-eighth Parallel in force. They are moving south on Seoul and other points along the line, with a strong force of infantry and tanks. North Korean Air Force YAK fighter-bombers have attacked military and civilian airfields, strafing people, aircraft, vehicles, and buildings. His pointer slashed at airfields and roads, and moved to the rail line.

South Korean Army Intelligence states the North Korean Army has already reestablished the rail link at the Imjingak border where it was torn out following the Korean partition back in Forty-five. The admiral’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at his officers. A sip of ice water and he continued.

Our Army is there in an advisory capacity to the South Korean Army. They aren’t there to fight any war. The admiral turned slightly and thrust his head forward in emphasis. Hell, those advisors had no weapons before the attack. What weapons they may have now are being scavenged in the field from wounded and dead ROK troops. The South Korean Army is trying to stop the North Koreans and fighting fiercely, but the North Korean forces are too many and coming fast. Not a sound as the Admiral looked each senior officer in the eye as he presented the facts. The pointer tip slid across the map and stopped on Seoul.

Not even a full day into the fight and massive evacuations have begun in Seoul. He pounded his left fist on the table to emphasize his next point.

I have just come from an emergency staff meeting with General MacArthur in Tokyo (Commander-In-Chief, Far East). Officially, our hands are tied until our Commander-in-Chief and the Joint Chiefs begin to issue orders. However, just like the relay racer who stretches his hand back for the baton and jogs in place, we can prepare for war mobilization orders from the JCS. I expect those orders momentarily. He paused and took a drink of coffee the Yeoman had poured for him. Not a sound, not even a rustle of paper, came from around the table. He smiled a patently false, toothy smile at them.

Now, what can we do immediately? We cannot go to a war footing—yet. That being the case, we shall participate in a continuous series of drills and War Games designed to create an increased state of readiness, as though ordered to do so. The admiral paused. Does any command have a drill or exercise in process now? He looked around at each officer, all responding with a negative shake of their heads.

Good! We are going to hide under drill status. Let me emphasize this. No more drills or exercises are to be conducted. Everything is live as of now! Is that understood? All the officers nodded assent.

Okay, good. Activate war operations. Review and issue those ABC cards—Atomic, Biological, and Chemical warfare—to military and civilian personnel and dependents as soon as possible.

He held up his hands to hold off several raised hands. I doubt if realistic plans for conducting hostile action in or with Korea, exist. Now he slammed his left fist into his right hand, emphasizing the next points. But activate what you have, increase security, and improvise otherwise. Make sure you keep my headquarters advised of suspicious or abnormal situations. Anyone asks what is going on—especially the press, MacArthur says to tell them it’s summer Reservist drills. Continue tuning your organization until higher authority is able to give the word officially. He took another sip of coffee and continued.

"Expect that our Naval and Marine Forces will begin pouring into the Far East by ship and air. The Navy’s main points of focus will be the two anchorages and basing at Yokosuka and Sasebo in Japan: Pusan and Chinhae, Korea as well, unless they fall.

Naval Air will focus on the Air Stations at Yokosuka and Atsugi, Japan, and Naha, Okinawa. Those facilities have to prepare for an influx of large numbers of personnel and equipment. I suspect they will start trickling into the pipeline tomorrow. We should begin to see them by this weekend.

Naha?

Yes, Admiral?

You relieved a Patrol Squadron that began transiting to Pearl this morning? Naha’s Captain nodded.

Recall that squadron. You’re going to need every patrol bomber you can lay your hands on.

Aye aye, Admiral.

He looked around, spotted two officers, and nodded in their direction. One picked up his pencil, ready to write.

"Yokosuka, you are going to bear the brunt of this. About eight months ago, the Soviet Navy returned those ships to us—those patrol frigates. Let’s see what we have to do to recommission all of them on a high priority basis. The big question is, can we put those PF’s into service before the Reserve Fleet bases on the West Coast can send manned ships to us? You are going to need a lot more Japanese workers in there. Get the word out tonight to start processing applications to hire Japanese workers as soon as CNO gives us the word.

I want all commands prepared to send personnel for temporary duty on board those old ships to help get them ready. The Ship Repair Facility boys will know which ones to pull soon enough. Oh yes, Atsugi? Naha? Where are you?" Two Captain’s hands rose.

Don’t send air personnel. You are going to need all you can get your hands on, but I am sure you can spare a few black shoe officers and enlisted personnel. He stopped and let a pause grow long.

Air raids from North Korea or any other Communist country are possible. All commands prepare for air raids. Dependent evacuation is not an order of business at this time. Dog Tags are now mandatory for all military personnel. Have your Medical Departments check their supplies and everyone’s inoculation status, emphasis on tetanus. Have the Japanese re-mark and refurbish all Air Raid Shelters and make ready for use. He looked around wryly. I’m sure they remember how. Are there any questions? The Admiral looked into each face for questions. Let’s get to it. He took a step and stopped, holding up his hand.

Oh yes, one other thing—the Army is faced with the same kind of problems we have. They have to get troops over to South Korea if we are going to save South Korea. But they cannot do that until given the go ahead. Meanwhile, orders have gone out to the First Cavalry to prepare to move out. Questions?

He looked rapidly at the assembled senior officers in a manner that did not encourage questions.

Dismissed. He strode toward the door.

Attention on deck, and everyone scrambled to their feet as the Admiral departed. The Commanding Officers said very little as they headed back to their commands.

Chapter Four

0815, November 1, 1949

Signal Tower, ComNavFE Hill

U.S. Naval Base, Yokosuka, Japan

Quartermaster of the Watch Simpson set his binoculars on the wide ledge and leaned over the radar repeater. Twenty-seven small targets and two large targets were painted on the screen. Jensen picked up the telephone and dialed 2-1-3.

Officer of the Day, Lieutenant Norris speaking, sir.

Mr. Norris, this is the Quartermaster of the Watch, Simpson, Quartermaster Second Class, sir.

Good morning, Simpson. What do you have for me?

Sir, the Soviet Navy mother ship, another large ship, and it looks like 27 of those patrol frigates are inbound. Shall I dispatch the Harbor Pilot?

No, Simpson, I’ll take care of that. What kind of formation is the Soviet group holding?

Mr. Norris, it looks like most of those patrol frigates are being towed by the mother ship and a few other PF’s.

Have they checked in on Harbor Common yet?

No sir. No calls from them yet. Shall I initiate a call, sir?

Do it. I’ll be lining up tugs and some line handling parties.

Aye aye, sir.

Simpson hung up the phone and walked over to the TCS radio and pulled the microphone from its clip.

SOVIET NAVY VESSEL ENTERING YOKOSUKA HARBOR, THIS IS UNITED STATES NAVY BASE YOKOSUKA HARBOR MASTER OVER

Simpson listened through the ever present lightning crash static for a reply.

SOVIET NAVY VESSEL ENTERING YOKOSUKA HARBOR, THIS IS UNITED STATES NAVY BASE YOKOSUKA HARBOR MASTER OVER

He turned up the gain slightly; thinking the Soviet Navy transmitter might be weak. The AM signal snapped on with a hum in the modulation. A barely understandable voice, thick with Russian accent, spoke:

AMERICAN HARBOR MASTER WE ARE READY TO ENTER PORT. WHERE IS YOUR PILOT?

Simpson frowned at the imperious tone in the Russian’s voice.

SOVIET NAVY VESSEL THIS IS HARBOR MASTER—PILOT WILL ARRIVE IN FIFTEEN MINUTES DO YOU NEED OTHER SERVICE OVER

However, he maintained correct radio procedure.

WE NEED TUGBOATS TO TAKE YOUR SHIPS WE NEED DOCKING SPACE FOR THIS SHIP AND THE ICEBREAKER DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

Simpson’s voice was a little sharper as he responded this time.

THIS IS HARBOR MASTER ROGER—HARBOR PILOT WILL GUIDE YOU TO DOCK. WE WILL SEND TUGBOATS—OUT

Russian savages! Jensen quickly dialed Lt. Norris again.

Officer of the Day, Lieutenant Norris speaking, sir.

Mr. Norris, this is Simpson again. The Soviet ship is waiting for the Harbor Pilot and requires several tugs to take over towing those PF’s, sir. Something else. There is an icebreaker coming in, too.

Roger. Pilot and four tugs on the way now. For your information and log, they are going to be taken directly to the Inner Harbor and moored at the buoys.

Thank you, sir. Simpson hung up and continued his duties.

1600, November 1, 1949

Piedmont Pier, Ship Repair Facility

U.S. Naval Base, Yokosuka, Japan

Mixed rain and snow was falling as the northwest wind freshened. The last of the Soviet sailors were singing and marching aboard the Soviet mother ship. In a rude lack of maritime courtesy, the American flag was not displayed on the Soviet ship, which had seen better days.

A deputation of senior U.S. Navy officers stood near the gangway, shaking hands with the Soviet Admiral as he waited to board his ship. When the last sailor was aboard, the admiral coldly nodded his head and walked aboard his ship.

Without waiting for the American linehandlers’ assistance, the Soviet crew gathered in their lines, pushed the gangway violently away from their quarterdeck, so it would not fall in the water. The American officers scattered to avoid injury, to the laughter of the Soviet sailors, as the gangway bounced around. The ship backed into the main channel, turned, and left port. It was last tracked on radar in the Pacific, heading north.

Chapter Five

THIS IS K A S T, ASTORIA, OREGON, 1160 KILOCYCLES ON YOUR RADIO DIAL.

THIS IS JIM PERSONS, JUNE 25TH, TUESDAY, WITH YOUR SIX O’CLOCK EVENING NEWS FROM THE WIRES OF UNITED PRESS AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE. IN THE HEADLINES—REPEATING EARLIER BULLETINS, THE NORTH KOREAN ARMY CROSSED THE THIRTY-EIGHTH PARALLEL INTO SOUTH KOREA ABOUT NOON TODAY OUR TIME, OR 4 AM JUNE TWENTY-FIFTH KOREAN TIME.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS COMPILED FROM THE NEWS SERVICES, THE NORTH KOREANS HAVE ATTACKED SOUTHWARD ON FIVE ROADS CROSSING THE THIRTY-EIGHTH PARALLEL. ON SCENE REPORTERS STRESS THIS IS NOT THE USUAL BORDER CLASH BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREAN TROOPS. IN WASHINGTON DC, OUR GOVERNMENT HAS NOT MADE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT.

LOCALLY, SUNRISE GRANGE WANTS ME TO REMIND YOU OF THE SQUARE DANCE FRIDAY JUNE THIRTIETH JUST OFF HIGHWAY TWENTY-FOUR.

Chapter Six

September 1879

Lumber Camp #3 by an unnamed river

Northeast of Gray’s Harbor