Savagely effective air-to-ground
support was available to 1stMarDiv and other UN
forces from Corsairs on the Aircraft Carrier
Sicily.
One of the greatest strengths of
the UN ground forces was the close support given
them by Air Force and Marine fighter and
fighter-bomber squadrons. The ability to call in
napalm and rocket strikes on enemy forces who
posed significant and immediate tactical threats
gave UN infantry far greater hitting power than
equal numbers of the enemy, and contributed to
the growing confidence with which Eighth Army
first stopped the CCF 5th Campaign, and then
smashed it into retreat.
Truman virtually turned the
United States Marine Corps into a police force
for the Navy after WWII. Once the reality of
Soviet policies compelled Truman to realize the
wishful thinking of his own, Marine Reserves and
coordinated close air support became
indispensable in fighting the war to a
stand-still, about where it began.