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16055 Skilton, Rollin White
March 09, 1924 - December 31, 1953

usma1946-H1

 

MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly  Sep '91

Rollin White Skilton NO. 16055 CLASS OF 1946   Missing in action on 6 December 1950, between Hagaru-ri and Koto-ri, south of the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, aged 26 years; declared dead, 31 December 1953. Interment East Morris Cemetery, Morris, Connecticut. 


CHANGJIN! This word was on the map Rollin Skilton used in late November early December 1950 in North Korea. He may or may not have known that the body of water known as the Chosin Reservoir would go down in history as the locale of a series of epic battles against overwhelming odds. He could not know that in 1983 the survivors of these battles, from all services, would organize an exclusive fraternity of honor named the "Chosin Few," with membership requirements both simple and stringent: you must have been there. Its aims are equally simple: to honor the valor, sacrifice and duty of the survivors, but especially to honor the thousands of brave young men who gave their lives at CHANGJIN. One of those brave men was Rollin White Skilton.

Born on 9 March 1924 in Waterbury Connecticut, Rollin spent most of his youth in Morris, Connecticut, a small rural community. After graduating from Morris High School, Rollin spent a year at the New Britain Teachers College. He gained an appointment to enter West Point in 1942 with the Class of 1945. Unfortunately, he came up short in plebe math and was found. Rollin then went to "Doe Silverman's" in New York City for intensive math courses, passed the re-entrance exams, and again entered West Point in 1943 as a member of the Class of 1946.

Academics continued to cause Rollin problems, but he always managed to stay ahead of the power curve. He was a terrific lineman in intramural football and participated in the ski club, the squash club and the weight lifting club. He had a great sense of duty and really loved West Point and all it stood for. Graduation saw Rollin become a second lieutenant of Infantry.

Rollin took off enough time from the Infantry School at Christmas in 1946 to marry Barbara E. Way on 28 December 1946 at Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Rollin's first assignment was as executive officer, A Company, 17th Infantry, 7th Division at Inchon, Korea. The company was detached from its battalion and assigned as a guard company for Quartermaster installations in the Inchon area. Being hardly the duty a young Infantry lieutenant wanted, Rollin was pleased to rotate with his unit back to Japan. Not only did his duty change, but he brought Barbara and his daughter Barbara JoAnn to Camp Crawford in February 1949. One of his fellow officers, Hodges S. Escue, recalls that Rollin was a professional soldier, competent and skilled in the field. New second lieutenants wanted to emulate him and senior offlcers relied upon hirn, yet the trait that made Rollin stand out was his gentlemanly demeanor. He was courteous to all, both subordinates and superiors alike, and he treated newly-assigned officers with compassion and won their respect.

When the Korean War broke out in June 1950, Rollin was reassigned to the S-3 Section of the 31st Infantry as a liaison officer to the 17th Infantry. When the 7th Division landed at Inchon, Korea, Rollin continued as liaison officer between the 31st Infantry and the 17th Infantry and also when the 7th Division landed at Iwon in an attack into North Korea in early November 1950. When the Chinese entered the War and were about to overrun Eighth Arrny in the west, the mission of X Corps was changed with the 1st Marine Division to attack west of the Chosin Reservoir to relieve the pressure on Eighth Army, and the 7th Division was to send a force to the east side of the Chosin to attack north. These attacks were to take place 27 November 1950. In order to meet the timetable the closest 7th Division elements were ordered to the east side of the Chosin. 

The closest and first unit to arrive was the 1st Battalion of the 32nd Infantry, followed by the 3rd Battalion and Headquarters Company. The 2nd Battalion was to join but got only as far as Koto-ri. When Colonel Allan D. MacClean (USMA 3()), 31st Infantry commander arrived on 26 November, his units and others were scattered along the road from Hagaru-ri at the southern, tip of the Chosin Reservoir northward along the eastern side. Since all units were not from the 31st Infantry, the force was designated Regimental Combat Team (RCT) 31.

The events surrounding the actions around the Chosin are described in three books: The Forgotten War by Clay Blair; East of Chosin by Roy E. Appleman and Escaping the Trap also bv Roy E. Appleman. Rollin Skilton is mentioned in each of these books. The separated parts of RCT 31 were isolated from each other and from higher command; communications had deteriorated rapidly. On the evening of 27 November, First Lieutenant Rollin Skilton, now liaison officer between RCT 31 and the 1st Marine Division at Hagaruri, delivered the RCT 31 operations order from the RCT Main CP at Hudong-ni to the forward CP of the 1/32nd ten miles to the north along the eastern shore of the Chosin Reservoir. After delivering the document, Rollin drove off into the night back to Hudong-ni and then on to Hagaru-ri. He was probably the last person to travel back down that road to Hudong-ni, as soon thereafter the Chinese attacked the 1/32nd and the 3/31 st. 

A very important factor during all the action was the cold. Night-time temperatures fell to 25 degrees below zero. Daytime temperatures were seldom above zero.
 Command of RCT 31 was assumed by LTC Don C. Faith, commanding officer of the 1/32nd, after MacLean was captured. The troops of RCT 31 fought bravely but the unit was decimated in fierce battles over the next few days. LTC Faith attempted a breakout from his untenable position at noon on 1 December, but the breakout foundered at Hill 1221 and the survivors escaped by walking over the frozen reservoir. Rollin and other members of the 31st Infantry at Hagaru-ri coordinated the rearward passage of lines so that survivors coming across the ice would not be fired upon by the Marines. When the elements of the 1st Marine Division had fought their way back to Hagaru-ri they joined the remnants of RCT 31 to fight back to Hungnam on the coast. The route they were to follow was defended by elements of seven Chinese divisions. 

This battle from the Chosin Reservoir to the sea received much publicity at the time, but little has ever been said about the provisional Army unit of 490 men who were left from RCT 31. It was designated the 31st Regiment, 7th Division and formed into two provisional battalions. The 3/31st consisted of I Company commanded by Captain George A. Rasula; K Company commanded by Captain Robert J. Kitz; and L Company commanded by Lieutenant Robert Boyer. Rollin Skilton was a platoon leader in L Company. The breakout started at first light on 6 December 1950. In the early afternoon of the 6th, L Company engaged in a fierce battle with the Chinese and its commander, Lieutenant Boyer, was killed. Rollin Skilton was wounded in the same action. Colonel George A. Rasula (Ret), recalls that he didn't hear about Rollin being wounded until late on 6 December. The only certain facts are that Rollin was seriously wounded he placed himself on a litter and the litter was put on a vehicle. What happened after that will remain forever unknown. 

Subsequent events indicate that Rollin died on 6 December 1950 from his wounds and the effects of-the extreme cold. His body was taken to Koto-ri and placed in the mass grave dug by the Marines. At the time, however, Barbara was notified that Rollin was missing in action.  Barbara and her daughter returned to Connecticut. One of the provisions of the final treaty ending the Korean War was the return of the bodies from the two Marine mass graves at Yudam-ni (west of the Chosin) and at Koto-ri.

In March 1955, Barbara received a letter from Washington that Rollin's body had been received from the Communists and that he had been interred in the Marine mass grave at Koto-ri. Rollin's West Point ring had been with his body, bearing the inscription "West Point Class of 1946," his name and US Army. Rollin was buried in Morris, Connecticut on 16 April 1955, almost four and one-half years after he died. He was survived by his wife, Barbara, daughter Barbara Jo-Ann, his parents and two brothers. Rollin was always so proud of his daughter and would be pleased to know that she graduated from Wagner College, is a nurse and is married with three beautiful children.

Rollin Skilton was a good soldier and a loving, caring husband and father. Barbara heard from many of Rollin's friends, superiors and his men during the long years waiting to learn what had happened to him. The following represent some of their comments:

"Rollin was a rare individual and a wonderful friend. He was loved, admired and respected by all who knew him."

"Your husband Rollin was an honored respected and beloved member of the 31st Infantry and it was my privilege to have had him on my staff. His optimism and cheerfulness were always a comfort to me and I depended on him with confidence."

"I knew your husband, Rollin, very well and in addition to admiring him, I was very fond of him. He was a fine officer and performed his duties as a combat leader in a superior manner. I am proud that I was able to serve with him.'

"I don't believe that there ever was an officer that l liked or had more respect for than Lieutenant Skilton."

Rollin performed his "Duty" in an exemplary manner, always concerned for the welfare of his men. They knew his word was his bond. His "Honor" was one of the attributes that endeared him to them. Rollin didn't have to ask what he could do for his "Country," he knew He served it with the utmost of his ability, eventually making the supreme sacrifice during one of the epic battles in history. The Class of 1946 is proud to claim Rollin White Skilton as one of its own. The Class pays homage to a brave soldier, classmate and friend.

 '46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Barbara
 

Personal Eulogy
deceased 

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