The primary objective of
Operation Killer was to annihilate enemy forces
below the Arizona line. However, the enemy had
begun a general withdrawal, offering only scant
resistance in the area and immediately on the end
of this Operation Ridgway initiated Operation Ripper, which was
basically to advance and secure positions
suitable for staging a general assault to
recapture Seoul and again reach the 38th
Parallel.
Ridgway's staff
appears to have been incompetent, if not actually
craven. Apparently they were the same gentlemen
mainly responsible for the Eighth Army flight
when the CCF first struck in full force, with no
attempt to significantly delay them by shifting
defensive positions in depth. Now, when Ridgway
realized the CCF were overextended and weakened
and that Eighth Army was developing in skill and
confidence to the point where he could and should
launch a general offensive, his staff recommended
a voluntary and complete surrender of the
offensive. Instead of attacking, his staff
recommended withdrawal to the old Pusan
Perimeter. When Ridgway ordered the counterattack
instead, they sneered at him behind his back,
calling him "Wrong Way
Ridgway."
Fortunately for many
reasons, unlike his staff Ridgway was really a
soldier and a man, and a true General of
Infantry.
