"The Mighty Mite"
Shortly after noon on Tuesday,
the nineteenth of June, 1951, the "Mighty Mite" was displaying her
large side numerals to the North Korean and Chinese Communist forces in Wonsan,
on the East coast of Korea. While the WALLER'S guns warily pointed inland, Captain Charles
H. Smith, U.S.N., assumed command of the task element employed in the Wonsan
harbor to provide anti-mining, anti-submarine, anti-air and counter-battery
defense for all friendly forces, and in general to deny to the foe the facilities
of the city of Wonsan by interdiction and destructive gunfire.
It was as huge task, but the
WALLER was ready and equipped to meet any enemy action. On the first day the "Mighty Mite"
did not receive the adversary's baptism of fire experienced by previous relieving
ships. Gun crews were anxious
and waiting, but the only enemy activity observed was a large truck convoy
- far out of range of the main battery. That night the WALLER, along with the
U. S. S. BRINKELY BASS (DD-887) and U. S.S. DUNCAN (DDR-874), fired at known
targets in Communist territory.
The following day found North
Korean activity still at a standstill.
At nightfall, the H. M. S. WHITESAND BAY, an English patrol frigate,
joined the friendly navel forces in the siege of Wonsan and covered the enemy
with deadly illumination
rockets. The foe received
no rest as the other warships contributed accurate gunfire and aircraft from
Task Force 77 bombed enemy installations.
June 21 brought the arrival
of an English cruiser, the H. M. S. CEYLON, and the departure of the DUNCAN,
who was relieved by the WHITESAND BAY.
The WALLER led the way with her firing partners, starting fires in
an ammo dump and scoring hits on enemy headquarters, gun positions and trucks.
Later that dame day the Communists decided to become active and a shell
splash was observed only fifty yards from the WALLER.
The challenge was answered and although enemy fire ceased after a brief
five-minute duel, the task element continued her angry rapid- fire reply for
over an additional half hour. The
"Mite" was in top shape and her guns were rewarded with secondary
explosions from Red supply dumps.
Undoubtedly the North Koreans
did not desire any more of the WALLER'S treatment, but there was no letup
as the "Mighty Mite" continued to blast positions throughout the
night and the following day. Opposition
troops were spotted, as well as their dug-in holdings, and all received a
large shipment of shells. Again
Fifth Air Force planes were brought into action for bombing and strafing missions.
It was that same evening that a helicopter made a daring rescue of
a downed pilot, while the nearby ships offered gun support.
The BASS and the H. M. S. CEYLON started large fires, one of which
raged out of control for nine hours.
The WALLER was credited with a fire that poured forth heavy black smoke
for forty minutes.
As the following dawn broke,
alert lookouts and gun crews spotted major vehicular traffic along the coastal
highway, and the targets were immediately taken under fire by the WALLER. A truck convoy was hit hard and many fires
were started. Besides her ordinary
night fire missions, the "Mighty Mite" directed planes over ripe
targets to dispose of their lethal bomb loads. The aircraft held a thorough field day
on the enemy.
On the twenty-fifth the
WALLER again loosed her might on highway traffic and troop positions. More secondary explosions
occurred. This was the first
anniversary of the Korean conflict but the only participants in the gunfire
celebration were the forces of the United Nations.
Wednesday, the twenty-seventh of June, found the U. S. S. BLUE (DD-744), the U.S. S. FRANK E. EVANS (DD-754) and the WALLER in Wonsan's inner harbor. That afternoon the Reds displayed their displeasure when a gun position on Kalma Gak Peninsula opened fire on the "Mighty Mite". General Quarters was sounded and all ships maneuvered evasively as angry guns spoke up for the United Nations. Opposing guns were silenced after a short duel during which each ship was straddled once by unfriendly shells. Only a scant few minutes had elapsed when General Quarters again summoned the sailors to repulse enemy fire.
This was going to be a busy
day for the warships as the North Koreans continued to beg for action. Their pleas were well-answered by blazing
guns on all ships. The inner
harbor received heavy enemy fire but no damage was inflicted on the friendly
forces. It was not until late
that night that counter-battery fire died away. The "Mighty Mite" had voiced her opinion in the form
of over six-hundred rounds of large caliber shells.
Wonsan Bay was overflowing
with naval activity on the twenty-eighth.
The U. S. S. NEW JERSEY (BB-62), the U. S.S. TOLEDO (CA-133) and three destroyers steamed
into the bay to conduct fire missions.
This was also the day for the "Mighty Mite" to bid farewell
to her antagonist, and she did so with raging gunfire.
