DATE=10/8/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=KOREAN MASSACRE
NUMBER=5-44455
BYLINE=ANDRE DE NESNERA
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
// Eds: This is the second of a two-part series on the
alleged massacre of South Korean civilians by U-S
soldiers during the first few weeks of the Korean War.
The first part dealt with reminiscences of American
soldiers who participated in or witnessed the
killings. //
INTRO: The U-S Defense Department has opened an
investigation into allegations American soldiers (G-
Is) killed South Korean civilians several weeks after
the outbreak of the Korean War. In this report from
Washington, correspondent Andre de Nesnera looks back
at those first chaotic days in June 1950 when North
Korean forces invaded South Korea (invasion began June
24th, 1950).
TEXT: The alleged massacre took place on July 26th,
1950, under a concrete railroad bridge near the South
Korean hamlet of No Gun Ri. For years, survivors and
families of the victims said American G-Is gunned down
about 300 people - many of them women and children.
Some of the American soldiers who participated in or
witnessed the killings recently have decided to speak
out. But their recollections differ as to exactly what
happened under that bridge almost 50 years ago.
Some veterans say they machine-gunned the civilians;
others say they shot over their heads. Some say orders
to shoot civilians came from officers on the ground;
others say no such orders were given. And those who
shot at the South Korean civilians are unclear as to
how many of them were killed. But many of the G-Is
dispute the 300 casualty figure given by survivors and
family members of the victims -- and some of them
strongly reject the word `massacre' to describe what
happened at No Gun Ri.
Retired U-S Army Colonel David Hackworth - now a
military analyst - is a decorated Korean War veteran.
He was not at No Gun Ri, but says he understands how
such an atrocity could have happened. He says the U-S
soldiers sent to Korea during the first weeks of the
war came from Japan, where they were essentially
involved in peacetime duties.
// HACKWORTH ACT //
They hadn't prepared for combat. They had
been doing garrison duty. They were `soft'
and `green' and inefficient and not capable
to confront the very first-class, hard-
hitting, professional North Korean army.
And so you had `soft,' summer soldiers
fighting hardened warriors on a very, very
difficult battlefield, with a very fluid
front. And the enemy's primary tactic was
to hit you hard with armor and with hard-
hitting infantry columns. At the same time,
they would infiltrate forces behind you in
civilian clothes. So there you were, on a
very confused battlefield, with your rear
covered by the enemy, your flanks covered
by the enemy. You didn't know who the good
guy was from the bad guy.
// END ACT //
Colonel Hackworth says before judging the soldiers at
No Gun Ri, one has to understand the horrific
situation they faced during the first few weeks of the
war, which included a collapse of the military command
and control structure.
// SECOND HACKWORTH ACT //
For example, in the 24th Division sector,
things were so confused that the commanding
general - a major-general of that division,
William Dean - was hunting enemy tanks with
a bazooka because his organization was no
longer effective: he couldn't call a
regiment, or call a battalion and give them
orders. So he was just a one-man rocket
team acting as a private. That's how badly
confused things were during that time.
// END ACT //
Another military analyst - retired Army Colonel Ralph
Peters - agrees with Colonel Hackworth, saying the
tragedy at No Gun Ri is the result of poorly trained
troops and poor leadership.
// PETERS ACT //
I certainly do not believe that the United
States military set out to kill South
Korean civilians. We went out there to
defend South Korea and the people. But down
at the low-level, when people are hungry
and sleepless, when they have seen their
buddies get killed, they are really
frightened and they are not adequately
trained: people panic.
// END ACT //
While understanding the conditions facing U-S soldiers
in the first few weeks of the Korean conflict, both
military analysts say they welcome the U-S Defense
Department investigation into the tragedy at No Gun
Ri.
But ex-G-I Jim Kerns disagrees. He was at No Gun Ri as
a 19-year-old machine-gunner. He says he did not kill
any civilians since he was shooting above their heads
- and he says the U-S Defense Department investigation
is not needed.
// KERNS ACT //
No, because I do not think we owe the South
Koreans anything. They got a free country
right now, plus we left 55-thousand men
dead over there and nine-thousand more
missing.
// END ACT //
U-S officials say the investigation into the No Gun Ri
tragedy is expected to take one year. (Signed)
NEB/ADEN/ENE/rrm
08-Oct-1999 13:09 PM EDT (08-Oct-1999 1709 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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