Army Chemical Review presents professional information about Chemical Corps functions related to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, smoke, flame, and civil support operations.
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40 3d Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, on occupation duty on Okinawa, Japan. When the North Korean Army invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950 and initiated the Korean War, the 29th Infantry was rushed to the scene of the fighting and thrown into a haphazard defense force, which desperately tried to halt the communist advance. In an effort to bring the companies up to table of organization and equipment strength, on 17 July 1950, First Lieutenant Cribb was assigned as the executive officer of Company M, 3d Battalion, 29th Infantry. Within the week, the company commander was transferred to another company, and First Lieutenant Cribb took command of the company. On 27 July 1950, near Hadong, Korea, in what would be called the Hadong Ambush, a numerically superior North Korean communist force attacked from high ground with heavy fire power, which destroyed the supporting weapons of Company M, and threatened to cut off the 3d Battalion. Quickly organizing a platoon of riflemen, First Lieutenant Cribb led the Soldiers to a vantage point from which they could effectively fire on the hostile forces, divert fire, and cover the withdrawal of the harassed company. Inspiring his men by his personal example of courage and determination, First Lieutenant Cribb maintained the posi- tion so that approximately 300 men could extricate themselves from the hazardous position. The battalion had entered the fight with 757 Soldiers; records show that 307 men were killed in action and 132 men were wounded, indicating that First Lieutenant Cribb's quick actions were instrumental in preventing further causalities. On 19 Sep- tember 1950, First Lieutenant Cribb was awarded the Silver Star Medal. Because of the extreme casualties, 3d Battalion was recognized as combat-ineffective and was dissolved and M Company was attached to the 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On 17 August, less than a month later, First Lieutenant Cribb again distinguished himself by gallantry in action against an armed enemy near Tabu Dong, north of Taegu, known to the men who fought there as the "Bowling Alley." Company M was supporting the 27th Infantry Regiment in defensive positions astride the regimental main supply route. At 1500 hours, the outer boundary of the perimeter was subjected to heavy mortar concentrations, followed by a merciless hail of small-arms fire. Look- ing to the rear, First Lieutenant Cribb observed that a reinforced company of North Korean infantry had effected a partial break- through, grabbed key terrain, and attempted to cut off a vital supply route. Disregarding personal safety, Cribb moved about the fire-swept impact area, reorganized his command for maximum defense, and directed a holding action. He skillfully adjusted mortar fire to bear on the advancing foe and was instrumental in wiping out two hostile mortar positions and inflicting numerous casualties. As enemy action increased in volume and intensity, he ran across open ground and organized adjacent machine guns and directed fields of fire. He then organized and led a determined counterattack that routed the enemy away from key terrain, with approximately 100 enemy dead and wounded. For his actions, First Lieutenant Cribb later received his second Silver Star Medal award on 16 October 1956. On 4 September 1950, he was promoted to captain, Army United States. Lieutenant Colonel Cribb served the rest of his career with the Chemical Corps. His duties included instructor, assistant chief, and chief of the Department of Military Science and Tactics, Chemical School, Fort McClellan, Alabama; assistant and chief of facilities, Headquarters, Army Chemical Center, Edgewood, Maryland; and chemical staff officer in Turkey. In addition to the Silver Star Medal with oak-leaf cluster, Cribb received a Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart with seven oak- leaf clusters, and Combat Infantry Badge. He held expert marksman qualifications with the rifle, carbine, and machine gun and sharpshooter qualification with the pistol. He obtained a bachelor's degree in military science and a master of art degree in industrial management from the University of Maryland, College Park, and was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In retire- ment, he served as principal at Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City, Alabama, and as president of the Hillabee Brick Company and the Cribb Construction Company. Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Cribb passed away at the age of 49 on 13 August 1973. Army Chemical Review