Combat· Korean War
Hargett Tank Stand
The final stretch of the descent placed the division's tanks at the tail of the column, the most dangerous position, where the rear guard had to hold off pursuit while the long line of vehicles wound down the pass ahead.
As the last tanks moved through, several broke down or were disabled on the narrow road, and a small covering force found itself fighting to protect them and the trailing infantry against Chinese who pressed in among the stalled armor in the dark. The rear-guard Marines stood their ground in close combat, beating back the attackers and buying time for the column to clear, before the position was finally given up and the last elements pulled free toward the assembly area below. The stand closed out the breakout's fighting, the division having brought its column down the mountain intact with its rear guard unbroken to the end.
Record no. 621