CAMP CASEY, South Korea - The 9th Infantry Regiment was one of only two American units chosen to protect American interests in China during The Boxer Rebellion. After landing at Taku Bar, the Regiment began an 85-mile trek toward Tientsin under the command of Col. Emerson H. Liscum.
The assault on Tientsin began on the morning of July 13, 1900, during which the regimental color sergeant was severely wounded by enemy fire. Liscum, who had sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder, picked up the colors and continued to direct the assault on the Tientsin City walls. A few moments later, Liscum fell, being mortally wounded. He directed his Soldiers to "Keep Up The Fire" before he died.
With Memorial Day four days away, Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry (Mechanized), 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, honored their Manchu heritage by completing their last Manchu Mile on the Peninsula May 20-21 at Camp Casey, South Korea.
"We celebrate our legacy and heritage with a 25-mile road march that we do usually twice a year," said Lt. Col. Scott Knight, the commander of 2-9th Inf. "All able-bodied members of the battalion participate."
The Soldiers participating in the event carried a 35-pound rucksack and their assigned weapon while wearing their advanced combat helmet and fighting load carrier.
The battalion invited their Republic of Korea partners to participate in the road march, said Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Cobb, the senior enlisted advisor for 2-9th Inf. The Korean Augmentees to the U.S. Army veterans look forward to the event every year. This year there is about a platoon-sized element of KATUSA veterans ranging in age from 20 to 60.
"I served in 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment when I was a KATUSA Soldier," said Seong-yong Park, a KATUSA veteran. "I didn't participate in the Manchu Mile until I got out of the army. I cooperated with KATUSA Veteran Association to participate in Manchu Mile in 2008 and 2013. This is my 3rd time to participate."
Park said he wanted to participate because, as a former KATUSA, he finds it meaningful to work with U.S. Soldiers and attend historical and traditional events such as the road march. This is the last Manchu Mile on the Peninsula, and he wanted to be a part of it.
"The veterans that I see on Facebook ... organize their own Manchu miles back in the states," said Cobb. "They will contact me and ask me how much weight we carry, what the packing list is and what is still the same."
They are still very proud of the fact they were a Manchu and conducted a Manchu mile back in the 70s, 80s and 90s, Cobb said. Even the people who were here recently are online talking about the last Manchu Mile they completed a couple years ago.
"We are deactivating and are going away," said Cobb. "The unit may go away, but we are always trying to instill in those who are here that they will always be a Manchu. They will roll the colors, but they cannot take the fact away from you that you will always be a Manchu."
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