9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry
Buffalo Soldiers
159th Artillery Battalion
24th Infantry Regimental Combat Team
24th Infantry Regiment
April 22, 1951
This page commemmorates the 159th Field Artillery
for their heroic action during the Korean War.
On April 22, 1951, the 24th Infantry Regiment was attacked by a "human wave"
of Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) during the Korean War. The Deuce Four had
been engaged in heavy combat since the first of April. The 159th Field Artillery
Battalion had fired 19,924 rounds from April 1-21, 1951. On April 22, 1951
the 159th fired 2,050 rounds in defense of the Deuce Four. Trooper David N.
Smith, of our Chapter, was a Forward Observer (FO) on that day, calling in rounds
"danger close" in order to stem the seemingly unending rush of CCF. Trooper
Smith was relaying fire mission direction to 1st Lieutenant Edward Greer.
During the battle Trooper Smith's position was overrun and 1Lt Greer lost
contact with FO Smith and presumed he had been KIA. At the 2010 Reunion of
the 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association at Alexandria, Virginia, Major
General Edward Greer (ret) had a personal reunion with Trooper Smith whom he
had presumed was KIA. On that day, April 22, 1951, during a lull in the action
unbeknowst to 1Lt Greer, Trooper Smith was removed from the line and flown back
to the United States because he had accumulated enough points for rotation out combat.
Trooper Smith stated that without the outstanding support of the Army and Air
Force pilots, the 24th Regimental Combat Team would have been overrun, despite
the furious artillery fire. Trooper Smith recalled three Piper Cub pilots,
two Black and one White, their names were Chester Gathers, Thomas Sears and
Warren H. Sadler. Their call sign flying the Piper Cub was "Army 159". Close air
support was provided by U.S. Air Force F4U Corsairs. Trooper Smith said he
would have been a goner if not for the Army and Air Force pilots.
 |
 |
 |
 |
(left photo courtesy of the Army Historical Education Center)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
(right photo) Major General Edward Greer (ret)
(courtesy of Trooper Nash, Deuce Four Historian)
(courtesy of Trooper Nash, Deuce Four Historian)
(courtesy of Trooper Nash, Deuce Four Historian)
(courtesy of Trooper Nash, Deuce Four Historian)
(courtesy of Trooper Nash, Deuce Four Historian)
Army Inspector General Major General Louis A. Craig
talks to Pvt Sidney McCoy of New Orleans, Louisiana at on 16 March 1949
Pvt McCoy was assigned to Battery A, 159th Field Artillery Battalion, 25th Infantry Division
(photo courtesy of the Army Historical Education Center)
(courtesy of the Army Historical Education Center)
Return to Home Page
|
Contact
us |