Prologue

It happens that the Marines above are those of "D" Company, 2d Battalion 5th Marines, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade (-) (Reinf.).   The time was about 1000 local, and the "local" was Pusan, South Korea.  The day was August 3d, 1950.  Please note the (-) in the first sentence.  It means just what it indicates, that the Brigade was short a significant number of units who were normally organic to it.  Regiments supposedly contain nine rifle companies, three companies in each battalion.  The Brigade was dispatched to Korea with only two rifle companies in each battalion.  The third rifle company for each battalion would not enter the fray until after the 1st Battle of the Naktong, 17/18 August, 1950.  The Company numbered some 250 enlisted Marines and seven officers....

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