The Korean War Week 99: The War's Most Humiliating Crisis - May 12, 1952

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]May 12th, 1952.

[00:00:02]There is much going on at the UN Coojido Island P. We've seen all kinds of unrest there the past few months, but this tops it all. A plan by the communist PS there unfolds this week. A plan and a kidnapping.

[00:00:24]I'm Indie Naidell and this is the Korean War. Last week, the communist side rejected the UN's peace package proposal, and the sticking point is P repatriation. Meanwhile, an inspection tour of Coojo P camp says there is a dangerous lack of control in the communist compounds. There are no locks on the compound gates at Coojo since work details go in and out of them pretty much all the time, and only the guards are allowed to carry weapons, right? However, the guards are not allowed to keep around in the chamber and are only authorized to shoot in self-defense or very serious emergency.

[00:01:03]I'm telling you this because there is an element of risk for camp officers, including Kandant General Francis Dodd.

[00:01:11]See, in the past, communist prisoners have managed to kidnap UN soldiers on several occasions. They were all released unharmed after the prisoners complaints were heard. It seems though that they have decided to try to capture the biggest fish in their pond, General Dodd. They are well aware of his habits and well aware that he really wants to decrease the high tensions at the camp.

[00:01:36]He is often seen unarmed at the gates of the compounds talking to their leaders.

[00:01:41]This does keep him more in touch with what's going on, but increases an already risky situation. The communist PS make their plans based on his willingness to come to them in person.

[00:01:54]On the evening of the 6, a work detail returning to compound 76 refuses to go back in. First, they want to speak to Wilbur Raven, who commands the compound, and the 94th Military Police Battalion.

[00:02:06]This they do, and they tell him that some guards have beaten some prisoners in the compound. Raven says, "Sure, we'll investigate." But they say they want to talk to General Dodd the next day about it. Raven doesn't really say yes or no to that. I mean, he doesn't want them thinking that the camp common dant is at their beck and call, but he says he'll pass on the message since the prisoners say they'll allow themselves to be listed and fingerprinted in exchange.

[00:02:35]This is very clever since after the hoo-ha over the P screenings recently, Dodd has been told he needs to make an accurate roster of all the PS on the island. And this will only make that easier. Dodd drives up just after 2 p.m.

[00:02:51]the 7th and stands outside the compound as he and his guys usually do, listening to the P complaints about food or clothing or whatever the unlocked Sallyport gate between them. The discussions lead on to the political, specifically about the truce negotiations. Now, the PWS several times invite Dodd and Raven in to sit down, to which Raven says a firm no since he has actually been taken hostage in the past.

[00:03:18]More prisoners arrive to listen to the discussion and then a work detail arrives to head out. They go through the Sally port and the outer door is opened.

[00:03:28]It is not closed behind them. And suddenly the prisoners spring forward and grab Dodd and Raven. Raven manages to get hold of a post and holds on until the guards come forward with bayonets.

[00:03:39]But Dodd is not so fortunate and is dragged into the compound, then behind a row of blankets draped over the inner barbed wire like a wall, so no one's going to shoot. And then he's rushed to a tent that is prepared to receive him.

[00:03:53]Apparently, it's not the only one since the PS tell him that the kidnapping has been planned so that if they didn't get him here, it would happen at one of the other compounds. So, this is phase one and it is now complete and phase two can begin. And it begins a few minutes later when they hoist a large sign that reads, "We captured Dodd. As long as our demand will be solved, his safety is secured.

[00:04:19]if there have been brutal acts such as shooting, his life is in danger. Dodd writes a note that says he's okay and he has it sent out. He also asks that they don't send any troops in to rescue him until after 5:00 p.m. Maybe he thinks he can convince them to let him go or something. I do not know. The word of Dodd's capture is sent to the commanding general of second logistical command, Paul Yant, and from there to US 8th Army Commander Jim Vanfleet. Benfleet tells Yang right off to not use force to secure Dodd's release unless he orders it. Kochi Doamp is without an active commandot though, so Yant sends his chief of staff, William Craig, down there to temporarily take over, relaying Van Fleet's orders to him. We are to talk them out. Obviously, if someone makes mass break, we most certainly will resist. But unless they attempt such a thing, under no circumstances use fire to get them out. Wait them out. One thing above all, approach it calmly. If we get them excited, only God knows what will happen. It's fairly obvious from how Cooji Do has been lately that a major uprising will mean major violence and a lot of casualties on both sides.

[00:05:33]It will also be a PR coup for the communist side. As for Dodd, he's trying his best to keep it local as well, agreeing to be a gobetween for the prisoners to relay their demands to the folks outside. He recommends that representatives from all of the other compounds come to number 76 for a meeting to work out just what the demands to be submitted are. They also install a telephone. Doug says, "Don't send in any troops to get him on the phone. He thinks he's safe, at least for the time being. I mean, if anything happens to him, what do the communists have to bargain with? The night of the seventh passes and the communists have won round one, kidnapping the general and getting him to open negotiations.

[00:06:18]What in the world will happen next?

[00:06:20]Well, in the morning, the P reps give Dodd a list of demands. One thing they really push for is to be allowed to form an association of prisoners and have telephones to talk between compounds and vehicles for traveling between them.

[00:06:36]Dodd says sure, although technically he does not have the authority to make any such agreements official. After this though, the reps want to go back to their own compounds and tell everyone else how it's going. Y won't let them until he's overruled by Van Fleet late in the afternoon. So, by the time they've gone to give reports and returned to Compound 76, it is the evening. While this is happening, Craig is busy with other preparations, as you may imagine. He's ordered in gas masks, grenades, and machine gun crews. The third battalion from the 9th Infantry boards an LST at Busan to cross over. He has the whole island ringed with boats from the South Korean Navy should there be any attempt at a mass escape. and planes from the Air Force, the Marines, and the Navy are on call. A company from the 64th medium tank battalion leaves third division and heads for Busan.

[00:07:31]Vanfleet then sends US first division chief of staff Charles Coulson to take over from Craig. Now, he is a combat leader, so this could indicate that a military strike or military solution is in the cards. Furthermore, Coulson knows nothing of conditions at Cooji Do and not even all that much about the issues being talked about at the Panmunjam peace talks. He is a field soldier.

[00:07:56]Vanfleet has some steps that are very clear which he gives to Ya to give to Coulson when he gets there. One, send in a written demand to free Dodd immediately at the same time informing the prisoners that Dodd is no longer in command and can make no decisions. Two, if they don't let him go, Yant is to set a time limit and warn them that they will be held responsible for Dodd's safety when force is used. Three, as the time limit expires, force will be used to enter the compound, release Dodd, and gain control. Late on the eighth, Yant passes along the orders to Coulson.

[00:08:33]How is dog doing, you may ask? Quite well. He's comfortable. He's being fed.

[00:08:40]They bring in his ulcer medicine, but it is clear he will be the first casualty if it all goes to hell, and they will violently resist any rescue attempts. He is actually okay with cooperating with them to hopefully reach a bloodless settlement. May 9th begins and Coulson issues another demand for Dodd's release and then another one 6 hours later.

[00:09:03]North Korean Colonel Lee Haku, the spokesman for the prisoners, finally responds and says that Dodd has already admitted he has practiced inhuman massacre and murderous barbarity against the prisoners. They have no intention of letting Dodd go until they've settled their differences with their captives.

[00:09:22]One might think that the next step for Coulson is an ultimatum and a time limit, but he wants to wait until that tank company arrives from the mainland, and that will not happen until late on the 9th. So any action to take control can't begin until the 10th. In the meantime, Coulson stops the reps from going back and forth between their compounds and number 76. As for the communist PS, the capture of Dodd assumed a new perspective. They informed their hostage that they were going to discuss the alleged brutalities committed against their members, repatriation and screening as well as the P association. Whether the expansion of the communists objectives was spurred by their success in using Dodd and the willingness of the UNC to negotiate or was a planned development is difficult to determine. It may well have been a combination of those elements that emboldened them to press their luck.

[00:10:15]They set up a people's court and list 19 counts of injury or death to compound members, each of which Dodd must answer to. Now, this is not a kangaroo execution court. They do listen to his explanations and they do dismiss accusations, but the spectacle of prisoners still captive and surrounded by heavily armed troops. Trying the kidnapped commanding officer of the prison camp on criminal counts and making him defend his record was without parallel in modern military history.

[00:10:47]While this is happening and Coulson is waiting for the armor to arrive, he has automatic weapons set up all over in pairs in strategic locations. He also has William Kernan, commander of the 38th Infantry, put together a plan to break into Compound 76 that uses tanks, flamethrowers, armored cars, tear gas, machine guns, that sort of stuff to be ready to put into action 10:00 a.m. on the 10th. The afternoon of the 9th, Van Fleet himself arrives at Cooji Do. He has talked with outgoing UN commander Matt Rididgeway and incoming one Mark Clark. I'll get to that in a minute who has just arrived in the theater and they all agree on a no press allowed and no photography of this whole escapade. They want Coulson to be sure that any non-belligerant prisoners have every opportunity to surrender peacefully even while engaged in battle for the compound and the camp. Vanfleet also does not want US troops to go into the compound until they force obedience with firepower from outside. He is willing to allow a prisoners association, but tells Coulson he is authorized to use whatever force he likes to get Dodd and secure control. Whatever does happen, he wants dispersion of the compounds to follow.

[00:12:08]He leaves the timing of things in general up to Coulson, but negotiations end at 10:00 a.m. May 10th.

[00:12:15]Okay. Dod's trial goes on all afternoon and it becomes pretty apparent it will last all night long at least. Dodd calls Coulson and asks for an extension until noon, but Coulson says no. That night, 15 regular tanks and five flamethrower tanks arrive on Cooji Do. They set up 16 small compounds in which they will spread the men of compound 76. Guns are in place, gas masks are issued, and Coulson and Dodd say goodbye to each other when they speak that night since, well, neither really expects Dodd to be alive when the attack operation is over.

[00:12:52]Heavy rains fall all night and heavy fog blankets the compounds in the morning.

[00:12:56]Coulson is still ready for action, but the prisoner's latest demands are released. The association stuff has it's already been mostly agreed to. So, these have to do with general prisoner policy, repatriation, and screening. I shall read you their demands, and you shall bear in mind that their English is not so good, and some of it is awkwardly worded. One, immediately cease the barbarous behavior, insults, torture, forcible protest with blood writing, threatening, confinement, mass murdering, gun and machine gun shooting, using poison gas, germ weapons, experiment object of a bombs by your command. You should guarantee PW's human rights and individual rights with the base on the international law. Two, immediate stopping the so-called illegal and unreasonable volunteer repatriation of NKA and CPVA PWS. Three, immediate ceasing the forcible investigations screening which thousands of PWS of NKA and CPVA be rearmed and called in slavery permanently and illegally.

[00:14:06]Four, immediate recognition of the PW representative group consisted of NKPA and CPVAPWS and close cooperation to it by your command. This representative group will turn in Brigadier General Dodd USA on your hand after we receive the satisfactory declaration to resolve the above items by your command. We will wait for your warm and sincere answer.

[00:14:30]That is from the Far Eastern Command general admin files. So what does this mean? Well, admitting to the first three would discredit the screening and repatriation process which everyone on the UN side up to US President Harry Truman strongly backs.

[00:14:48]And also, you know, if UN command is conducting a reign of terror in the P camps, as item one claims, violating the Geneva Convention, then why should anyone rely on their numbers of prisoners who do not want to return to communist countries. It was the old have you stopped beating your wife technique.

[00:15:09]Charlie Coulson walked into it. Coulson knew the communist demands and allegations were ridiculous. He was not aware that when the demands were wired across the world, millions of people said, "Where there is smoke, there must be fire and that Naml in Panunjam was shrieking in joyous and righteous rage."

[00:15:27]What does Coulson do? Well, well, he gets this list, but he also gets two other pieces of information from elsewhere. His intel officer says the other compounds are planning to launch a mass breakout as soon as Coulson launches an attack on compound 76. And something which sort of substantiates that the villages near the camp, the local native villages are all deserted just now. So facing the prospect of lots of casualties, including an American general, causes him to change tac. First of all, the UNC has not committed a reign of terror in the camps. So he tells Y to tell DA to just say so that those charges are not true. He's cool with the P association, too. But repatriation, he doesn't have any jurisdiction over that. But maybe if he could get the authority to renounce nominal repatriation, he could come up with a response that the prisoners will accept. The communists want his answer in writing. So that wrecks the 10 a.m.

[00:16:27]deadline. But he postpones the rescue operation and sends the following to the PS addressing each of their four points.

[00:16:35]one, with reference to your item one of that message, I am forced to tell you that we are not and have not committed any of the offenses which you allege. I can assure you we will continue in that policy and the prisoners of war can expect humane treatment in this camp.

[00:16:51]Two, reference to your item two regarding voluntary repatriation. That is a matter which is being discussed at Panmunjam and over which I have no control or influence. Three, regarding your site three pertaining to forcible investigation screening. I can inform you that after General Dawn's release unharmed, there will be no more forcible screening of PWS in this camp, nor will any attempt be made at nominal screening. Four, reference to your item four. We have no objection to the organization of PW representative group or commission, and we are willing to work out the details after General Dodd's release. He adds that Dodd must be released no later than noon. The communists reject his response and refuse to release dog. And the haggling and discussing goes on all morning and afternoon. Despite this, Rididgeway and Vanfleet are this day having trouble finding out just what is going on. When Ridgeway at UNC headquarters in Tokyo gets word of the four demands, he tries to stop Coulson's response, but he is too late.

[00:17:53]He realized the propaganda value of an admission of the prisoner's charges, but Vanfleet had assured him that Coulson's answer carried no implicit acknowledgement of illegal or reprehensible acts. As the afternoon drew to a close and no report of Coulson's negotiations arrived in Tokyo, Rididgeway became impatient, pointing out that incalculable damage might be done to the UNC cause if Coulson accepted the prisoner's demands. He complained of the lack of information from Cooji Doe. Thing is, Van Fleet doesn't know all that much more than Richway does. Even Yant doesn't, and he's a lot closer to it all. Coulson has been busy all day long.

[00:18:36]But what he does next, and how this resolves itself, I shall continue next week. Here, I shall wrap up this week of the war, a week where the big story is Cooji Doe. Although, as I mentioned earlier, Mark Clark relieves Matt Rididgeway of his command today the 12th as the week ends. Rididgeway is heading to Europe to take over NATO command there since Dwight Eisenhower is leaving that to run for president of the United States. I'll say a bit more about Mark Clark next week.

[00:19:03]I read in that TR Farenbach book what Pravda has to say about Coojido and this is it. Cooji Island. Again, the gloomy shadow of Maiden, Nazi extermination camp in Poland, has come upon the world.

[00:19:18]Again, the stench of corpses, the groans of the tortured. We learned that civilized Americans can be yet more inhuman, yet more infamous than the bloody Hitlerites. Dao was a death camp.

[00:19:31]Maiden was a death factory. Cooji is a whole island of death. The American hangmen are torturing, tormenting, and killing unarmed people here. They are experimenting with their poisons on them.

[00:19:46]And you know, millions of people believe every word of that.

[00:19:54]So, breaking the timeline and the channel line to remind you that I am giving an online lecture June 9th at 6:00 p.m. Central European time for the Smithsonian Associates on the Brucilav offensive. If you don't know what that is, you should because it was the biggest or deadliest battle of the First World War for real and has at least a claim to being the deadliest battle of all time. There is a link below if you want to get a ticket and check me out in live action talking about stuff I covered week by week 10 years ago. Wow.

[00:20:26]Where does the time go? Huh? Well, I I don't know what happens afterward with the lecture. If you can watch it later, I assume somehow, but for that you will have to ask the Smithsonian Associates.

[00:20:37]The Time Ghost Army member of the week here is Ivan Vukanovich. And that name sort of fits the Bruce theme. And you too can join the Time Ghost Army which makes everything we do possible at timego.tv. TV or patreon.com. Do not forget to subscribe. See you next time.