Competitive Tactical Approach demonstrated by the 27th Regimental Commander John Michaelis


I have read about the business management books including Competitive Strategy, and found that being different from other competitors, trying not being big but being different are critical for success in any business.

In this grained rule, I could find the case shown in military actions in Korea around Jul. 1950 just about the war broke out.

The situations available on internet, are vividly describing General Michaelis’s tactical approach,
as analysed in the point of difference between US Army & Chinese Army, for the battle and consequently for the military campaign and the war, as follows:

Colonel Michaelis' regiment launched an assault against heavily fortified enemy positions. While the attack was in progress, Colonel Michaelis although all avenues of approach were under heavy mortar and sniper fire, walked forward from the regimental command post to personally determine the tactical situation.

During this period, the enemy launched a determined counterattack, penetrating the forward elements and forcing the command post group to take shelter in a culvert. Colonel Michaelis despite heavy fire, remained in the open until he had made a complete estimate of the situation.
Colonel Michaelis' 
Colonel Michaelis disregarding the heavy mortar and sniper fire, made his way to the regimental command post where he called for an air strike on the enemy position. The air strike was successful, causing the enemy to withdraw in disorder and permitting the 3d battalion to take its objective.



He had known the fact no matter how a fighting unit was surrounded by enemy, he should not be panic himself as long as his unit had preserved 'unit integrity' with interlocking fields of fire then it could handle with being surrounded and cut off as they could be resupplied from the air. He had strong strategic belief that the ability of air supply could be strong power Chinese army never had, and induced enemy to the flat fields from hideous mountain. The Chinese tried to eliminate the forces with onslaught attacks using their huge human resource and psychological horror as did in their civil war against Chankaiseok, but Colonel Michaelis was never terrorized, preserving the unit integrity to the last moment to seek a chance to bring the air power for the idealistic but desperate situation. 

He had trained his unit members to mechanically and accurately utilize their anti-tank mines, artillery and tanks systematically for maximum effect and to be sure of their reinforcements provided by air at final stage. He had proven successfully his ability to fight off a divisional size of enemy with a regiment unit in time of trooper shortage. He did not ask his division commander more reinforced forces rather he planned to call air power at the right time and place as progressed, encouraging his forces not to be abandoned. 


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