it has,” MacArthur said. “That’s very probably a result of our underestimating North Korea’s stupidity. There’s no way they can ultimately succeed in this endeavor, and—stupidity on our part—we presumed they knew that, and that this sort of thing simply wouldn’t happen. ”
“And their successes so far have been because of the surprise of the attack?”
“Yes, that’s a fair description. Willoughby’s best judgment, with which I concurred, was that the risk of something like this happening was minimal. Our mistake. But with nothing to suggest something like this was in the works . . .”
Nothing but a report from an intelligence officer that Willoughby not only didn’t want to believe, ordered destroyed, and then tried to bureaucratically execute the messenger.
And if I had brought that report to you the last time I was in Tokyo, what would you have done? Put your faith in Willoughby, that’s what you would have done.
“You’ve been traveling,” MacArthur said. “Let me give you the current picture.”
He gestured for Pickering to follow him to what looked like a large-scale map mounted on the wall. When he got close, Pickering saw that it was actually one of half a dozen maps, which could be slid out from the wall one at a time.
This map showed all of South Korea, and went as far north in North Korea—above the 38th parallel—to include the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.
MacArthur took a two-foot-long pointer from a holder and held it between his hands like a riding crop. Pickering saw that the base of the varnished wood was a glistening .30-caliber rifle casing, and that the pointer was the bullet.
The bullet was black-tipped—indicating armor piercing— and Pickering wondered if that was simply coincidental.
“This is the most recent intelligence we have,” MacArthur began. “Early yesterday morning, the 24th Division withdrew to defensive positions along the south bank of the Kum River near Taejon.”
He turned to the map and pointed to Taejon, which was roughly equidistant between Seoul—now in North Korean hands—and Pusan, a major port at the tip of the Korean peninsula, on the Straits of Korea.
“Engineers have blown all road and railroad bridges, and destroyed all ferries and flat-bottomed boats, and both the division commander and General Walker—who has established Eighth Army headquarters here at Taegu—feel these positions can be held, at least for the time being, and even that a counterattack may be possible.”
That’s why they retreated across the river, right, and blew the bridges? So they can counterattack?
“General Walker’s front,” MacArthur went on, using the pointer, “extends from Taejon northeast to Chongju, and across the Taebaek Mountains to Pyonghae-ri on the east coast. The 24th Reconnaissance Company is keeping their eye on the most likely river crossings west of Kongju, and the 34th Infantry Regiment is here at Kongju.”
And what’s the 24th Reconnaissance Company—no more than 200 men, and probably far less—going to do if the North Koreans start to cross the river?
“The 19th Infantry Regiment, which just arrived, is here at Taejon,” MacArthur went on, “and the 21st Infantry is a blocking position here, southeast of Taejon. The 21st has been involved in some heavy fighting, and is down to about 1,100 men.”
“They lost half their strength?” Pickering blurted incredulously. Just in time, he stopped himself from saying what came to his lips: If they took those kind of losses, they’re in no position to block anything.
Keep your mouth shut, Pickering!
“A bit more than half,” MacArthur replied matter of factly. “If memory serves, they lost a little over 1,400 men,
Kia, wia, and missing, in their first week of combat.”
“General, I have to ask this question,” Pickering said. “What’s going to happen?”
“Well, what we’re doing now is buying time until reinforcements can be brought in. Two days ago, the 2nd Infantry Division was ordered here from the West Coast, for example. The Marines are sending a brigade; it may already be at sea.”
“It is,” Pickering said. “Today’s the fourteenth. They sailed from San Diego today for Kobe.”
“You’re sure?”
“I had a chance to meet with General Craig, the provisional brigade commander, in San Diego. That was his schedule.”
“No wishful thinking involved?”
“No, sir. He said they would sail, not hoped to.”
MacArthur nodded his head.
“Yesterday,” he said, “the 24th Infantry—the third regiment of the 25th Division—debarked at Pusan, and at this moment are moving forward, which will bring the division to full strength.”
If one of its regiments has lost more than half its men, then it won’t be at full strength.
“Moreover, the 1st Cavalry Division is at this moment on the