| While the motorcycle is a taken for granted vehicle | | | | later. |
| on the road thesedays, its role as a vehicle in war is | | | | The main shift that took place during the Korean |
| often overlooked. Inthis article, the role of the | | | | War was thereplacement of the motorcycle by the |
| motorcycle is explored in the context ofthe Korean | | | | Jeep in the U.S. Army. Themotorcycle had apparently |
| War and the important role which it played during | | | | been replaced as the preferred vehicle fordifficult |
| thisconflict. | | | | terrain. The introduction of the Jeep was part of |
| Motorcycle manufacturers have a long history of | | | | acomprehensive program the U.S. Introduced to |
| stepping up to theplate and delivering when their | | | | replace aging vehiclesfrom WWI (among which were |
| country is in need. During WWI and | | | | the motorcycle and sidecars). While |
| WWII, manufacturers such as Indian, Harley Davidson | | | | newermotorcycles were certainly used during the |
| and Triumphprovided machines to the military which | | | | Korean War (as noted above),the Jeep replaced it in |
| were equipped to the exact specifications of the | | | | numerous areas where it had formerly |
| Pentagon. Infact, Harley Davidson produced over | | | | knownprominence. |
| 90,000 machines for the U.S.military during WWII | | | | Perhaps the real history of the Korean War and the |
| alone! | | | | motorcycle is onethat will not be found by browsing |
| Early in the Korean War (August 1950), at least 45 | | | | through the history books or lookingup dry numbers |
| motorcycles weredestroyed during an abortive | | | | such as how many motorcycles were used in this or |
| attempt to retreat. No, theseweren't Harleys that | | | | thatraid for this or that purpose. The real history - |
| were captured - they were | | | | the humanhistory, may be summed up in the story |
| North Koreanmotorcycles captured by the U.S. 25th | | | | of Mark Nozzolillo and his Honda |
| Division, 3rd Battalion, 5th | | | | Shadow. This is a picture of Mark's father, Vince. |
| Marines. In fact, the newly formed North Korean | | | | Vince is a veteran of the Korean War who lost a |
| Army (aided and trainedby the Soviets and Chinese) | | | | friend on thebattlefield in August of 1950. So shocked |
| had among its 90,000 men an entiremotorcycle | | | | to see his buddy'sbodybeing carried out, the young |
| reconnaissance regiment. On this particular day, | | | | man (then 20 years old) turned to hisfirst sergeant |
| however,the motorcycles met their match in the | | | | and clung to him in an almost fetal position, |
| Corsairs that swooped down onthem with their | | | | sobbinguncontrollably. Nozzolillo himself said he "just |
| 20mm guns and rocket attacks. | | | | wentnuts"when he saw the sight. His son took the |
| On the North Korean side, the North Korean Army | | | | old photograph (first publishedin 1955) and had it |
| (NKA) used motorcyclesequipped with saddlebags [ | | | | airbrushed to the gas tank of his Honda. |
| When the NKA took over Seoul in July of 1950, the | | | | The story here is one of the tragedies of war that |
| 12th | | | | we must allremember, and the tribute a father paid |
| Motorcycle Regiment secured key crossroads at | | | | to his son. That this tributewas paid on airbrushed |
| Ch'ungju thathelped secure the central region and | | | | motorcycle is something all motorcycleenthusiasts can |
| allow the NKA to capture the city. | | | | be proud of. It's a memory that Mark willhaveevery |
| On the allied side, the 17th Motorcycle regiment | | | | time he rides his bike. |
| assisted in routingthe NKA out of Seoul a short time | | | | |