Waegwan, South Korea - In the early morning of July 24, 2024, officers from the U.S. Army Materiel Support Command - Korea (USAMSC-K) conducted an Officer Professional Development (OPD) at Hill 303, the site where 41 U.S. Soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division were captured and subsequently massacred during the Korean War.
The OPD began with a 1.5 mile hike up Jagosan Hill 303 followed by a historical overview of the events that occurred during the Korean war. In August 1950, during the Korean War, G Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, was tasked with holding Hill 303 near the town of Waegwan, the furthest position on the Eighth Army’s right flank.
On August 14, 1950, the platoon leader mistakenly identified an advancing group of North Korean People’s Army (KPA) soldiers as friendly ROK forces. Realizing his error and being outnumbered, he ordered the U.S. forces to surrender. After a failed escape attempt, 31 to 41 captured U.S. Soldiers were executed, with four to five surviving by hiding under the bodies of their fallen comrades.
The session continued with an open discussion, highlighting the event’s significance. Officers reviewed the errors that led up to their capture, discussed preventive strategies, and developed training methods to implement in their formations. They also shared insights on how they would lead and care for their Soldiers if faced with a similar capture scenario.
“This is real. This could happen tonight. We talk about how to lead, and you will be ready to do that. If you are the senior person, you are expected to be in charge, regardless of your age,” said Col. Brian T. Donahue, MSC-K Commander. “You should understand the significance of the Nakdong Battle. That’s why we are here,” he added.
The day was marked by camaraderie, reflection, and growth as participants hiked to the summit together, deepening their understanding of the site’s historical significance and formulating strategies to train their Soldiers as effective leaders.
MSC-K is home to the Combat Power Generation Center, which has the Maintenance Directorate, Supply and Transportation Directorate, and the Busan Storage Center. MSC-K is also comprised of the 6th Ordnance Battalion which provides munitions support, the 25th Transportation Battalion which provides movement control, the 498th CSSB which provides flexible and responsive area logistics and personnel services support, and the KSC Battalion which provides embedded, multi-functional sustainment support.
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