Today is Inchon Day, commemorating one of the greatest military strokes ever delivered. The Navy Historical Center has a great set of webpages on the operation with some memorable photos, including the one below, surely one of the enduring images of the war:
First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez, USMC, leads the 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines over the seawall on the northern side of Red Beach, as the second assault wave lands, 15 September 1950. Wooden scaling ladders are in use to facilitate disembarkation from the LCVP that brought these men to the shore. Lt. Lopez was killed in action within a few minutes, while assaulting a North Korean bunker.
Lopez was later awarded the Medal of Honor for the action.
It was a singular day for the Navy/Marine Corps team, but it also involved the Army’s now-disbanded 7th Infantry Division, units of the Royal Navy, and three ships of the Royal Canadian Navy. Inchon remains a master stroke, a jewel of miltary art and science. It combined the genius of a great captain with the tenacity and skill of first rate naval, air and land forces.
Jeez. You can see his determination and grit even from the back — one more American who sacrificed for the freedom of the ROK.
And now they’re throwing tomatoes at our embassy.
It is easy (and fun!) to make fun of 1LTs, but notice he is first over the top and leading his men.
May he rest in peace.