By Erin Thompson.

On 23 January 1951, Col. John H. McGee and Maj. William A. Burke of the Eighth Army (EUSA) G-3 submitted a report to the United Nations Far East Command (FEC) recommending the use of North Korean anti-communist guerrillas for intelligence gathering and sabotage missions behind the 38th parallel. This report led to the formation of the United Nations Partisan Forces Korea (UNPFK).

The Army’s early forays into organized special warfare came about over a need to perform reconnaissance and sabotage operations behind the 38th parallel. The Army encountered the North Korean partisans during the retreat from the Chinese Communist Force (CCF) invasion in late 1950. Many of these guerrillas had moved to the hillsides to escape being drafted into the North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) in the late 1940s. They quickly gained sympathizers among the villages, raided NKPA encampments, stole Soviet and Chinese weapons, arranged for the spreading of propaganda, and actively recruited from the nearby villages.

Colonel (later Brig. Gen.) McGee was a veteran of World War II, where he served with the 45th Infantry Scouts training indigenous troops on Mindanao, Philippines. After two years as a prisoner of war in Japan, McGee escaped a prison transport ship in 1944 and became involved with and eventually commanded a unit of Filipino guerrillas. At the start of the Korean conflict, he was working under EUSA G-3. Since gathering intelligence behind the 38th parallel often required the resources and personnel of the G-3, Colonel McGee’s involvement with unconventional and covert warfare consistently found him performing tasks under the umbrella of both G-2 and G-3 control. From his previous experience working with guerrillas, McGee believed the partisans could secure valuable intelligence behind enemy lines.

In early January 1951, FEC permitted McGee to establish the partisans as an organized force under Eighth Army command. Operating under EUSA G-3, Miscellaneous Division, the “Attrition Section,” as it became known, initially employed only one officer: McGee. He was joined a week later by FEC G-3 Executive Officer Maj. William A. Burke. Burke took McGee’s early plans for guerrilla operations and began refining them into a formal report for the Attrition Section under a mixed EUSA/FEC coordination. On 23 January 1951, Major Burke submitted Plan ABLE to Eighth Army command, recommending the use of partisans in performing intelligence and sabotage missions. This plan, known later as Operational Plan One, became the basis for the organization of all UNPFK activities during the Korean War.

Plan ABLE called for guerrillas to be trained in areas of intelligence gathering, communications, demolitions, and basic infantry tactics. It outlined the organization of partisan units and command structure and outlined west coast areas of operations. East coast and potential airborne operations were expected to begin in March. [See “This Week in MI History” #177 15 March 1951] Above all, Plan ABLE anticipated the partisans would be useful for the UN’s planned counteroffensive in mid-1951 to push CCF and NKPA troops north of the 38th parallel and called for recruitment of more guerrillas to assist with the operation.

The efforts of UNPFK were consistently hampered by command structures, as commanders like McGee were placed under Army G-3 while operational control remained under FEC G-2. Staff elements would consistently be moved and reorganized throughout the remainder of the war. Despite this, partisans showed proven successes in their ability to infiltrate enemy encampments, disrupt enemy communications, collect maps and documents for EUSA and FEC intelligence, and perform sabotage missions against NKPA bridges, tunnels, and bases.

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This story, “Guerrillas Recommended for Intelligence & Sabotage Work (23 Jan 1951)“, by Erin Thompson of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence was originally published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service on January 19, 2024. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Photo: UNPFK Guerrillas with AN/GRC-9. (DVIDS)

Colonel (Ret.) Ralph Puckett Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions while serving as the commander of the 8th Ranger Company during the Korean War. Puckett was a career Army soldier who served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. After his service in Korea he attended Special Forces training and commanded Special Forces B and C teams in the 10th Special Forces Group in Bad Tolz, Germany. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Biden in a ceremony on May 21, 2021 at the White House.

In November 1950 Puckett and his Rangers attacked and secured Hill 205 in the vicinity of Unsan, Korea. His company held off five Chinese counterattacks after taking the hill – even though they were outnumbered ten to one. On the sixth counterattack they were overrun in hand-to-hand combat. Puckett was wounded multiple times and unable to move, but his men managed to evacuate him to safety.

Puckett continued to serve on active duty after the Korean War. His subsequent assignments include the U.S. Army Ranger School, West Point, and other postings. While serving as a Ranger advisor to the Columbian Army he help establish the Escuela de Lanceros program. His other awards include a Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars with V device, five Purple Hearts, and others.

In 1971 he retired from the Army and became involved in a number of activities and organizations. He was the national programs coordinator of Outward Bound, Inc. and established Discovery, Inc. He would receive several other prestigious honors after his military retirement to include induction into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall and as honorary colonel of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

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References:

Colonel (Ret.) Ralph Puckett Jr. – Medal of Honor, Army.mil

“President awards Medal of Honor to retired Ranger for actions on Hill 205”, Army News Service, May 21, 2021.

Video – Medal of Honor White House Ceremony, The White House, May 21, 2021.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHiQ0YaIgWE#t=41m50s

Video – Features Col. (Ret) Ralph Puckett talking about his career in the military. U.S. Army, May 21, 2021, 8 mins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIfF0l7aZaw

Video – Medal of Honor Media Round Table: Col. Ralph Puckett, Jr., U.S. Army, May 21, 2021.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23O8bPW3WSo

“Medal of Honor: Korean conflict hero led Rangers in battle for Hill 205”, Army News Service, May 20, 2021

“Retired Ranger to receive Medal of Honor for Korean Battle”, Army News Service, May 19, 2021.

“Maneuver Center of Excellence celebrates award upgrade for Ranger legend”, Army News Service, May 19, 2021.

“The Battle for Hill 205: U.S. Army Rangers and the Beginning of the Korean War’s Third Phase”, USASOC History Office, December 4, 2020.

Story by Capt. David Murphy, SOCKOR, 16 April 2021.

U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea – Special Operations Command Korea leadership held a dedication ceremony officially naming their special operations headquarters campus after Medal of Honor recipient, U.S. Army Col. Robert L. Howard, April 16, 2021, at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea.

Officially, the facility will now be called the Colonel Robert L. Howard Special Operations Campus. Howard was chosen for his heroic efforts earning him the MoH, by way of his contributions to the special operations forces community as a Green Beret and through his role as the second SOCKOR commander from 1989-1990.

“It’s truly an honor to be able to dedicate our campus in recognition of such a well-regarded and heroic individual and SOF member,” said Brig. Gen. Otto K. Liller, SOCKOR commander. “His courage, dedication, and selfless service all combine and give focus to the kind of person we want all SOCKOR members to aspire to be more like.”

This ceremony included a prerecorded message from Howard’s daughter, Melissa Gentsch, who, due to COVID travel restrictions, watched the event via livestream. Gentsch highlighted her father’s bravery and commitment to the men he led while in war.

“This dedication would have meant a lot to my father,” said Gentsch, “he only had fond memories of his time in Korea. My father never asked anyone to do anything that he wouldn’t do himself. He knew that real strength came from within. So when you step foot onto these grounds, I ask that you not think of my father but what my father stood for, being humble, being strong enough to put others before yourself, to always show honor and respect to your fellow man and, most importantly, to persevere and to never ever give up.”

In attendance at the ceremony included several United States Forces Korea component commanders, leadership from the Republic of Korea Special Warfare Command, and the USFK Commander Gen. Robert B. Abrams with his senior enlisted leader Command Sgt. Maj. Walter A. Tagalicud. During the speech Liller highlighted an anecdote that directly connected Abrams’ father, U.S. Army Gen. Creighton Abrams, to then Master Sgt. Howard.

During the Vietnam War, Creighton was the Military Assistance Command – Vietnam commander and was the one to issue the order to pick up Howard from a fire fight after it was learned he’d been chosen to receive the MoH.

“It’s a small world,” said Command Master Chief Stephen White, SOCKOR senior enlisted leader, “but a testament to the strong ties that bind all service members with one another.”

A special plaque made to honor Howard by identifying the campus in his name was unveiled during the ceremony by Gen. Robert B. Abrams, USFK commanding general, Brig. Gen. Otto K. Liller, Special Operations Command Korea commanding general, Command Sergeant Major Walter A. Tagalicud, U.S. Forces Korea senior enlisted leader, and Command Master Chief Petty Officer Stephen D. White, SOCKOR senior enlisted leader.

Leadership from SOCKOR and USFK also cut the ribbon during the ceremony on the SOCKOR rock which identifies the unit to visitors and displays in distinguished unit insignia. The rock was designed to follow in the traditional art of stacked rocks known as suseok, which is popular in Korea and has origins going back more than 3,000 years.

“This project was a massive undertaking but I’m proud of my team for pulling it all together and helping to provide an outward facing identity for SOCKOR to all who visit here,” Liller said.

History of Col. Howard

Howard grew up in Opelika, Ala., and enlisted in the Army in 1956 at the age of 17. He received a direct appointment from Master Sergeant to First Lieutenant in December 1969. Howard retired as a Colonel in 1992. In retirement Howard continued to stay involved in military affairs, visiting deployed troops and those injured in combat, until his death.

Howard had various Military assignments during his career including duty with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions; 2nd Ranger Battalion; 3rd, 5th, and 6th Special Forces groups; 5th Infantry Division; 7th Corps, and the XVIII Airborne Corps. In Vietnam, he served in the U.S. Army Special Forces and spent most of his tours in the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam-Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG), which was an unconventional force whose members were assigned to deep-penetration reconnaissance and interdiction missions.

During his 54 months of combat duty in Vietnam, Howard was wounded 14 times and was awarded 8 Purple Heart Medals, four Bronze Stars, and was nominated for the Medal of Honor three different times. The first two nominations were downgraded to a Silver Star and Distinguished Service Cross due to the covert nature of the operations in which Howard participated. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1971 for the rescue of a seriously wounded platoon leader who was under enemy fire.

Howard died on December 23, 2009. He was survived by four children and five grandchildren. His funeral was held in the Arlington National Cemetery on February 22, 2010.

Medal of Honor Citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to FIRST LIEUTENANT ROBERT L. HOWARD UNITED STATES ARMY for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Howard (then SFC), distinguished himself while serving as platoon sergeant of an American-Vietnamese platoon which was on a mission to rescue a missing American soldier in enemy controlled territory in the Republic of Vietnam.

The platoon had left its helicopter landing zone and was moving out on its mission when it was attacked by an estimated 2-company force. During the initial engagement, 1st Lt. Howard was wounded and his weapon destroyed by a grenade explosion. 1st Lt. Howard saw his platoon leader had been wounded seriously and was exposed to fire. Although unable to walk, and weaponless, 1st Lt. Howard unhesitatingly crawled through a hail of fire to retrieve his wounded leader. As 1st Lt. Howard was administering first aid and removing the officer’s equipment, an enemy bullet struck 1 of the ammunition pouches on the lieutenant’s belt, detonating several magazines of ammunition. 1st Lt. Howard momentarily sought cover and then realizing that he must rejoin the platoon, which had been disorganized by the enemy attack, he again began dragging the seriously wounded officer toward the platoon area.

Through his outstanding example of indomitable courage and bravery, 1st Lt. Howard was able to rally the platoon into an organized defense force. With complete disregard for his safety, 1st Lt. Howard crawled from position to position, administering first aid to the wounded, giving encouragement to the defenders and directing their fire on the encircling enemy. For 3 1/2 hours 1st Lt. Howard’s small force and supporting aircraft successfully repulsed enemy attacks and finally were in sufficient control to permit the landing of rescue helicopters. 1st Lt. Howard personally supervised the loading of his men and did not leave the bullet-swept landing zone until all were aboard safely.

1st Lt. Howard’s gallantry in action, his complete devotion to the welfare of his men at the risk of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

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Photo: The United Nations Command Honor Guard march on the U.S. and Republic of Korea colors during the U.S. Army Colonel Robert L. Howard Campus Dedication Ceremony outside the SOCKOR headquarters building on Camp Humphreys, South Korea, April 16, 2021. Howard was chosen to have the campus named after him because of his tie to SOCKOR as its second commander, serving in the role from July 1989 to June 1990, his heroic acts in Vietnam, which earned him the Medal of Honor, his lifelong commitment to the military, his association to special operations forces and his role as a Green Beret. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Anthony A. Enomoto)

Story: This article by Capt. David Murphy of Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR) was originally published on April 16, 2021 by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service and is in the public domain.

SOF News Update: US SOF raid in Somalia, interesting facts on the WWII British SOE, IPB in the “Gray Zone”, and SOF in the ground war against ISIS in northern Iraq.

U.S. SOF in Raid in Somalia. United States special operations forces, along side Somali troops, conducted a raid against Shabab militants last week. The raid took place on Wednesday, August 10, 2016. Read more in “Somali Forces, Backed by U.S., Kill Shabab Militants in Raid”, The New York Times, August 16, 2016.

Ten Interesting Facts about WWII SOE. “World War II saw the creation of many spy organizations to battle the menace of the Axis powers. In addition to MI5 and MI6, another group created during this time was the Special Operations Executive.” The British SOE wa the model for the United States WWII spy organization – the Office of Strategic Services or OSS. The OSS was the forerunner of the CIA and the U.S. Army Special Forces. Learn more in “Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about the World War II Special Operations Executive”, The Anglotopia Magazine, August 15, 2016.

SOE Operative Who Refused to Give Up. He was a British war hero who escaped the Nazis and evaded the Japanese in WWII. But he couldn’t avoid his final defeat. Read “Dad, the guerrilla who refused to give up.“, The Guardian, August 20, 2016.

IPB and the Gray Zone. The special operations community defines conflict that takes place between the space of peace and war as the “Gray Zone”. In this conflict zone, where it is often problematic to interpret the meaning of a non-lethal act by friend or adversary, military intelligence teams struggle to define these actions. Read more in “The Gray Zone and Intelligence Preparation of the Battle Space”, Small Wars Journal, August 17, 2016.

Fed Charges against Navy SEAL Dropped. Matt Bissonnette wrote a ‘tell all’ book about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden that got him into trouble with the feds. The charges have been dropped but he will pay a very large sum of money. Read more in “Pentagon Drops Claim Against Navy SEAL That He Spilled Bin Laden Secrets”, The Daily Beast, August 19, 2016.

SOF and the Ground War on ISIS. Mike Giglio, a BuzzFeed News Middle East Correspondent, provides us an inside look of how the U.S. special operations forces are working alongside the Kurds in northern Iraq (Aug 16, 2016).

Air Force Pararescuemen. Read about the men that keep the flyers and others safe from injury and capture in this special article by National Geographic,  August 18, 2016 – Injured Behind Enemy Lines, This Guy Is Your Best Friend.

Callsign JAG 28 Retired. Senior Airman Mark Forester, a member of the 21st Special Tactics Squadron out of Pope Field, North Carolina, died on September 29, 2010 in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. Read about his heroic actions with the Special Forces team that earned him the Silver Star in “The Airman Who Died Leading His Team in an Intense Ambush”, Task & Purpose, August 18, 2016.

A Tribute to Green Berets. A Special Forces Soldier remembers three very hard Green Berets that were “harder than woodpecker’s lips.” Read a story by Michael Gibson entitled “The Green Berets”, Pulse, August 14, 2016.

U.S. SOF at risk of Syrian Air Attack? A recent airstrike of Syrian fighters near U.S. SOF positions in Syria have some worried. Read more in this news report by The Washington Post, August 19, 2016. Read a DoD press release on this topic (Aug 19, 2016).

Want to work for the CIA? You will need to pass a security investigation. Read “How to Pass a C.I.A. Background Check”, The New York Times Magazine, Auguat 19, 2016.

Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan. Learn about the SOF organizations leading the fight against the Taliban and ISIS  – NSOCC-A and SOJTF-A in an article posted on SOFREP, Special Operations Forces – Afghanistan, July 6, 2016.

Korean General Receives USSOCOM Award. A retired South Korean general and former special warfare commander has been recognized by the United States Special Operations Command. Read “Retired general sets example for commanders”, Korea Times, August 17, 2016.

SAS – Are you tough enough? “The SAS selection course is one of the most physically and psychologically demanding special forces test in the world”. “Are you tough enough to join the SAS?”, BBC.

SOCEUR Assists in Diver Recovery. Two Georgian military divers have gone missing during a recent dive training exercise. Special Operations Command Europe is assisting in recovery efforts. Read more in “US involved in deep sea search for two missing Georgian soldiers”, Agenda.ge, August 17, 2016.

Canadian Special Forces in Kurdistan. Canadian SF troops have been advising the Kurds in northern Iraq for some time. The Canadian government recently tripled the number of Canadian SOF in Iraq. Read “Canadian-trained forces clearing the way to retake Mosul from ISIS”, CTV News (CA), August 16, 2016.

D.C.’s Use of Private Contractors in War. Sean McFate, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, writes on the use of private military contractors to fight its wars and how it is a strategic vulnerability. Read “The Hidden Costs of America’s Addition to Mercenaries”, The Atlantic, August 12, 2016.