Written by Vansant. Published January 2001.
The Siren's Song: "X Corps Commander was absolutely obsessed with reaching the Yalu River which bordered Red China. He pushed his obsession on everyone, especially on 1st Marine Division Commander Oliver P. Smith...Apparently MacArthur was also obsessed. He ordered the X Corps go back to their ships at Inchon, and to make an amphibious landing up the east coast of North Korea at Wonsan."
Panel 1: October 19. Men of the ROK (Republic of Korea) 1st Division and the U.S. 1st Calvary Division entered Pyongyang. For "Whitey" Pak, it was probably the greatest moment of his life. He had left five years earlier as a refugee, carrying all his worldly possessions on his back. Now he was leading the best outfit in the ROK Army.
Panel 2: X Corps' Wonsan landing was nicknamed "Operation Yo-Yo" by the Marines. By the time the minesweepers had cleared the channel, the ROKs had already taken the port from the land side. Then the landing took on truly comic proportions.
Panel 3: There, waiting for them on the beach, was Bob Hope and a USO show. He said, '"This is the first time I've ever been on shore waiting for the Marines."
Panel 4: That same day, "Whitey" Pak discovered something that was not so funny. They took a prisoner near Unsan, who was not a North Korean. He was a Chinese! He claimed that a vast number of Chinese volunteers had crossed the Yalu River into Korea...MacArthur, however, refused to take the report seriously.
Panel 5: Ned Almond was driving X Corps toward the Yalu with the 1st Marine Division in the lead. O.P. had heard the Chinese rumors, but was dragging his feet. He was reminded of the story of Ulysses and the Siren's song. He didn't want his division smashed on the "rocks" of the Yalu.
