USAG Camp Humphreys Court Martial Defense

It is fitting that you may find yourself surrounded and alone in Korea because you wouldn’t be the first service member to find yourself in that peril.The Korean peninsula is home to some of the most gallant stands in military history and few more remarkable than the story of Herbert K. Pililaau at Heartbreak Ridge.

Pililaau was serving with Company C, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division when his platoon was tasked with holding an advance position on hill 931 through the night. Unfortunately for Pililaau and his platoon, the entire North Korean 13th Infantry Regiment wanted that same position. In the middle of the night, the North Koreans attacked in force and the platoon began to pay a heavy price.

The platoon was given permission to retreat and join the main unit, but escaping during the middle of the attack was no easy feat. One squad would have to remain behind to cover the retreat. The squad held their own throughout the assault, but eventually there was no man left alive except for Pililaau and his squad leader.

That’s when Pililaau began gifting violence to the enemy like it was North Korean Christmas. He fired his BAR until it was out of ammunition and when the ammo ran out, he began hurling grenades until there were none left. Out of things that go boom, the man began picking up rocks and hurling them at the enemy.

Pililaau’s actions could be seen from the main position and what he did next shocked the onlookers. Out of ammo and rocks of any size, he pulled out his trench knife and decided to close with the entire North Korean regiment and destroy them by hand. He was last seen punching with one hand and swinging his knife with the other until he was mortally wounded and overwhelmed. He was found the next morning with his knife still in hand and approximately 40 dead North Koreans in his proximity. He gave it all, fought until the bitter end, and this is exactly what you need to be prepared to do to win against the military justice system.