A part of Canada's role in the Korean war, a documentary shown earlier tonight which is well worth watching if you can find it. The synopsis and citation below is worth reading though, no matter what.
Koren War Documentray - "28 HEROES"$1:
November 2nd, 1951. For just over a month now Canadian forces in Korea have watched over 9 km of front along the 38th parallel – a series of hills fortified with trenches and barbed wire, eerily reminiscent of the WWI. This defensive position was simply known as the Jamestown line.
The Canadians have been responsible for the Jamestown front ever since they seized this series of hills as part of the UN’s “Operation Commando” – their successful effort to push the Chinese forces off their “Winter Line” - and by the November of 1951 it became alarmingly clear that the Communists wanted it back...
28 Heroes is the story of one platoon’s incredible feat of arms in repulsing a massive Chinese force intent on retaking their lost positions. Told in the first person by Korean War veterans Lt. Ed Mastronardi and Pte. Red Butler -“28 HEROES” brings to life the harrowing exploits of 2nd platoon, “A” company of the 2nd Royal Canadian Regiment as they fight to hold the vulnerable “Songgok” outpost in the face of repeated Communist attacks. With only 28 men, Ed Mastonardi and his platoon manage to hold out for 10 hours - against hundreds of Chinese attackers - and thwart a major communist offensive.
Using interview material from both Canadian and Chinese veterans, dramatic recreations and photo-real CGI, “28 HEROES” will reconstruct the battle for the “Songgok” outpost moment by moment, creating an intimate portrait of what it was like to live, fight … and die in Canada’s Forgotten war.
ZB 4391 Lieutenant Edward John "Ed" Mastronardi, MCMilitary Cross Citation$1:
Lieutenant Mastronardi, 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, gallantly conducted the defence of an outpost position some six hundred yards beyond the company defended localities for a period of eight hours on the night of November 2-3 1951, whilst under full scale enemy attack. At 2040 hours, Mastronardi reported considerable movement on both his flanks, from the front and from the rear.
Between 2115 hours and 0100 hours the enemy made two very determined assaults, wave after wave of Chinese storming the wire around the position. Throughout the assaults, despite enemy shell, mortar and small arms fire, Mastronardi moved around his platoon encouraging his men to hold firm and at the same time securing information on the enemy's disposition in order to call down defensive fire tasks. Both these assaults were repulsed by gallantry, control and magnificent fire discipline displayed by Mastronardi and his platoon. At 0200 hours the platoon again came under heavy enemy attack by an enemy force estimated at three hundred in number.
Heavy, accurate enemy artillery and mortar fire pounded the position. Under cover of this fire the Chinese succeeded in blowing several holes in the defensive wire and poured wave after wave of men through the gaps. Time after time the enemy were beaten back. Three Chinese succeeded in getting within a few feet of Mastronardi. He killed two of them with his pistol and, pistol empty, fired his Very pistol killing the third.
The superb personal courage of Mastronardi, and his absolute control over his platoon, forced the Chinese to deploy more and more men in assault after assault, until so many were committed that the limited fire power of a single platoon was insufficient to hold off all the enemy, attacking from front and rear. By 0320 hours, the platoon had twice been completely overrun by the enemy, and ammunition was in short supply. The company commander ordered Mastronardi to withdraw to the main defenses of the company.
The platoon had suffered 50 % casualties and Mastronardi with complete disregard for his own safety, in the midst of fierce attack, moved about his platoon area and organized them into three groups. One group was the wounded, of whom there were fifteen. A second group was detailed to assist the wounded back to safety and to give them protection enroute. The third group, which Mastronardi commanded acted as rearguard and covered the withdrawal, fighting their way back, step by step. Mastronardi's superb courage and outstanding leadership enabled him to return to the company with only one more casualty, despite the fact he had to fight for the entire route back. He brought out all of his casualties except for one man who had been killed. He personally fought the rearguard action and he was the last of his platoon to return. He returned with all weapons intact.
On arriving in the main company position, he quickly reorganized and checked the roll. He reformed his platoon and placed it in a fighting position. After the withdrawal, the Chinese did not press their attack against the company position, probably due to the losses they had suffered. Throughout the remainder of the night the remainder of the Chinese force could be heard carrying away their dead and wounded.
Had the attack against Mastronardi's platoon been a quick success, it is evident, that, with the large force they had at their disposal, the enemy would undoubtedly have assaulted the main defenses of the Battalion. Mastronardi's success in holding them off for a period of eight hours prevented such action, and very probably called a halt to an attack that might have engaged the Brigade and the Division.
At 0630 hours Mastronardi and the remaining men under his command returned to the outpost position without opposition. Twenty one dead enemy were found and five wounded prisoner's were taken. From interrogation of prisoners it was learned that Mastronardi and his platoon had engaged over a period of nearly eight hours, a full scale enemy battalion attack.
It is impossible to estimate closely the injuries inflicted on the enemy, but it was all out of proportion to the casualties suffered by Mastronardi's platoon. Mastronardi's personal courage during this eight hour engagement was of the highest order and his personal leadership and example very greatly contributed to the excellent showing made by his platoon. The men under his command were extremely confident of his leadership and they followed his every order with enthusiasm and pride. To the last man they have the highest words of praise for his courage, his leadership and his skill.
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