C
aught in the Crossfire:
Marines in North China, 1945-49
“One thing is clear, the Marines were
the balance of order in China.”
—Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal
Ambush at Anping
29 July 1946
The crack of a bullet as it broke the
sound barrier made veteran Platoon Sergeant Cecil J. Flanagan stop his jeep and
take cover. He soon realized his commanding officer, Second Lieutenant Douglas
42 LEATHERNECK APRIL 2008
A. Cowin, had taken the fatal hit.
The Communist Chinese opened fire
from both sides of the road, bringing the
Marine-protected supply convoy to a sudden halt. The Chinese executed the L-shaped ambush perfectly, taking out the
lead-and-trail vehicle as well as the highest-ranking Marine in the first few moments
of the attack.
More than 300 highly trained soldiers of
the Communist Eighth Route Army opened
By Colin Colbourn
up from all sides on the halted convoy.
Flanagan, with his escort platoon of 31 Marines from 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, and a 10-man 60 mm mortar section
from the 1st Marines, rapidly spread out
among the stopped trucks of the convoy to
return fire against the larger enemy force.
Flanagan knew his convoy was out of
touch with command because of the distance between the nearest bases, so he ordered three Marines to go for help. The
