Call us at 1-314-416-1169
Here at Ozark Airfield Artworks we offer a large selection art prints. These prints
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
Copyright © Ozark Airfield Artworks 2005 All Rights Reserved
All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be
reproduced without their consent.
reproduced without their consent.
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Contact us for pricing and to order this print.
1-314-416-1169 or dnees@ozarkairfieldartworks.com
This artist gallery is under construction sorry for the inconvenience
1-314-416-1169 or dnees@ozarkairfieldartworks.com
This artist gallery is under construction sorry for the inconvenience
See our great selection of
artists like Sam Lyons,
John D Shaw, Robert
Bailey, & Domenic DeNardo!
artists like Sam Lyons,
John D Shaw, Robert
Bailey, & Domenic DeNardo!
Thousands of Civil and
Military Aviation Art
prints.
Military Aviation Art
prints.
Click here to see one the most
popular aviation artist in the
country, Sam Lyons. We offer
one of the largest selections of
Sam Lyons aviation art.
popular aviation artist in the
country, Sam Lyons. We offer
one of the largest selections of
Sam Lyons aviation art.
Click Here to see some of the
world's best World War II Aviation
Art! John Shaw pays tribute to
the men who fought for the
American Freedom during World
War II.
world's best World War II Aviation
Art! John Shaw pays tribute to
the men who fought for the
American Freedom during World
War II.
The 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion was an integral part of the U. S. 2nd Infantry Division and
the Allied forces that pushed the North Korean Army from the Pusan Perimeter to near the Yalu
River in northern North Korea . It was late autumn of 1950 that the Chinese Communist Army
entered the war with vast numbers of troops and began an offensive which pushed Allied forces
back south.
Orders were given, by the Eighth Army Command, for the 2nd Division to fight a rearguard
action to enable the other divisions of the Eighth Army to break contact with the Chinese
Communist Forces (CCF) by withdrawing south of the Chongchon River . On 30 November, the
one major unit that was still in contact with the CCF in the area south of Kunu-ri was the 2nd
Infantry Division. Extreme enemy pressure had forced the 2nd Division to conduct a retrograde
movement southward. The 2nd Engineers were assigned as serial #7 in the order of march; just
to the south of serial #8 which was the 23rd Infantry Regiment, and became the next to last unit
in the withdrawal order.
By 29 November, the CCF had established a roadblock in a mountain pass south of Kunu-ri and
established firing positions on the mountain ridges along a six mile stretch north of the
roadblock. When it came time for the 2nd Division to carry out its retrograde movement it had
run a gauntlet of heavy enemy fire along the withdrawal route.
Late in the afternoon of 30 November, the 23rd Infantry Regiment suddenly left its position at the
rear of the division and moved west to Anju then south along a costal route. When the 23rd
Infantry pulled out, posthaste, on the Anju road about four miles northwest of them, the 2nd
Engineers were the northernmost 2nd Division troops still in position. They were also now wide
open to attack from all CCF now pouring into the Kunu-ri area.
The Division directed the 2nd Engineers Battalion to fight as the division rearguard to delay the
enemy while the Division continued its withdrawal to the south.
From 25 to 30 November, the 2nd Engineers had fought, tenaciously, alongside infantry troops.
Now, on 30 November, they were alone. Lt Col Zacherle, the 2nd Engineer commander,
organized the defense and the battalion fought valiantly against overwhelming numbers of
Chinese troops. Despite many casualties, they successfully defended the division’s rear in the
retrograde movement.
By the evening of 30 November, the engineers were severely depleted and separated from the
rest of the division and captured was eminent. Zacherle ordered all usable equipment destroyed
so it would not fall into enemy hands. As night fell, he personally ordered the burning of the
battalion colors to prevent their capture and possible display as a war trophy by the Chinese
communists. Lt Col Zacherle later stated, “The colors were drenched with gasoline. A last look
at the colors with the unbelievable number of battle streamers was imprinted on our minds.
Setting the fire produced a bright blaze that denied the enemy a trophy they surely would have
greatly prized.” Later that night, the battalion was overrun. Lt Col Zacherle, Maj Fry (Bn, Excc.),
most of the battalion staff and over 400 officers and men, of all the companies of the battalion
were either killed or captured. Over a six day period, the 2nd Engineer Battalion had shrunk
from 788 officers and men to 347. 95% of the battalion’s equipment was lost. Despite the great
losses, the 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion was rebuilt and continued to be a force, to be
reckoned with, throughout the balance of the Korean War.
Lt Col Zacherle, and the 330 officers and men captured with him, were held by the Chinese
communists as POWs for 33 months. There were only 114 who survived the brutal captivity to
return home, at the end of hostilities, in August and September of 1953.
For several years past, (until the deactivation of the battalion in 2005) at dusk, on a cold evening
of 30 November, the 2nd Engineer Battalion has stood at attention on the parade field at Camp
Casey in South Korea. In the presence of the officers and men of the battalion and
distinguished guests, the Battalion Commander has ordered the Battalion Executive Officer to
burn the colors held in reverence by the Battalion Command Sergeant Major. The purpose of
this annual ceremony has been to commemorate the actions taken by the 2nd Engineer Combat
Battalion on that night in late autumn of 1950 and to honor those gallant men who served with
the battalion at that memorable time.
the Allied forces that pushed the North Korean Army from the Pusan Perimeter to near the Yalu
River in northern North Korea . It was late autumn of 1950 that the Chinese Communist Army
entered the war with vast numbers of troops and began an offensive which pushed Allied forces
back south.
Orders were given, by the Eighth Army Command, for the 2nd Division to fight a rearguard
action to enable the other divisions of the Eighth Army to break contact with the Chinese
Communist Forces (CCF) by withdrawing south of the Chongchon River . On 30 November, the
one major unit that was still in contact with the CCF in the area south of Kunu-ri was the 2nd
Infantry Division. Extreme enemy pressure had forced the 2nd Division to conduct a retrograde
movement southward. The 2nd Engineers were assigned as serial #7 in the order of march; just
to the south of serial #8 which was the 23rd Infantry Regiment, and became the next to last unit
in the withdrawal order.
By 29 November, the CCF had established a roadblock in a mountain pass south of Kunu-ri and
established firing positions on the mountain ridges along a six mile stretch north of the
roadblock. When it came time for the 2nd Division to carry out its retrograde movement it had
run a gauntlet of heavy enemy fire along the withdrawal route.
Late in the afternoon of 30 November, the 23rd Infantry Regiment suddenly left its position at the
rear of the division and moved west to Anju then south along a costal route. When the 23rd
Infantry pulled out, posthaste, on the Anju road about four miles northwest of them, the 2nd
Engineers were the northernmost 2nd Division troops still in position. They were also now wide
open to attack from all CCF now pouring into the Kunu-ri area.
The Division directed the 2nd Engineers Battalion to fight as the division rearguard to delay the
enemy while the Division continued its withdrawal to the south.
From 25 to 30 November, the 2nd Engineers had fought, tenaciously, alongside infantry troops.
Now, on 30 November, they were alone. Lt Col Zacherle, the 2nd Engineer commander,
organized the defense and the battalion fought valiantly against overwhelming numbers of
Chinese troops. Despite many casualties, they successfully defended the division’s rear in the
retrograde movement.
By the evening of 30 November, the engineers were severely depleted and separated from the
rest of the division and captured was eminent. Zacherle ordered all usable equipment destroyed
so it would not fall into enemy hands. As night fell, he personally ordered the burning of the
battalion colors to prevent their capture and possible display as a war trophy by the Chinese
communists. Lt Col Zacherle later stated, “The colors were drenched with gasoline. A last look
at the colors with the unbelievable number of battle streamers was imprinted on our minds.
Setting the fire produced a bright blaze that denied the enemy a trophy they surely would have
greatly prized.” Later that night, the battalion was overrun. Lt Col Zacherle, Maj Fry (Bn, Excc.),
most of the battalion staff and over 400 officers and men, of all the companies of the battalion
were either killed or captured. Over a six day period, the 2nd Engineer Battalion had shrunk
from 788 officers and men to 347. 95% of the battalion’s equipment was lost. Despite the great
losses, the 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion was rebuilt and continued to be a force, to be
reckoned with, throughout the balance of the Korean War.
Lt Col Zacherle, and the 330 officers and men captured with him, were held by the Chinese
communists as POWs for 33 months. There were only 114 who survived the brutal captivity to
return home, at the end of hostilities, in August and September of 1953.
For several years past, (until the deactivation of the battalion in 2005) at dusk, on a cold evening
of 30 November, the 2nd Engineer Battalion has stood at attention on the parade field at Camp
Casey in South Korea. In the presence of the officers and men of the battalion and
distinguished guests, the Battalion Commander has ordered the Battalion Executive Officer to
burn the colors held in reverence by the Battalion Command Sergeant Major. The purpose of
this annual ceremony has been to commemorate the actions taken by the 2nd Engineer Combat
Battalion on that night in late autumn of 1950 and to honor those gallant men who served with
the battalion at that memorable time.
"Burning The Colors" by Larry Selman
Image Area: 13 x 25