UNITED NATIONS COMMAND SUPPORT GROUP

UNIT HISTORY

JOINT SECURITY AREA

Early in 1952, in anticipation of the end of the Korean Conflict, the United Nations Command outlined to the Eighth United States Army, Korea, responsibilities in connection with the establishment of the Military Armistice Commission, To comply with this directive, it was necessary to establish a unit which was to provide the necessary facilities and logistical support to the Military Armistice Commission and others engaged in the execution of the Armistice Agreement.

On 5 May 1952, the United Nations Command, Military Armistice Commission Support Group (Provisional) was organized with an authorized strength of five officers and ten enlisted men. The United Nations Command Advance Camp was established in the vicinity of Munsan-ni (at Camp Pelham's current location). The Support Group provided all necessary logistical support for the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC), the United Nations sponsored delegations to the Neutral Nations Repatriations Commission (NNRC) Switzerland and Sweden, the Custodial Forces, India (CPI), the Non-repatriated Prisoners of War of the Chinese People's Volunteer and the North Korean People's Army (CPV/KPA), the Delegates of the Preliminary Conferences for Political Conferences (United States State Department Officials), and the CPV/KPA sponsored delegation members of the NNSC (Czechoslovakia and Poland) for transportation and security when traveling south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

During peak operations (November 1953 to January 1954), the Group required a gross strength of approximately 1,900 persons for the support of approximately 32,000 people. The amount of support varied widely from complete support of UNCMAC and ANCREG activities to very limited support to the non-repatriated POWs who were supported by the Custodial Forces, India. The scope of the mission required the Support Group to operate and maintain a fleet of 568 vehicles, 16 aircraft, 3 water points (producing approximately 344,000 gallons of potable water daily) and a telephone exchange. The Group supply and utilities section handled about 153 tons of supplies and produced approximately 11,000 kilowatt hours of electricity daily.

On 20 July 1954, the Support Group was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for its outstanding service in support of the following operations:

Operation Big Switch: The return of 12,760 POWs including 3,579 Americans to our side.

The Movement of the Custodial Forces India: The movement of 6,143 personnel from Inchon Port to the Demilitarized Zone by helicopter.

Operation Comeback: The release by Custodial Forces, India of the 23,000 anticommunist Chinese and North Koreans who refused to be repatriated.

Operation Rainbow: The repatriation from North Korea of the displaced persons and refugees.

e. Provide civil administration and relief for Taesong-dong.

f. Control of entry into and exit from the MACHA and JSA.

8. Report and investigate all friendly and enemy violations of the Armistice Agreement within the MACHA.

h. Provide security, protection, and convenience of movement in the MACHA.

The Support Group operates three camps:

Advance Camp: Houses all personnel of the Group. It is located about 400 meters south of the southern boundry line of the Demilitarized Zone. The Advance Camp is officially known as Camp Kitty Hawk.

Swiss and Swedish Camp: Houses the Swiss and Swedish Delegations of the NNSC and is located adjacent to the JSA.

Joint Security Area: Straddles the Military Demarcation Line. It houses the Advance Secretariat of the UNCMAC and various offices and conference rooms where meetings of the MAC, NNSC, and Red Cross are held.

In recent years the Support Group has been involved in the following operations:

Operations Breeches Buoy: The return of the crew of the USS Pueblo on 23 December 1968.

Operation Temple Bell: The return of the OH-23 helicopter crew in December 1969.

Operation Runaway I: The repatriation of 39 South Korea National civilian passengers of the hijacked Korean Air Lines aircraft on 14 February 1970.

Operation Paul Bunyon: The trimming of a tree in the JSA on 21 August 1976 caused by the death of two UNC officers.

During the history of the JSA and the United States Army Support Group, the KPA have continuously attempted to harass or involve personnel in incidents. The following are brief accounts of these incidents:

a. On 29 August 1967, 1645 hours, the United States Army Support Group Advance Camp was attacked by KPA soldiers armed with machine guns. During the attack, one US soldier and two ROKA soldiers were killed. Twelve US soldiers, nine ROKA soldiers, and three civilians were wounded. The KPA soldiers withdrew to the North and US soldiers pursued them to the MDL. Following this incident, the southern barrier fence was relocated north of the Advance Camp.

b. On 14 April 1968, 2300 hours, a UNC truck was making a routine trip in the MACHA, bringing UNC relief guard personnel to the JSA. The truck carried six UNC security personnel armed with sidearms. Approximately 1,000 meters southeast of the JSA, the truck was ambushed by KPA soldiers concealed on both sides of the road. They threw hand grenades and opened fire with machine guns. The truck was brought to a halt, and the KPA soldiers circled the truck

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attempting to eliminate any survivors. Your UNC soldiers were killed and two were wounded.

C. On 12 October 1970, 1100 hours, UNC guards in the JSA were approached by two KPA guards and one officer. One KPA guard attempted to pull the MP armband from a UNC guard and a pushing match followed. The KPA guarde retreated to their JDO building and quickly assembled 30 men to confront the UNC guards. The UNC Security Officer was grabbed by a KPA guard, and 30 KPA workers entered the fight armed with shovels, clubs, and rocks. The UNC guard was isolated, dragged between the JDO and MAC buildings, and beaten on the head with a shovel. Shortly thereafter, 50 unarmed guards from the UNC Quick Reaction Force (ORF) arrived. The fighting broke off when two KPA guarda emerged from a building with AK-47 rifles. Seven UNC guards suffered injuries, including one with a skull fracture.

d. On 3 March 1974, at 1415 hours, a UNC sponsored tour was at Observation Point (OP) #5 when a KPA officer and two guards approached the tours. When the Security Officer escorting the tour prevented the North Koreans from harassing the tour, the North Koreans became angry, and the KPA officer attempted to grab the shoulder of the UNC Security Officer. The Security Officer was kicked by one to the KPA soldiers in the back and in the groin. The KPA reinforced their officer and two EM with about 30 personnel and prevented the UNC Security Officer from returning to UNC Checkpoint #4. The JSA QRF was called for and scattered the KPA soldiers. The Security Officer was escorted back to Checkpoint #4 and the ORF withdrew from the OP. When the KPA saw that the QRF had departed, they began to break into the OP. The ORF deployed to the OP, confronted the KPA, and forced the KPA away from the OP so that all personnel and equipment could be evacuated. The KPA sent into the JSA 100 additional troops who gathered in the vicinity of KPA #7. As the QRP was leaving the JSA, the KPA broke out the windshield of the truck with rocks and clubs. The JDO's sedan following the ORF was attacked resulting in injury to the JDO. The incident ended when the JDO and UNC Security Officer confronted the mob and proposed an on-the-spot Security Officers' Meeting. Troops from both sides were then withdrawn.

On 30 June 1975, at 1620 hours in the JSA, the Acting Commander, USASC-JSA, WAS sitting on a bench outside the NNSC building awaiting termination of the 364th MAC meeting. A North Korean newsman, whose provocative actions and agitation attempts at previous MAC meetings had resulted in a formal protest to the North Koreans, tried to incite the Acting Commander verbally and, failing in these tactics, he struck him. As the Acting Commander took action to protect himself, he was struck from behind by a North Korean guard and trampled. He was knocked unconscious and suffered a crushed larynx. As the UNC security guards rushed to the injured officer's assistance, KPA guards attacked them with their fists and feet. KPA guards also attacked other UNC personnel, to include a UNC newswoman, who was hit in the face by one of the KPA guards. The incident ended when the UNC JSF Commander confronted the mob and proposed an on-the-spot Security Officers' meeting. Troops from both sides were then withdrawn. The Acting Commander was removed from the area by ambulance and later medically evacuated to the United States.

f. On 18 August 1976, at approximately 1030 hours, a UNC work force of five KSC personnel, accompanied by a UNC security force, including the JSF Commander, the on-duty Security Officer, and one ROKA officer, started to prune