The 2d Logistical Command in Pusan, commanded by Brigadier General Crump Garvin, USA, deserved much of the credit for the week’s restoration of Marine equipment. Progress passed all expectations, considering that General Garvin was supplying other Eighth Army units which had lost equipment during their withdrawal.[14]
There still existed on 29 December a requirement for clothing and individual equipment, and the spare parts problem remained acute. Ironically, the fact that the 1st Marine Division had brought most of its motor transport out from the Chosin Reservoir was a handicap at Masan. Eighth Army units which had lost their vehicles were given priority for receiving new ones. This meant that the Marines must make the best of war-worn trucks.
_Items of _T/E _Shortages _Shortages equipment_ allowance_ 23 Dec 50_ 31 Dec 50_
Bags, sleeping 23,000 3,585 0 Machine gun, Browning, Cal. 30, M1919A4 1,398 338 0 BAR, 30 cal. 904 441 0 Carbine, 30 cal., M2 11,084 2,075 0 Launcher, rocket, 3.5″, M20 396 105 0 Howitzer, 105mm 54 8 0 Howitzer, 155mm 18 9 0 Glasses, field, 7×50 1,740 1,305 1,006 Tank, Med., M4A3, dozer, 105 mm 12 7 7 Tank, med., M-26, 90mm 85 16 12 Truck, 1/4 T., 4×4 641 105 58 Truck, 1½ T., 6×6, cargo 54 3 0 Truck, 2½ T., 6×6, cargo 737 124 33 Radio set, SCR 536 474 211 211 Radio set, SCR 619 137 74 49 Telephone, EE8 1,162 58 58
While the ground forces trained in the Masan area, the Corsair squadrons and the jet squadron flew combat missions. Support of the Hungnam redeployment had top priority until 24 December, when the last of the 105,000 troops were evacuated by Rear Admiral James H. Doyle’s Task Force 90. Such totals as 91,000 Korean refugees, 17,500 vehicles, and 350,000 measurement tons of cargo were also recorded by the U.S. Navy’s largest operation of the Korean conflict.[15]
[15] ComPhibGruOne Action Rpt, Hungnam, 5–10, 25.
No serious trouble was experienced from enemy action during the two weeks of the redeployment, although G-2 reports warned that several Chinese divisions were believed to be in the general area. Air strikes and naval gunfire shared the credit for this result. Nearly 34,000 shells and 12,800 rockets were fired by the support ships, and UN planes were on station or carrying out missions every moment that weather permitted. Marine fighters of VMF-212, VMF-214, and VMF-323, flying from carriers after the closing of Yonpo Airfield, made a noteworthy contribution to the success of the Hungnam redeployment.[16]