The Kunu-ri (Kumori) Incident

By Thomas H. Pettigrew Jr.

The short but heroic narrative of a member of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division in the bloody bitter battle at Kunu-ri during the Korean War.

“I was a combat soldier in Korea during the early stages of the Korean conflict from 11 November, 1960, through October, 1951. Although the time spent there appears relatively short in the minds of many war veterans, to a combat soldier it cannot be disputed that an hour in the line could be considered a lifetime, a minute, or an eternity. I spent such an eternity with the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry (Tropical Lightning) Division in the frozen wastes of North Korea.

There were numerous times when I was equally happy and sad, but no one time or incident brought greater happiness than the time I was complimented by numerous combat veterans of the 3rd Battalion for the courage, command ability, and control displayed under direct fire for the first time at Kunu-ri. The compliment concerned my organization of scattered elements of the Command and the direction of the retreat or withdrawal of the Battalion Commander (Lieutenant-Colonel Blair); elements of his staff, including the Operations Officer (Captain Newell, now Major); the Adjutant (Captain McWee), plus approximately sixty enlisted men from an enemy trap in the North Korean town of Kunu-ri, on the night of 30 November, 1950, at approximately 2330 hours (11:30 P.M.).

I was proud to know that I had stood the test under my first baptism of enemy fire. I was proud because I knew then that I was a real combat soldier, not a cowardly or superficial one.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Normanby Press
• Release date: Nov 6, 2015
• ISBN: 9781786253071

Thomas H. Pettigrew Jr.

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USAR.

INTRODUCTION

I was a combat soldier in Korea during the early stages of the Korean conflict from 11 November, 1960, through October, 1951. Although the time spent there appears relatively short in the minds of many war veterans, to a combat soldier it cannot be disputed that an hour in the line could be considered a lifetime, a minute, or an eternity. I spent such an eternity with the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry (Tropical Lightning) Division in the frozen wastes of North Korea.

There were numerous times when I was equally happy and sad, but no one time or incident brought greater happiness than the time I was complimented by numerous combat veterans of the 3rd Battalion for the courage, command ability, and control displayed under direct fire for the first time at Kunu-ri. The compliment concerned my organization of scattered elements of the Command and the direction of the retreat or withdrawal of the Battalion Commander (Lieutenant-Colonel Blair); elements of his staff, including the Operations Officer (Captain Newell, now Major); the Adjutant (Captain McWee), plus approximately sixty enlisted men from an enemy trap in the North Korean town of Kunu-ri, on the night of 30 November, 1950, at approximately 2330 hours (11:30