On the Sea of Purple Hearts: My Story of the Forgotten War: Korea

By George G. “Pat” Patrick

The author, George “Pat” Patrick, and his brother Jimmy served on the USS Tawakoni ATF-114—an ocean fleet tug that was part of the task force and minesweeping operations during the Koran War.

This is their historical account of the men and ships that fought in the Forgotten War, in honor of the many who gave their lives on the sea of purple hearts!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Dec 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781483461830

Book preview

War".

Forward

The Naval operations, invasions, bombardment, minesweeping, siege of the North Korean Coastal Waters of Inchon, Wonsan, Hungnam and the many islands along the coast.

This story follows Pat & Jimmy Patrick, Seamen on the USS Tawakoni ATF-114, and her role in the Task Force operations and minesweeping, patrol, salvage, rescue, and escort duties during the Korean War.

The fight against Communism, Tyranny, and Terror still goes on to this day.

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The Price was High

At the end of hostilities in 1953, the USS Saint Paul CA-73, an American heavy cruiser, fired the last salvo on July 27th, 1953 just two minutes prior to the official cease-fire; the world of the South Korean people came alive. The Communist Forces of North Korea, China, and Russia were driven out of South Korea. The American Naval Forces will never forget our loss. Special honors to the men who were killed and to the men who were missing in action and who were never found in the.......... Sea of Purple Hearts.

Hundreds of ships and thousands of personnel participated in the war - blockade - siege and invasions and the minesweeping operations along the Korean Coast. More than one hundred ships were hit, damaged by the North Korean shore batteries, small craft and enemy fire from islands along the coast.

Our loss to mines planted on the channels and harbors by the North Koreans and supplied by the Russians were heavy. Five U.S. Navy Ships and one U.S. Army ship were sunk by mines. South Korea’s Navy lost ships to mines and the Japanese lost minesweepers and small craft. Five U.S. Navy ships were heavily damaged after hitting mines during the bombardment battles along the coastal waters. Ships engaged in bombardment of shore batteries; troop movements by ships were always in danger of striking mines. There were over one hundred ships hit and damaged by enemy shore batteries. Hundreds of U.S. small craft, Patrol Craft, LCVP’s (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel aka: Higgins Boats), and other Landing Craft were used along the Coastal waters in night raids on shore targets and minesweeping operations. Many were lost in firefights and hit by shore batteries. Not all made the news.

As the war pressed on, the American Naval Forces went on the offense and never let up on the longest bombardment in history, the siege of the North Korean Coast.

I hope this story from 66 years ago will give some insight about the war America faced then and the war we are fighting today.

Our enemy then was the North Korean Communist and the Chinese Communist, supported by the Russian Communist. Today our fight is still a war against communism, socialism, tyranny, and the World Wide War on Terror.

As Free Men we must keep the honor and memory alive for the men that gave their lives to keep us safe and free.

I am proud of our past history of freedom to live our lives as we see fit, not as socialist or communist government would order us to do.

I am proud of our Republic, our Constitution, and Bill of Rights.

I am proud of our States Rights to govern ourselves. The founding fathers (the original states) formed the Constitution and gave the federal government limited powers. As a citizen we must always be vigilant and keep it that way.

I am proud of our Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. No other Flag in the world has answered the call for help from oppressed people around the world as much as the United States. We must always be on guard against Communism, Tyranny and the silent enemy of Freedom Creeping Socialism.

Every American should remember these words;

Be thankful that you live in America, have faith in God, have courage and give thanks for your Liberty and Freedom.

Then remember these words;

Let your guard down and become complacent and apathetic and become dependent on big government to think for you and support you... ..and you will end up in Bondage under socialist rule as slaves to a DICTATOR.

Born in 1930, I fully remember the depression years. Times were hard but my family never gave up. Then in 1941 came World War II and the fight against the Japanese and the German Nazis. As Americans we must keep our Military the most powerful on earth. Stay alert to the dangers of global terror and if asked to serve, volunteer and serve with pride. Always defend our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Never give up our 2nd Amendment Right to defend yourself and your family. Never give up your gun to a DICTATOR.

An armed America is a free America.

USS Magpie AMS-25

The first American ship lost in the Korean War was the USS Magpie AMS-25. She was minesweeping along the Korean Coast when she hit a mine, exploded and sank. 20 men were lost and never found. Survivors were picked up from the sea by her sister ship the USS Merganser AMS-26.

Mark your calendar!

October 1st 1950

Remember the Magpie

The War Begins

On June 25, 1950 eight divisions of the North Korean Peoples Army equipped with Soviet Tanks, Mobile Artillery and support Aircraft, crossed the 38th parallel and invaded the Republic of South Korea.

The United Nations Security Council proclaims the attack a breach of World Peace and requested U.N. member Nations to assist the South Koreans.

Twenty-one nations responded by providing troops, ships, aircraft, and medical teams.

The American Forces lead the fight on land, sea and air. The crisis in Korea originated in the closing phases of World War II. After Japan surrendered in August 1945 Korea was divided into two separate countries. The United States supported the South Koreans, and Russia supported the North. The 38th Parallel was the dividing line. Tensions between the two zones, each under a different rule, escalated to the point where the two countries were building up troops along the border. The North Korean government (Dictator) must have thought he could take South Korea with the backing of Russia and Red China.

He was wrong.

He failed to realize the might of the United States Armed Forces.

On June 25th, 1950 radios across the Korean Peninsula picked up the announcement by the North Koreans of their invasion of South Korea at 1200 hours Korean time. The fight was on.

The first naval surface action of the war came the same day, June 25th. An R.O.K. (Republic of Korea) Patrol Craft, the PC 701, sank an armed North Korean ship with an estimated 600 troops 18 miles off of Pusan, South Korea. Pusan is located near the southern point of the country.

That same day U.S. fighter planes attacked a convoy off the coast of South Korea. When the war started in Korea there was no "instant Live News" as we have today with satellite television and worldwide communications via satellite radio. Cell phones work worldwide and world events are broadcast as news happens.

Communications between ships and shore units was by radio and word of mouth. World War II type radio communications was still in place on U.S. ships at sea. Morse code radio transmission was the main contact between ships at sea and base stations. My main duty assignment on the USS Tawakoni was Radioman. My brother Jimmy was boat coxswain and 3" 50 gun crewman. We had other duties also, including in port maintenance on ship, in port watch duties, special sea duties, look-outs underway, general quarter’s assignments and gun crew duties. All men were trained to work as a team. Boatswain mate’s, gunner’s mate, enginemen, Quartermaster, electrician, cooks, electronics-radarman, radioman, and Hospital Corpsman (doc). Serving on the Tawakoni meant being an Able-bodied-seaman.

The quartermaster signalman kept up communication by semaphore flags when in close proximity with other ships and flashing a light between ships when radio silence was in place.

News from around the world was slow. As ships movements went on so did word of mouth news. Small portable radio receivers were used when near port. News about the War engagements and combat actions, even though days late, was pipeline news.

News from home, letters from family and friends was sent out of the Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, California. When a ship left San Francisco for the Far East, she took on mail for the fleet. Transferred from ship to ship and relayed for days and weeks, it would reach us when another ship came on the scene with a canvas bag of mail marked Tawakoni. There was one good thing about the mail train. We didn’t get junk mail. Letters from Mom, Dad, and family and hometown newspapers were what we were looking for. Oh yes, and we did get a small break in the fact that when we sent a regular letter home, instead of a postage stamp, we simply wrote the word FREE in place of a stamp. That word FREE has always stuck in my mind. Today remember these words; "An armed America is a Free America".

This book follows the USS Tawakoni ATF-114 from her homeport of Pearl Harbor T.H. (Territory of Hawaii), to the Far East and her role in the Korean War, and briefs of her role in World War II. She also served in Vietnam.

USS Sarsi ATF-111

(Sunk by a mine at Hungnam, Korea)

Special Notes; As you read on you will read about the USS Sarsi ATF-111, an Abnaki Class ship built to the same design and standards as the Tawakoni. She was a sister ship. She was on patrol at Hungnam, North Korea when she hit a mine and sank. Details of the sinking are described later in this book.

• The AMS Minesweepers were named after birds.

• The ATF Fleet Tugs were named after Indian Tribes.

• The AM’s were Buccaneers (USS Pledge and USS Pirate).

The Tawakoni was a beautiful ship anchored or underway at sea; sleek, sturdy, very seaworthy, strong and powerful with four diesel engines turning a 14 foot propeller. She could tow any craft that could float. She served the U.S. Fleet for 35 years in the Pacific. This book reflects the period during the Korean War when my brother and I served on her as Able-bodied-seamen. She earned three battle stars for her service in Korea. A special time in our lives, we survived the minefields and returned home safe and proud to have been volunteers in the war against Communism and Tyranny.

As you read on you will realize why the men of Mineron Minesweeping Forces during the war express their highest Honors and Memories to the men lost and never found on the Sea of Purple Hearts.

On June 26th, 1950 the Commander of Naval Forces Far East issues a directive order for the evacuation of approximately 700 Americans and friendly foreign Nationals from the Seoul and Inchon area to Japan by sea. The USS Mansfield DD 728 (destroyer) and the USS Dehaven DD 727 served as escort ships.

North Korean forces captured Seoul. Thousands of refugees fled south on foot and by small boats along the coastline. President Truman ordered the U.S. Naval and Air Forces in the Far East to support operations of the South Korean Forces and ordered the U.S. 7th Fleet to take up positions and prevent any attempted invasion of Formosa (Taiwan) for the next three years. Tensions ran high as China claimed that Formosa was a part of mainland China. Formosa claimed independence from ties with China as an independent self-governed country. Today we support this commitment to the Republic of Taiwan. The United States kept up and still has a constant friendly relationship with Taiwan. Our Far East Forces are always on alert to the dangers in the Taiwan Region.

The United States has provided support to Taiwan since the end of World War II.

Special Note: After 35 years service to the U.S. Navy, the USS Tawakoni ATF-114 was sold to Taiwan in June of 1978. Taiwan renamed her the Dahan ATF-553 and put her on Patrol duty around the Island and the waters between Taiwan and China.

News from the U.N.

• The United Nations Security Council ordered military sanctions against North Korea.

• The British admiralty responded and placed the Royal Naval Units in the area at the disposal of Vice Admiral Joy, Commander of Naval Forces Far East. The Royal Navy ships were ordered to Rendezvous at Buckner Bay, Okinawa for further orders to the Korean War Zone.

• July 1950 the war ships of the Pacific Fleet form Task Force units and head out for positions along the Korean Coast.

• General Douglas MacArthur is appointed Commander of all United Nations Forces in Korea by the U.N. Security Council. General MacArthur headquarters is in Japan.

• President Truman orders Blockade of the entire coastline of Korea. U.S. and U.N. war ships take up positions and Patrol of the Coastline, shipping lanes, Port Channels, and the islands along the coast. Air Craft operations begin off the West Coast of North Korea by planes of the U.S. 7th Fleet and the British Carriers.

• Countries providing Naval support were the U.S., Britain, Australia, Canada, Columbia, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, Thailand, and unofficially Japan.

• The countries providing medical support were the U.S., Britain, Sweden, Norway, India, Italy, and Denmark.

The Naval Bombardment begins on July 29, 1950. The Cruiser USS Juneau fired on and destroyed shore targets in the vicinity of Sanich’ok. This was the first naval gunfire support mission of the war. The bombardment of enemy shore targets never stopped for the remainder of the war. Wonsan received the longest bombardment in naval history.

Thousands of enemy troops were positioned around the Wonsan Area Harbor and islands along the coast. Shore batteries were set up all along the area, and islands, firing on the U.N. ships coming into bombard the beaches and shore targets. Flares lit up the sky at night and the bombing targets burned red all along the coast.

Sasebo, Japan

Sasebo, Japan was one