Sharing something in memory of our late grandfather, Alfredo L. Cayton Sr.
REMINISCENCE OF A KOREAN WAR VETERAN
By Col Alfredo L Cayton, Sr. (Ret.), 10th Battalion Combat Team, PEFTOK
Copyright 2001
PrologueFor the first time since my retirement from the active military service thirty one years ago, I now found the courage to share a bit of my experience and memoirs of what I saw and felt during the first years of the Korean war which I was so privileged to participate and fought well with the Filipino gallant men and the allied personnel of other countries who joined in the fight to preserve democracy.
Together with other Filipino veterans who fought that war, I take pride, however little credits our part was, in staving off the onslaught of communist attack of South Korea. And, like a country who just emerged from the crisis of war, the Korean veterans, unmindful of the possible sorrows befalling their newly-formed homes, gave the best part of their lives in service to a proud nation.
The memoirs that I share with you are contained in a diary I so diligently scribbled during those possible moments of my tour of duty and in those photographs I kept sending to my pregnant wife and two kids, Bert and Aloy. I feel compelled to preserve the feeling and the moments captured in here for my children, my fellow veterans and their children and the generations of Filipino soldiers. Recording all these in the computer will make this information available worldwide, possibly reaching and imbibing other veterans to do the same for the world to know. I am sure that other veterans have kept their diaries and photographs too about those unforgettable moments of their lives in another country, under extreme conditions. Please share it with all the veterans of the Korean war and their families.
For this, I would like to thank my children and their mother for inspiration and support, my wife Edith for her incredibly helpful and loving inspiration, my brothers and sister for the fond memories of our youth, the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations, G7, Philippine Army, now under the stewardship of my son born during my Korean days, all the people who have touched my life and God who have made all these happen.
FILIPINO VALOR AT YULTONG
More than fifty years ago, our Filipino soldiers fought in one of the grimmest battles of the Korean war, on the hills of Yultong, a dusty and sleepy-looking village nestled among the rocky and pine-studded North Korean mountains.
Early in the morning of that fateful day, the Tenth Battalion Combat Team, under Col Dionisio S Ojeda, moved into the Yultong area where it was assigned a portion of the UN defense line. It covered approximately a three-mile frontage of rugged terrain that is astride one of the principal highways from the Nokor capital of Pyongyang to the South Korean capital of Seoul. This highway also leads to the now famous Iron Triangle formed by the cities of Chorwon, Kumhwa, and Pyongyang.
Occupying the mountains at the right of the Tenth was the Turkish Brigade. At the left was the 2nd Puerto Rican Regiment. Within the PEFTOK zone, Baker Company, under Paulino Sanchez, occupied a hill overlooking the highway from Chorwon. Deployed to guard this highway was the Reconnaissance commanded by Capt Marcos Garcia. Able Company led by Capt Antoni Concepcion occupied a high ground at the left. Occupying hilly positions between Able and Baker Company was the tankless Tank Company of Capt Conrado Yap. A little to the rear on the slopes of another hill was Charlie Company of Capt Dominador Tenazas which was held as the reserve company. The Field Artillery Battery commanded by Capt Guillermo Moreno was not in the battalion zone as it was in the general support of the 3rd US Division to which the Tenth was attached.
All along the UN defense line, there was a general hubbub as the UN troops strengthened their positions in anticipation of the long-awaited Sincom offensive. Positive indications showed its impact.
From civilian evacuees, it was learned that was going to stage general attack against the UN front. On the afternoon of that day, a Chinese artillery commander was captured while plotting positions along the allied front. After intensive grilling, he revealed that Sincom forces had already deployed and are at jump-off positions, ready to launch a sweeping offensive across the Peninsula, that night. Immediately, all the allied units were alerted.
As darkness approached the April 22nd, enemy scouts were observed probing along the front.
Then came the night. Suddenly, pandemonium broke loose as enemy batteries opened up. From their staging positions, the Sincom horde deluged the front, shrieking like mad men as they charged at the UN defenses.
As the Chinese approached the positions, they were moved down by dense bands of interlocking fires. The succeeding waves that reached the front and slopes of the hilly operations of the Tenth were blasted by booby traps laid by the men. Grenades rolled down the slopes and lobbed in showers by the men netted a gruesome toll of enemy dead piled on their fellow dead.
Then the UN line broke at the Turkish sector. Badly battered, the Turks withdrew early that night, thus exposing the right flank of the PEFTOK battalion. Soon, intense enemy fire was pouring into the battalion area from the high grounds at the right. Distinct sound of motors from the direction of Chorwon indicated that Sincoms were rushing in more troops into the battle area.
It was past midnight but still the fighting kept raging furiously. The pale moon and the parachuting flares showed the countryside littered with swarms of enemy dead.
After hours of continuous fighting, the guns had not only become hot and the ammunition supply gone so low, but fatigue and hunger had also let upon our weary defenders. On the other hand, the enemy kept charging unrelentingly. Lt Jose Artiaga Jr., 1st Platoon Leader of Tank Company, had been mortally hit while going from foxhole to foxhole, giving encouragement to his men and rallying them with the battalion motto—“Steady On.”
Through sheer force of numbers, the Chinese finally succeeded in bridging a gap between the Tank and the Baker Companies. Capt Sanchez had been shot through the arm but he refused medical evacuation. Before Charlie Company could be fully committed, it was struck by enemy forces that had poured through the penetrated areas.
Tank Company machine gunner Sgt Jones Ibay was struck by a mortar shrapnel. As he fell dead, his South Korean boy continued to man his machine gun until he himself was killed. An armored vehicle was directly hit by mortar fire killing its entire PEFTOK crew.
The combat companies hemmed in from all sides were compelled to fight their own battles against a seemingly inexhaustible enemy force that kept charging at them in fanatical waves.
The battle had become so extremely desperate that the staff officers at command post, together with the clerks, cooks, medics and the rest, deployed around the command force for a last stand. The headquarters personnel accounted for some of the enemy that strayed into the headquarters area.
The night wore on without any letting up of the Sincom attack and when dawn of the next day, the 23rd, finally came, Capt Yap reorganized the remnants of his men. When informed that the platoon of Lt Artiaga had been dislodged from its hilly position, Capt Yap gathered some of his men and with Lt Boni Serrano, he counterattacked to recover the lost hill as well as recover the lost bodies of his dead soldiers.
As he came upon the lifeless body of Lt Artiaga, he tried to have the body evacuated while he kept directing the fires of his men, a pistol in one hand and a filed glass in the other. The Chinese who rushed at him fell dead in their tracks. Capt Yap was a dead shot.
It was during the heroic gesture for his men that Capt Yap was hit by a burst of enemy automatic fire. As he lay mortally wounded, his men went crazy with fury and with tears streaming down their cheeks, they fought with more violence that exacted a heavy toll of more enemy dead.
An order had been received from higher headquarters to withdraw. So, the men fought their way out of the battle area, with the Tank Company as the last unit to pull out from the encircling enemy fire. That was late afternoon of the 23rd.
Lt. Gen. James Van Fleet, then commander of the 8th US Army in Korea, extolled the Tank Company’s epic stand at Yultong when he said:
“The tenacity of purpose under the most intense pressure, the courage, the faith with which the Tank Special Weapons Company achieved its long bitterly contested stand prevented a large portion of United Nations front from collapsing. The individual and collective heroism of this valiant company reflects the highest credit in themselves, their homeland and the Armed Forces of the United Nations.”
Also, Maj. Gen. Robert S. Soule, Commanding General of the 3rd US Division to which the Tenth was attached, wrote the following inspiring letter to Col Ojeda:
“At a time when holding the line to permit an orderly withdrawal was the very essence of our tactics. The Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea conducted itself admirably. Confronted with a weakening on our right flank, your command faced a numerically superior enemy, held its position and inflicted heavy casualties. In so doing, you deprived the enemy of a penetration on our lines. You accomplished your mission in a manner calculated to add new glory to the Philippine Command.”
“The Filipinos fought their hearts out.”
“Likewise, the Stars and Stripes lauded the “Fighting Filipinos.”
Today, Yultong is not just a dusty and sleepy-looking village nestled among the rocky and pine-studded North Korean mountains. Like Bataan and Corregidor, it has become hallowed in the memory of our Filipino soldiery.
Ma’am,
I stumbled upon your weblog while reading the news on the latest bombing in Mindanao and surfing for links. I read your grandfather’s account with pride in the Filipino.
May I know where the Cayton family is from?
M. Melicor
Berlin / Cag de Oro
I really appreciate the effort of the person who had this information posted on the net. I have had the opportunity of reading the 10 BCT heroism in Korea when I was a student and a nrotc cadet officer at Mindanao State University at Naawan in 2002. I have retained relatively a few of those readings and recently I’ve been trying to recall those information I once encountered for academic purpose and it was during this effort that I happen to take a look at and have an analysis of the info in this page. Salamat, may the effort of the author of this page enlighten many minds of the Filipino youth.
Dear Joan,
Thank you so much for sharing your grandpa’s diary. I remember him for being so kind. He consoled our family by being instrumental in honoring my father in different occasions – special mentkons in speeches and above all, a very special mass at At. John Parish, Pinaglabanan, San Juan.
We pray for him as we pray for our parents.
God Bless!
Sincerely,
Josefina “Pinky” V. Artiaga
I commend the people who have posted the story of the Filipino soldiers who have fought and died defending democracy and freedom against overwhelming odds during the Korean War. It is just unfortunate that the present generation of Filipinos hardly know or even acknowledge the hardships and sacrifices that our soldiers had to go through during the war. I think the story of the Fighting Tenth’s stubborn defense against the Communists Spring Offensive should be turned into a Movie. This way, the story of those who have fought and died could be retold and remembered.
Im a son of a soldier from the 10th bct batallion during the korean war. I’ve search almost all sites regarding korean war veteran but i cnt find my fathers name from the list of 10bct soldiers. He was one of the forgotten hero of the world war II. My late father’s name is CIPRIANO O. ZAPATA, Sr. A native of Abra. Soon i’l post his compiled bibliography and story during the in korea. I for the site admin to send me an email to preferably post my story. I forward into it. Thank you in advance and more power.
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Sent on a phone using T9space.com
Dear Joan,
Thanks for sharing this information. I am really so happy that somebody (one online friend who is an avid fan of the PEFTOK veterans) recommended me your blog.
I am Prof. Emely Dicolen-Abagat, a professor of The Catholic University of Korea. I am presently doing a research about PEFTOK and I am very much interested to meet you and your family personally. Where can I reach you? If you read my mail, please do email me: emelyabagat@yahoo.com. I might be in the Philippines on January so I really want to meet you.
On Nov 11th I was so lucky to meet and have a dinner with some of the PEFTOK veterans in Manila: Lt. Luperio O.Oliva, Col. Jovencio P. Dominguez, and Col. Mauro H. Lachica. I also met the wives of former veterans: Mrs. encarnacion Q. Perez, Mrs. Maurea Nenita M. Sulapas and Dean Rosa M. Vallejo with her daughter Rosana Vallejo-Lappay. This was organized by the Korean Defense Attache in the Philippines.
I am trying to get in touch with as many veterans and/of their families as possible. So, if you know some people, please do refer me to them.
Thank you so much and hope to hear from you….May the good LORD give your grandfather and all PEFTOK veterans who have joined our Creator eternal rest. May He also continue to give our PEFTOK veterans good health.
MABUHAY!!!
Dr. Emely
Salamat po sa pamamahagi ng karanasan ng inyong lolo nung panahon Korean War. Ako man po ay isang apo rin ng beterano ng Korea ~ isang ordinaryong sundalo lang po tubong Guagua, Pampanga. Kung nakagisnan ko lang ang lolo ko ko ay marahil ganito rin ang gagawin ko para maalala ng sambayanan ang kinalimutang sakripisyo ng ating magigiting na bayani para sa kalayaan ng bansang marahil ay di nila alam nuon. Kung mamarapatin po sana ay nais ko pong ibahagi rin ito sa aking Facebook account ng sa gayon ay manatili sa isipan ng mga taong makakabasa ang kabayanihan ng ating hukbong sandatahan.
Maraming salamat po,
Andrew
my dad is a korean veteran war peftok,he is 81yrs old now retired philippine constabulary he from 20 bct i would like to know more about peftok.
many thanks,
edwin
united kingdom
Thank you for posting this account. It is a true reflection of Filipino valor. I am also glad to have read the part about my uncle, the late Boni Serrano. May heroes like them never be forgotten!
God bless us.