The notion that the marines or the army never leave a soldier behind is wrong.
Posted by John Reed on
The remains of Corporal Luther Story have been found in Korea and returned. He very deservedly received the Medal of Honor.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/remains-korean-war-hero-identified-73-years/story?id=98874559
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The fact that jumped about his story was it is evidence of something that I have long said. Contrary to widespread belief, it is NOT military policy to never leave a dead solder or marine behind on the battlefield. It should only take even a layman minutes to recognize that there could be no such policy. Military units operate pursuant to missions. If they can accomplish the mission and recover a KIA, they do it. The second priority is the welfare of the men, the living men that is. If it could get another soldier killed trying to recover the body of the dead one, you are not supposed to recover it until the enemy control of that portion of that battlefield ends.
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We have long had Americans in Vietnam after that war searching for American remains left behind—often of pilots who were shot down into the jungle. That is altogether fitting and proper. But trying to do that in North Vietnam during the war would have been nuts.
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Same for Corporal Story in Korea. Here is his Medal of Honor citation of this soldier who was left behind.
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Pfc. Story, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. A savage daylight attack by elements of 3 enemy divisions penetrated the thinly held lines of the 9th Infantry. Company A beat off several banzai attacks but was bypassed and in danger of being cut off and surrounded. Pfc. Story, a weapons squad leader, was heavily engaged in stopping the early attacks and had just moved his squad to a position overlooking the Naktong River when he observed a large group of the enemy crossing the river to attack Company A. Seizing a machine gun from his wounded gunner he placed deadly fire on the hostile column killing or wounding an estimated 100 enemy soldiers. Facing certain encirclement the company commander ordered a withdrawal. During the move Pfc. Story noticed the approach of an enemy truck loaded with troops and towing an ammunition trailer. Alerting his comrades to take cover he fearlessly stood in the middle of the road, throwing grenades into the truck. Out of grenades he crawled to his squad, gathered up additional grenades and again attacked the vehicle. During the withdrawal the company was attacked by such superior numbers that it was forced to deploy in a rice field. Pfc. Story was wounded in this action, but, disregarding his wounds, rallied the men about him and repelled the attack. Realizing that his wounds would hamper his comrades he refused to retire to the next position but remained to cover the company's withdrawal. When last seen he was firing every weapon available and fighting off another hostile assault. Private Story's extraordinary heroism, aggressive leadership, and supreme devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and were in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service.
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On September 1, 1950, Cpl. Story was left behind. On Memorial Day, 2024, he was brought home and buried.
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The widespread nature of this never leave a soldier behind “policy,” which the military refuses to deny, no doubt has gotten some soldiers unwisely killed and will continue to do so.
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The existence of POWs itself is plenty of further evidence that many are “left behind.” The US military is probably the best in the world at trying to avoid leaving men behind—especially shot-down fighter pilots—but the bravado spouting teenager who invented this “policy” was full of crap. Some marines have claimed or implied that only the marines had this policy; the lower on the food chain Army would leave dead men behind. Foolish teenage bravado.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/remains-korean-war-hero-identified-73-years/story?id=98874559
.
The fact that jumped about his story was it is evidence of something that I have long said. Contrary to widespread belief, it is NOT military policy to never leave a dead solder or marine behind on the battlefield. It should only take even a layman minutes to recognize that there could be no such policy. Military units operate pursuant to missions. If they can accomplish the mission and recover a KIA, they do it. The second priority is the welfare of the men, the living men that is. If it could get another soldier killed trying to recover the body of the dead one, you are not supposed to recover it until the enemy control of that portion of that battlefield ends.
.
We have long had Americans in Vietnam after that war searching for American remains left behind—often of pilots who were shot down into the jungle. That is altogether fitting and proper. But trying to do that in North Vietnam during the war would have been nuts.
.
Same for Corporal Story in Korea. Here is his Medal of Honor citation of this soldier who was left behind.
.
Pfc. Story, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. A savage daylight attack by elements of 3 enemy divisions penetrated the thinly held lines of the 9th Infantry. Company A beat off several banzai attacks but was bypassed and in danger of being cut off and surrounded. Pfc. Story, a weapons squad leader, was heavily engaged in stopping the early attacks and had just moved his squad to a position overlooking the Naktong River when he observed a large group of the enemy crossing the river to attack Company A. Seizing a machine gun from his wounded gunner he placed deadly fire on the hostile column killing or wounding an estimated 100 enemy soldiers. Facing certain encirclement the company commander ordered a withdrawal. During the move Pfc. Story noticed the approach of an enemy truck loaded with troops and towing an ammunition trailer. Alerting his comrades to take cover he fearlessly stood in the middle of the road, throwing grenades into the truck. Out of grenades he crawled to his squad, gathered up additional grenades and again attacked the vehicle. During the withdrawal the company was attacked by such superior numbers that it was forced to deploy in a rice field. Pfc. Story was wounded in this action, but, disregarding his wounds, rallied the men about him and repelled the attack. Realizing that his wounds would hamper his comrades he refused to retire to the next position but remained to cover the company's withdrawal. When last seen he was firing every weapon available and fighting off another hostile assault. Private Story's extraordinary heroism, aggressive leadership, and supreme devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and were in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service.
.
On September 1, 1950, Cpl. Story was left behind. On Memorial Day, 2024, he was brought home and buried.
.
The widespread nature of this never leave a soldier behind “policy,” which the military refuses to deny, no doubt has gotten some soldiers unwisely killed and will continue to do so.
.
The existence of POWs itself is plenty of further evidence that many are “left behind.” The US military is probably the best in the world at trying to avoid leaving men behind—especially shot-down fighter pilots—but the bravado spouting teenager who invented this “policy” was full of crap. Some marines have claimed or implied that only the marines had this policy; the lower on the food chain Army would leave dead men behind. Foolish teenage bravado.
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