Staff Groups Flown to Japan
Although the 1st Marine Division had enough problems at Camp Pendleton to keep a full war-strength staff busy, several of the key members were in Korea with the Brigade. The complete Division staff was never integrated until after the landing at Inchon. On 7 August, however, a dispatch from CinCFE requested that the “Commanding General, 1st Marine Division, and planning group capable of developing Division embarkation and landing plans be airlifted” to the Far East.[60]
[60] CinCFE disp to CinCPacFlt, 7 Aug 50, info CNO, CMC, CG 1st MarDiv, CG FMFPac, and ComNavFE.
General Smith decided that this flight could best be made in two echelons. The first, which took off for Japan at 1400 on 16 August 1950, included a group of 12 officers and six enlisted men selected to initiate planning:
| Officers | Enlisted | |
| G-2 | Col B. T. Holcomb, Jr. | TSgt W. O’Grady |
| Ass’t G-2 | Maj J. G. Babashanian | Cpl J. N. Lareau |
| G-3 | Col A. L. Bowser, Jr. | Sgt G. O. Davis, Jr. |
| Ass’t G-3 | LtCol F. R. Moore | |
| Ass’t G-4 | LtCol C. T. Hodges | |
| Ass’t Emb Off | Capt R. E. Moody | PFC H. J. McAvinue |
| Shore Pty Off | Maj J. G. Dibble | |
| Signal Off | LtCol A. Creal | Cpl L Shefchik |
| Ass’t G-1 | LtCol B. D. Godbold | |
| Fire Sup Coord | LtCol D. E. Reeve | SSgt P. Richardson |
| Naval Gunfire Off | LtCol L. S. Fraser | |
| Air Off | Capt W. F. Jacobs |
General Smith stayed at Camp Pendleton for two more days until he was assured that the main body of the Division had sailed. Then he accompanied the second echelon of planners which departed by air at 1410 on 18 August:
| Officers | Enlisted | |
| CG | MajGen O. P. Smith | |
| C/S | Col G. A. Williams | Cpl C. V. Irwin |
| Aide to CG | Capt M. J. Sexton | PFC W. D. Grove |
| G-1 | Col H. S. Walseth | Cpl W. P. Minette |
| Ass’t Signal Off | Capt A. J. Gunther | MSgt F. J. Stumpges |
| G-4 | Col F. M. McAlister | |
| Engineer Off | Maj E. P. Moses, Jr. | |
| Embark Off | Maj J. M. Rouse | |
| Amtrac Off | Maj A. J. Barrett | |
| Motor Trans Off | Maj H. W. Seeley, Jr. | |
| Ordnance Off | Maj L. O. Williams[61] |
[61] O. P. Smith, Notes, 37–38.
The departure of the commanding general coincided with the closing of the Division CP at Camp Pendleton. There were still several thousand Marines of the rear echelon left under the control of General Noble in the sprawling installation, but the brown California hills looked down upon a scene of strange and brooding quiet as compared to the activity of the past three weeks.
It was D-minus 28 for the men of the 1st Marine Division.