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It was clear that within Inchon Bay the U.N. assault craft would be sitting ducks, held in a narrow channel with no room to move about or dodge attack. Larger craft would have to lay out some seven miles. LCVPs and LCMs would need 90 minutes to make the run from mother ships to beach with troops and equipment.
"Inchon is the worst possible place we could bring in an amphibious assault along the coast of Korea," admitted Admiral Doyle, "but it is also the only possible place where our assault will carry out its purpose: to land, cut off and destroy the enemy."
Landing Party. On landing day last week, in the dawn's early light, MacArthur picked his way through a confusion of men in helmets and life jackets, climbed onto the admiral's bridge chair. He wore his old braided, sweat-stained garrison cap.
We were then some 1,500 yards off the Inchon coast. The nose of our craft was pointed at a flashing coastal light. Said Admiral Doyle to the CINC: "They've left their navigation lights on. That's the fourth we've picked up on the way in here this morning." Said MacArthur: "That's courtesy." As the Asiatic sunrise broke over the black, sawtooth hills of the Korean coast, the general grasped both arms of his chair. "Just like Lingayen Gulf," he observed. "But quieter and nicer, isn't it?"
Then the naval bombardment began, and he raised his glasses to watch. The planes came. We could see the streaks of their rockets, and minutes later hear the booms. General Almond, the new X Corps commander, came up. "Good morning, General," he said. "How are you?" "I don't see how I could be better," answered MacArthur.
When the ship's speaker announced: "The first wave of the attack force is ashore," MacArthur nodded to Doyle. Then the speaker called: "All boats are ashore from the first and second waves. The troops are fanning out rapidly. No casualties so far." MacArthur lowered his head a little, and then a broad grin spread across his face. The night before, he had said we would not take more than 100 casualties on the morning objectives. Now all waves were ashore, with only 15 casualties reported.
When the speaker announced: "The American flag is flying on the heights of Wolmi Island," MacArthur stood up, looked around with a smile. Admiral Doyle said: "Let's go below and get some coffee." The CINC, who, at 70, had conceived an operation with the daring, aggressiveness and imagination of a young officer, walked off the bridge.
A bit later the command ship's radio sent off the old fighter's message: "The Navy and Marines have never shone more brightly than this morning. MacArthur."
Shore Party. Next day the general went ashore. On a ridgetop near Kimpo airfield he pulled on his corncob pipe and talked about bygone battles in the Philippines. To Vice Admiral Arthur Struble he said: "I've lived a long time and played with the Navy for a long time. They've never, never failed me." Then he drove back to the waterfront.