제6사단장이 제20연대장에게 보낸 서신

HEADQUARTERS 6TH INFANTRY DIVISION APO 6 1 March 1948 THRU: Commanding Officer 20th Infantry Regiment APO 6 Unit 2 TO : Commanding Officer Cheju Detachment I hope you have read the Defense of Duffer's Drift. If not you should read it. Your situation is comparable to the author's. It is always interesting and to one's advantage to sit down and estimate the situation. Never be caught in the position, "When in danger - when in doubt - run in circles, scream and shout." What would you do if a foreign power landed on the field near your barracks, as if by accident, but probably by design? What would you do if one of their ships was ostensibly shipwrecked? In short, what would you do if a group of armed men of foreign origin, landed on your isolated island? You, of course, would contact the Military Government commander. On the other hand, suppose you were unable to contact him. What would you do? Think it over. Talk to him about it? What is the International law involved? What is to our (the United States) best interest? You, as an officer in command of troops, must be sure that you have anticipated situations such as these. You must be certain that you have mobility. You must be certain that you have communications. You must have "plays" to meet probable situations. How would you contact such a group? Would you do it yourself in such a manner that you would be held as hostage, leaving your detachment without a head? Would you send a message by one of your Enlisted men, arranging for the leader of the visitors to meet you at a place where you could dominate the situation? Have you thought of these things? Have you considered what you would do? If not, you better start thinking. Seldom in your life will you have the independent command you have now. Looking backward, I can anticipate that there will be many times in your career when you will criticize the commanders over you for not doing this and not doing that. You now have the opportunity of being an independent commander yourself. You are the target for comment. You should look forward, backward, and into the present. You have the privilege, the duty, and responsibility on your shoulders. In other words, you are in a position to be criticized by your subordinates and superiors, if in an emergency you are found wanting. Any lack of preparation, of discipline, or of training, on your part, might mean a great deal to your country. Lack of imagination, lack of forethought, lack of planning, might be disastrous. I am writing this letter to stimulate the thoughts and actions of you and those who follow you in this assignment. You should certainly take advantage of this rare opportunity when you, as a soldier, are placed upon your own. Remember that "it is much easier to be controversial than constructive." Your resources are limited, but --- p318 --- certainly forethought, planning, anticipation, and time, are all available to you in unlimited quantities. Are you or are you not, going to take advantage of them? You may seldom have such an opportunity. Sincerely, ORLANDO WARD Major General, U. S. Army Commanding