Ranger Infantry Company of the Korean War

Ranger Hall of Fame

BRIGADIER GENERAL (RETIRED) JAMES A. HERBERT

In April 1951, the Chinese and North Koreans launched 350,000 troops in an all-out offensive to drive United Nations forces from Korea. The ferocious night attack broke the 6th Republic of Korea Division, routing it for 21 miles and leaving the right flank of the U.S. 24th Infantry Division exposed. Captain James A. Herbert, Commander of the 8th Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne), led 89 Rangers into the void to determine the location and number of the enemy. In a long and arduous climb through the night, Captain Herbert led his men to a high mountaintop point of observation. As dawn broke, the Rangers could see what appeared to be rivers of Chinese flowing southward along the right flank of the 24th Infantry Division. Captain Herbert informed his seniors of the situation by radio and began to call artillery fire and air strikes on the enemy. Now alerted to the danger, the 24th Infantry Division began to withdraw. Captain Herbert and his Rangers were now deep in Chinese-controlled territory. Upon orders to return to U.S. Lines, Captain Herbert successfully bypassed the encroaching enemy units. During their return to friendly lines, scouts reported a large Chinese force. Though vastly outnumbered, Captain Herbert led the 8th Airborne Rangers in the attack. In the fierce battle that followed, the Chinese were hit hard and their attack on the 21st Infantry Regiment was prevented. A third of the Rangers received wounds, including Captain Herbert, who was shot through the throat, shoulder and arm. With their mission accomplished, the Rangers broke contact and brought their casualties to link-up with American armor. During this march, Ranger Herbert pushed his fingers into his wounded throat and walked over three-quarters of a mile to the awaiting tanks. The 24th Infantry Division Commander said of the Ranger attack, “by your action you have saved the 21st Infantry Regiment, if not the division”. Ranger Herbert was one of America’s first Airborne Rangers and a founding father of the Ranger Department at Fort Benning. Ranger Herbert also served nearly five years in Vietnam and played a major role in the defeat of North Vietnamese forces during the enemy TET campaign. His exemplary thirty years of army service is an inspiration to all Rangers.