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who served with some of the first Rangers to become Paratroopers in the early 50's We are able to provide our viewers with some very interesting facts , patches, and a 1951 group picture of the 14th Ranger Infantry Co..... A Unit Tom, served with . Tom, also served with the Special Forces in various Groups for over 10 years. He is still active in the RICA (Ranger Infantry Companies Airborne) and the Special Forces Assn. Chapter XVI Ft. Lewis, WA Tom, is Special Forces qualified and added a Special Forces tab to go with his Ranger tab. He attended many schools during his duty with the Special Forces
, i. e. Pathfinder, HALO, Jumpmaster
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| The picture on the right was painted in 1983 by Mike Stankich for the Association of the Airborne Infantry Companies of the Korean War, RICA. It is one of three paintings. Two paintings, "Winter in Korea" and the "Munsan-Ni Combat Jump" are located at The Ranger Regiment and/or The National Infantry Museum in Fort Benning, Georgia. A third painting is located at the War College, now the US Army Military History Institute in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Mike served from 1948 to 1952 with the 82nd.ABN, 8th ABN Ranger Co. the 5th ABN Ranger Co, the 187th RCT ABN, and the 7th Cavalry Regiment |  |
The 2nd Ranger Infantry (Abn.) was an all black
unit. These men, mostly were volunteers from existing Airborne units at
that time in 1950, with a number of them from the triple nickel (555).
They were one of the Companies that made a combat jump with the 187th
RCT in Korea.
( Combat Jump at Munsan-Ni (CS0591) The other unit was the all white,
4th Ranger Infantry Company. (Abn.)
Prior to this jump, the 2nd Ranger Company
was assigned to the 7th ID. They had a very good reputation and combat
record operating with the 7th ID.
| The mission of the 2nd Ranger Company at Munsan-Ni, was to seize
and hold Hill 151, (CS065943), and pass control to 2nd BN, 187th RCT on
link up.
The mission of the 4th Ranger Co. was to seize and hold Hill 205, (CS092942), and pass to control 3rd BN, 187th RCT upon link-up. Both units were listed as attachments on the 187th RCT's Operation Order #1. The 2nd Rangers and 4th Rangers jumped at 0905 hrs on 23 March 1951. (Note: This is the month and year that I started my Airborne/Ranger training.) |
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As I recall it was some time in late 1951 or
early '52 before all black units in Korea were either integrated or disbanded.
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Tom , wanted me to be sure and point out
he did not serve in Combat with the Airborne Ranger Companies.
He served with the A Co. 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th ID., in Korea 1951 to 1952. His Ranger Company (14th) was disbanded at Camp Carson, CO. in 1951. He chose the 25th ID because he wanted to be in combat and at that time the 187th was still stationed in Japan and he had previously served with the 25th ID on occupation duty in Japan. (48 — 49) |
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We have a First Hand account of the Munsan-ni Jump Sorry I can't recall that much of either jump, the Sukchon or the Munsan-ni jump but will try and tell you about them to the best of my memory. The Sukchon jump was about 20 miles north west of Seoul, We were told that we were to try to cut off the retreating North Koreans, and try to get back some of our POWs. As I recall we didn't , but found some of them
in a Railroad tunnel, shot to Death.
I recall the jump was on Good Friday , and on Easter Sunday we were up to our necks in mud. We had a good laugh on landing our first Sgt got hung up in some telephone lines. ON the Sukchon jump the 1st Bn., Regt. Hqs, and the 3rd Bn all jumped on the same DZ. The 2nd Bn dropped near Sunchon. As I recall after the operation was over, "K" Company spent about 40 days in the Russian Embassy, and when the Chinese came in we had to head South, Burning everything we couldn't carry. When I joined the Airborne I figured that we would jump in some place and then have transport to get us out, but we were worse off than the regular Infantry, We walked even more than they did !! When we were waiting for the Sukchon jump at Kimpo, I visited a cousin, who was a P51 pilot, and told myself if I ever got out of this mess I would go in the Airforce, where we would have hot chow, clean sheets, and never have to dig a fox hole again. On the Sukchon jump we were to go in about 9AM, but didn't jump until about 2 PM. as the Airforce strafed and bombed the DZ. I jumped from a C46 on one jump and a C47 on another, I didn't jump from a C119 or C82 until I got back to Ft. Campbell. I came back to the States in July, 1951. I got out of the 11th in 1952, |
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To find out how to obtain the song "Ballard of the Green Beret" and a CD of other Airborne songs i.e. "Beautiful Streamer,Blood on the Risers,and The three Airborne Division's Songs , etc." just click on Album Cover |
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