Woods King in China, Part 2

Like the post that precedes this, the following is a scene the genesis of which is a manuscript written by Courtney Coffing who was writing a memoir of Malcome Rosholt.

Rosholt also worked with the Chinese Combat Command (CCC), more formally The Chinese Training and Combat Command. The CCC was activated in November 1944, shortly after the China-Burma-India Theater was divided. . The CCC exercised no tactical or operational control over the Chinese commands but was instrumental in assisting and advising on tactics and provided ground support, if not troops. The Air Force provided support from above and U.S. Army provided support and advice on the ground.

The Army conducted its own reconnaissance, supplied its own infrastructure, and trained and advised the Chinese Army. Colonel Woods King, later to become one of the few National Guard colonels to rise to the rank of general, was part of this effort.

Indented italics text is directly from the manuscript. Other text is either my own imagining or was gleaned from the manuscript.

June 1945:

The colonel leans forward placing his elbows on the wooden desk and massages his forehead. He closes his eyes and rubs his temples. Opening his eyes he leans back into the hard office chair and looks around at the dark wooden walls of his makeshift office, an abandoned factory building in southern China, one of dozens of makeshift offices, some in actual office buildings, but most in tents, warehouses or dormitories he’s used over the past year. The tour has been long.

He leans forward and stares for a moment at the report, typed single-space, with military order, that he will proofread once more before sending it off to command.

It had been realized for several weeks that the 5th Fighter Group, USAAF, based at the airfield at Chihkiang was proving a “thorn in the flesh” to Japanese activities and their LOC (Lines of Communication) in the Hunan Corridor. As early as February it was realized that Japanese effort to capture this base was a possibility.

During the latter part of March, the continued Japanese reinforcement to the front of this command area rendered an attack on Chihkiang an increasing probability. On April 8, 1945, the Japanese committed strong combat patrols at numerous points along the front line. This was correctly interpreted at a ‘feeling operation’.

At the same time 2,000 troops moved west from Paoching, 12 kilometers, as a covering force for final preparations for launching the drive at Chihkiang, Four columns came out from Paoching for an all-out drive on Chihkiang.

The columns divided, one to the north, one to the northwest and two to the west. This was immediately followed by a movement of an enemy column from Tungan to the northwest and from the town of Sinning on April 16.

The Chinese troops in the area, despite courageous defenses, were no match for the well-equipped and trained Japanese attacking them. They were forced to steadily withdraw to the west and by April 21, the Japanese had progressed half way from their line of departure toward Chihkiang.

The colonel pauses. He’s met so many good people in China and made many friends. He’s grown to respect the Chinese, their culture, and their generosity. He recalls the banquet the Chinese Women’s War Organization hosted over Christmas, the hall adorned with elaborate paper decorations, the room lit only with candles and lanterns and the floor carpeted with pine needles and colored paper. How each place at the table was set with a card, a small gift and fire crackers wrapped in more colored paper. The ladies wore beautiful embroidered dresses, long, one piece, high collars with gorgeous jade rings and bracelets. Even after the festivities, when the officers had all returned to quarters some twenty or thirty Chinese girls and young men serenaded them with Christmas carols. Soon everyone was singing. It had been a lovely evening.

He returns to the report.

Several Chinese units had been encircled and surrounded but continued to defend critical LOC points. The Japanese met a bitter and stubborn defense by the 73rd Army south and southwest of Sinhwa and never progressed closer than approximately 15 kilometers of that place.

However, the drives to the west continued without interruptions and the situation appeared quite precarious at the end of April. The 74th Army, commanded General Shih assumed a fatalistic defense at this time, highlighted by the battles of Pia-Ma-Han and Chiankow where fighting lasted several days.

At this phase the 94th Army under the direction of General Tan En-Po had arrived at the southwest of the battle sector and drove into the Japanese flank, rapidly retaking the village of Wuyng and Wukang. Thus cut off were the attacking elements to the West.

This action was followed by the arrival on the north flank of the bitter fighting which lasted several days.

At this phase the 94th Army under the command of Gen. Tan En-Po had arrived at the southwest of the battle sector and drove into the Japanese flank, rapidly retaking Wuyand and Wukang, and cutting off the attaching elements to the west of the 18th Army commanded by General Hu.

This army struck into the north flank of the Japanese drive recaptured Shanmen and pushed on across the Poaoching-Tungkow road, affecting completed severance of the Japanese LOC and isolating the Japanese spearhead.

This turned the tide of the campaign and at mid-May the attacking troops had become completely disorganized except in the vicinity of Yangchi where here a bitter defense was being maintained by the 73 Army, commanded by General Han.

The Chinese have fought hard. The colonel thought he could sense a change in the mood of the army, which, after years of defeat at the hands of the Japanese and their expansionist invasion, was sensing that the tide was about to turn. The Chinese were set on victory in this campaign.

Except in this sector the remainder of the campaign was a Japanese rear guard action, in an effort to salvage the greatest possible number back to their original positions. The 73rd Army fought a slow, but consistent counterattack, finally pushing the remaining enemy troops to their sector back to Poaoching by the end of May.

In the interim, the American-trained and equipped new 6th Army had been flown into Chihkiang and were held in reserve. During the seven weeks of the campaign all air transportation had been concentrated to support the defense of Chihkian at the necessary suspension of air supply for all other agencies and activities in China.

The Japanese, as of June 1, were in a headlong retreat. There is no doubt that capital gain of ground and strategic positions could have been acquired by a continuation of the offensive, but it became apparent that to do so would materially affect the overall mission of the Chinese Combat Command.

Therefore, orders were issued that no advances beyond pre-campaign lines would be made and that logistical support would be immediately withdrawn.

This was a great disappointment to the Chinese troops in the area, many of who had known defeat all the way from Shanghai to their present positions and for whom this had been the first victory in eight years of war. The pre-campaign front line with the exception of the town of Sinning, which had been decided to forfeit was established on June 7.

Thereafter, as directed by higher authority, the only operations consisted of the maintenance of active defense of this front line. Thus ended the Western Hunan Campaign and one of the worst defeats suffered by the Japanese in China.

Throughout this period American personnel of the Command maintained complete liaison through teams down to the division level. American air-ground teams operated with each front-line segment. American personnel were on the roads and rivers day and night, pushing ammunition forward and evacuating wounded.

American medical personnel tended the wounded at first aid clearing stations and/or hospitals behind the front. American air support was continuous and decisive.

This campaign was significant for several reasons. First, Chihkiang was the first United States air base that the Japanese had sought to eliminate unsuccessfully.

Second, the campaign featured close cooperation and support between United States air forces, air-ground liaison, United States medical personnel and supplies, United States transportation in providing ammunition and the supplies forward and evacuation of the wounded to the rear.

Third, this campaign marked the turning point from China’s defense for a new army and, which properly supplied China’s offense. Convincingly demonstrated was the fact that the Chinese if supported, it was a worthy and capable fighting ally. This campaign was interpreted by the Japanese, as well as Chinese, as a shadow cast by coming events and the ultimate defeat of Japan.

His review complete, the colonel stacks the typed pages before him, picks them up to tap them straight on his desk before putting them in a folder. An orderly will messenger the packet to command in the morning.

He takes a clean piece of letterhead from the drawer and lifts a pen from the desk. It’s been a long day but he wants to get a letter off. Closing his eyes he can smell his Ohio farm. He imagines walking through the horse barn saying hello to the ponies that nicker as he approaches. For each he has a cube of sugar. He can feel their warm breath and soft, moist nose and lips as they take the treat from his open palm. He thinks of riding with the boys or his daughter Sally across the fields and into the woods behind the house to explore the caves in the hills. Her birthday is coming up soon, the 22nd. He’ll try to send her something if he can, if the war will let him.

He misses the children but more he misses his the company of Louise. To her he is a knight in shining armor and to him she is the fairest of them all. One day this war will end, soon he hopes and then he will ride with the boys, walk in the garden and pick flowers with Sally, her little dog in tow, and he will sit, just sit, and talk with Louise.

He takes a deep breath, adjusts the stationary before him, and taps the pen on the blotter. He won’t burden her, He’ll tell her of the progress. Of the great strides the Chinese Army is making and the assistance the U.S. Army is providing. He begins to write.

Dear Louise:

Early in April the Japanese attacked from three or four directions with the intention of adding to their collection of airfields and disrupting the corporation’s business. At first the usual took place but after a bit all hands settled down. At present, although it is not over, the prospects appear fair for a goodly number of scalps have been taken and the restoring of real estate holdings.

It all happened in a hurry and kept everyone busy for a while trying to make one army do the work of two as well as supplying all the needs. The support from topside and air was excellent, so that all in all the Japanese had no holiday.

Our team has had its losses, too. Hospitals are a bad sight. Our people are doing much good, however. The immediate threat is over but mopping up continues, with counterattacks. In a few weeks, unless new business turns up, the former corporate enterprise should be resumed.

Many visitors arriving during the rush, which is always a little disconcerting, but all were very kind and tolerant. Somewhat when there is a little more time I will try to tell you more.

Until then,

Woods

Postscript: Woods King returned from the war in 1945 but was suffering from a heart ailment and passed away in 1947, two weeks shy of his 47th birthday. He left his wife, Louise, two sons, Woods Jr. and Arthur, and daughter Sally.