Nowak, Stanley, Jr., Cpl

People You Remember
Chain of Command:

Commanding General, 1st Marine Division (Rein):

MajGen Oliver P. Smith----------------------- (to 23 Feb 1951)
BrigGen Louis B. (Chesty) Puller------------- (from 24 Feb 1951 to 4 March 1951)
MajGen Oliver P. Smith----------------------- (from 5 March 1951 to 24 April 1951)
MajGen Gerald C. Thomas---------------------- (from 25 April 1951)


Assistant Division Commander, 1st Marine Division (Rein):

BrigGen Edward A. Craig---------------------- (to 20 Jan 1951)
MajGen Edward A. Craig----------------------- (from 21 Jan 1951 to 1 Feb 1951)
BrigGen Lewis B. (Chesty) Puller------------- (from 2 Feb 1951 to 19 May 1951)
BrigGen William J. Whaling------------------- (from 20 May 1951)


Commander, 1st Marine Regiment:

Col. Lewis B. (Chesty) Puller---------------- (to 24 Jan 1951)
Col. Francis M. McAlister-------------------- (from 25 Jan 1951 to 19 May 1951)
Col. Wilburt S. (Big Foot) Brown------------- (from 19 May 1951)


Executive Officer, 1st Marine Regiment:

LtCol Robert W. Rickert---------------------- (from 16 Jan 1951 to 11 Feb 1951)
LtCol Alan Sutter---------------------------- (from 12 Feb 1951 to 30 May 1951)
LtCol Donald M. Schmuck---------------------- (from 31 May 1951)


Commander, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment:

LtCol Donald M. Schmuck---------------------- (to 27 Feb 1951)
LtCol Robley E. West------------------------- (from 28 Feb 1951)


Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment:

Maj Robley E. West--------------------------- (to 27 Feb 1951)
Maj David W. Bridges------------------------- (from 28 Feb 1951)


Commander, "A" Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines:

Capt Robert H. Barrow------------------------ (to 30 Jan 1951)
Capt Thomas J. Bohannon---------------------- (from 31 Jan 1951 to 30 June 1951)
1stLt Calvin R. Baker------------------------ (from 1 July 1951)

Memories
To this point dad has participated in the following:

The "Pohang Guerrilla Hunt" in January and early February 1951.
The "CCF Spring Offensive" in mid February 1951.
"Operation Killer (1st Phase)" in mid to late February 1951.
"Operation Killer (2nd Phase)" in early March 1951.
"Operation Ripper" in early March to April 1951.
"Operation Rugged" in early to mid April 1951.
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Operation Dauntless was conducted to secure Phase Line Utah forward to Line Kansas from 10 April to 22 April 1951.
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Since dads letter of 3 April the following events had taken place:

On 2 April Operation Rugged started with the attack jumping off from Line Dover, north of Chunchon. The plan was for the division to advance about three miles from Line Dover to secure Line Kansas just north of the 38th Parallel. With three regiments in line, they advanced for three days without opposition.

On the 3d, the KMC Regt and RCT-5 attacked toward line Ready and secured it the following day.

On 4 April the Leathernecks were among the first UN troops to cross the 38th parallel.

On 5 April the Marines became heavily engaged and had to fight their way forward for the next 48 hours with the 1st and 2nd Battalions of RCT-5 meeting very stiff resistance.

On the afternoon of 6 April, the 7th Marines finally reached the Kansas Line after some tough fighting.

Gen Ridgway published on 6 April another operation plan designating new objectives to the northward to push beyond the Hwachon Reservoir and seize the approaches to the "Iron Triangle." Because of its network of good roads, the broad valley had been developed by the enemy as a supply and troop concentration center.

On 8 April, in preparation for the renewed effort, the 1stMarDiv (less RCT-1) was directed by Corps to relieve the 1st Cav Div and be prepared to attack to line Quantico and the new phase line beyond the Hwachon Reservoir. The 1stMarDiv took over from 1st Cav on the 9th and 10th. Marines began arriving at the Kansas Line as scheduled on 10 April, but not all units were in place until two days later.

Between 9 and 11 April three attempts were made by the Army's 7th Cav Regt to seize its assigned objectives in the Hwachon Dam area but the enemy positions were found to be too strong. On the 12th the 7th Cav was relieved by the 1stMarDiv as they assumed responsibility for the sector. Because of commitments for the advance north of the Hwachon Reservoir, it was decided to postpone operations in the Hwachon Dam area until a stronger force could be assigned.

RCT-1 was permitted on 14 April to move up to the Chunchon area, though the regiment did not revert from Corps to Division reserve until two days later (16 April).

During the following week the 1stMarDiv patrolled aggressively as positions were consolidated. Some hot firefights took place in these operations, with the enemy using artillery on several occasions.

Although a time of general tranquility on the Central Front, the break between operations was one of international tumult. Its root cause was President Harry S. Truman's decision to relieve General MacArthur of command.
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Dads letter of Friday, 20 April 1951 included the following excerpts:

*****"We are now situated in another rice paddy just north of the town of Chunchon. I think we're about half way between Chunchon and the parallel. No word has been passed on our moving up again but if we do we don't think we'll go into the offense. If we move up we'll go so far and dig in for a defensive position. That I like."

*****"Some word came out on rotation today. Three men from my platoon are on the next draft that's leaving. It's supposed to leave around the fourth of May and there is supposed to be around twelve hundred men on it. We still have men that have been over here since the Division landed last September."

*****"We've picked up quite a few rumors regarding the discharges of reserves. It sounds stronger and stronger. Maybe it will happen. The latest we've heard is that Anna Rosenbergh (she was assistant Secretary of Defense at the time) says that all reserves will be in the states by the end of the year and will be discharged by the next July. That sounds good but_ _ _ _"

*****"I'm waiting for the word to be passed as to weather or not I made the grade in the promotion list. As far as all the wheels in my platoon are concerned I'm already a Corporal but the word has to come from the Company Commander. I'm acting in the capacity of a Corporal and they tell me what they want my boys to do etc. Maybe the word will come out in the next week or two."

*****"Latest word has just come in. We're due to move out either Sunday or later. The boss of the Marine Corps is due around tomorrow. We just heard McArthur's speech on the radio. Pretty good but_ _ _ _"
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