Cold War Operation Surf Board Amphibious Landing 38th RCT San Luis Obispo 1955

Description

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Estate sale find, vintage original collage photo of
Operation Surf Board, the FTX Amphibious Landing on the California Coast
, 1955,
displays
nicely
.
San Simeon was invaded by the U.S. Army and Navy on March 21, 1955, during a military training exercise called Operation Surf Board.
Operation Surf Board, which was watched by thousands of spectators. Roughly one sixth of county residents turned out to witness the event.
Fortunately, only simulated atomic weapons were used. To put that military exercise in context, the Korean War had reached armistice only 20 months earlier.
The Battle of Inchon, fought less than five years earlier, was a key amphibious landing that had reversed momentum of the Korean War.
American and United Nations forces had been in retreat, until General Douglas MacArthur used his experience with amphibious invasions during World War II to turn the tables on the North Korean army.
With these words, uttered over a loudspeaker, the first landing craft filled with U.S. infantrymen dropped its ramp on the beach, and the mammoth “Operation Surf Board” was underway.
Nearly 10,000 spectators were on hand to watch the spectacular maneuver—truly a “battle” and not a “show” to the thousands of army and navy men participating. Some of the crowd had assembled as early as yesterday, but at that time there was little to be seen. But at dawn today—a clear, beautiful morning—the ocean was teaming with landing craft of every description.
The photo measures approximately 8" X 11.5",  shipping weight approximately 4 ounces.
PLEASE SEE DESCRIPTION AND PHOTOS FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS - The photo is in overall  Fair to Good Minus used condition with signs of wear, soiling, stains, age toning, fading, tears, creases, writing, no odors, please see images.
(C1A15-106)