OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (Feb. 06, 2015) -- Hundreds of Korean War veterans, U.S. Forces Korea servicemembers, and supporters of the Alliance between the Republic of Korea and the U.S., paid homage Feb. 6 at Osan Air Base to the Soldiers of "Easy" Company, 27th Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Eighth U.S. Army during an annual commemoration ceremony.
The ceremony is held each year at the location where the battle took place, to honor the courageous actions of, then, Cpt. Lewis Millet, Easy Company commander, and his Soldiers who stormed a 600 foot knoll with bayonets affixed to their rifles to take out the enemy forces at the top during the Korean War.
Numerous American and Korean military leaders attended the ceremony, including keynote speaker, Eighth Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Bernard S. Champoux.
"Out-positioned, in a foreign environment, with a relentless barrage of machine gun fire raining down from Chinese forces securely entrenched in the bunkers above….Millet and his men, without a second thought, charged up the hillside dodging bullets, shrapnel and explosions from grenades along the way," said Champoux, who is also a former commander of the 27th Reg. "Wolfhounds" and 25th Inf. Div.
"I can only imagine that upon arriving at the top it must have seemed ironically easy to defeat their enemies in a close-quarters battle after surviving the perilous journey on their way up."
During the ceremony, Chief Master Sgt. Kimberly Turner, Superintendent, 51st Force Support Squadron, provided the crowd with a detailed account of the attack.
"With bayonet-tipped rifles carried at high port, screaming Chinese phrases as they ran, Captain Millett and his men raced toward two higher knobs," recounted Turner. "Lunging into the first line of enemy foxholes, leading with their bayonets, (they) ripped into the Chinese (soldiers)."
In the midst of their charge Millet sustained serious injuries as a result of a nearby grenade explosion, but the pain didn't prevent him from continuing with his men to the top.
"Millett danced and dodged around, avoiding the detonations of eight grenades," continued Turner. "A ninth, however, got him sending hot steel shards into his back and legs. Unmindful of the intense pain, Millett continued his charge."
Once they made it to the top many of the enemy forces had fled in disbelief of the extraordinary heroics displayed by Millet and his men, but the few that remained were quickly dispelled.
"Together they went on, screaming and yelling, firing from the hip stabbing enemy flesh with their bayonets and throwing grenades into bunkers…until they had completely eliminated the enemy from the hill," said Turner. "When it was all over, Millett stood atop the saw-toothed ridge and pumped his bloody rifle up and down signaling to those below that he had conquered Bayonet Hill."
The courage displayed by the soldiers of Easy Company may seem like something out of a movie, but Champoux went on to offer why he believes they were willing to brave such daunting conditions.
"For Millet and his men there was no other option, they had to make it to the top," Champoux explained. "Inside their hearts they knew they were fighting for more than just a 600 foot knoll in the Korean countryside, they were fighting for the freedom of an entire nation and its people."
Col. Joseph Gleichenhaus, Commander of the 3rd Battlefield Coordination Detachment, also provided remarks during the ceremony including a reminder to current members of the Alliance of the importance to remember those who have served before them.
"The security of our nations was forged by the commitment, blood and treasure of those who came before us," said Gleichenhaus." We remind ourselves today of how that group of men...displayed the intestinal fortitude to seize the objective 64 years ago. If we don't learn from our history, we are destined to repeat it."
Having the unique perspective of serving as a commander for the 27th Inf. Reg., 25th Inf. Div. and now as the Eighth Army commander, Champoux assured Gleichenhaus that the same fighting spirit carries on with the men and women who serve as members of the Alliance today.
"That same indomitable spirit continues to permeate the US-ROK Alliance to this day and truly demonstrates the depth of our enduring commitment with our Korean partners," said Champoux.
"As current members of the Alliance we look to our past heroes and the strength behind their actions as examples of what we must work to maintain. We stand on the shoulders of giants in Korea, giants like Lew Millett, and we are proud to uphold their legacy on Freedom's Frontier."
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