By Paul A. Wolfgeher
Editor's Introduction:
Historical records show that the 14th PsyOp Battalion and 7th PsyOp Group evolved from several units including the 1st and the 14th Radio Broadcasting and Leaflet Battalions. Details of this evolution are covered in the unit Historical Profile.
The history of PsyOps in the Korean War also describes the role of the 1st Loudspeaker and Leaflet Company. Until recently (4/5/06) I had assumed the 1st L&L was part of the 1st RB&L Bn and should therefore be part of the 7th Group historical lineage. Discussions with Paul Wolfgeher who served with and lectures about the 1st L&L prove otherwise.
The following is a summary of several e-mails with Paul about the history of the 1st L&L. Also see Paul's web page about the 1st at: http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/support_units/psyc_war/index.htm
The 1st L&L evolved from a technical information detachment (TID) of four officers and twenty enlisted men stationed at Fort Riley Kansas (The 1st RB&L also originated at Fort Riley...Editor). The TID was the PsyWar detachment of aggressor force for army maneuvers country wide. Major Homer Caskey took the technical information detachment overseas. After the TID was expanded to become the First Loudspeaker and Leaflet Company, it was subsequently commanded by Majors John T. Dabinett and Douglas Osgood and Captains Herbert Avedon and Oliver W. Rodman
When alerted for Korea deployment, the detachment was notified it would become an Army Loudspeaker and Leaflet Company under TOE 20-77 dated Sept 1, 1950.
It left Fort Riley on Sept 9, 1950 and shipped from Seattle on 15 Sept aboard a U.S. Navy troopship carrying military families to Japan. They were told that their equipment would meet them in Korea. The soldiers boarded the Pusan Ferry in Yokahama Japan on 15 Oct bound for eight Army in Taegu Korea.
On 4 November 1950 the unit was activated with a complement of 8 officers, ninety nine enlisted men, 3 printing presses, 12 loudspeakers, and 27 vehicles. The unit was placed under the administrative control of the 8th Army Special Troops Command and Operational Control of G-2 then later G-3. The 1st RB&L Battalion by comparison was under control of command operations from Japan.
The 1st L&L became operational April of 1951 and 9 loudspeaker teams were dispatched to the divisions on line.
My MOS was 1107 Printer Plate Maker when I first got to the unit and then I learned to run a press and a little bit of everything else. I came home a sergeant and retired from the printing industry in 1998.
I speak at all functions that I can to explain the role of PsyWar which is now called PsyOps. My collection of leaflets have been shown at the Truman Library (1987) during the 50th anniversary of the Korean War. I work with this library quite a bit. I also give presentations at various colleges and universities. My next presentation will be to an ROTC group at Kansas University.