An observation on the first 30 days of the Korean War

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

After doing a detailed study of the first 30 days of the Korean War
I noticed one interesting item.  Of all the units fed piecemeal into
the maul, only the 27th Infantry (Wolfhounds) did well in their
first fight and continued to do so.  Looking for a key to this I've
decided the reason they did sprang from their first day.  A 30-man
patrol from the 1st Battalion, 27th, went looking the enemy on the
first night the battalion and regiment took up positions.  They saw
  very large column of NK troops coming down the road just south of
Poun, SK.  Instead of running, the patrol leader set up an ambush and
successfully decimated the lead and much of following company.  The enemy,
thinking they had run into a strong US force, pulled back and began their
standard envelopment.  While the did this, the patrol pulled back to
battalion lines, where the word of the successful ambush spread throughout
the regiment.  The next day an overwhelming NK  force attacked and was
held at bay by the 1st Battalion throughout the day but withdrew through
2nd Battalion lines after dark to keep from being enveloped during the night.
The next morning when the sun came up, two battalions of North Koreans
were between the former 1st Battalion positions and the 2nd Battalion going
up the reverse slope of the former 1st Battalion positions or in the open 
ground
in between.  The 2nd Bn, 27th and supporting weapons wiped both battalions out.

It looks to me like the ambush by the patrol set the tone for the men of 
the regiment
since it proved to them the enemy could be beaten and this carried on for 
the rest
of the war for the Wolfhounds.

Comments anyone?

Ed (who was not a Wolfhound.)

Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, OK, 74523-0916
Member: American Society of Journalists and Authors
Life Member: Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
Co-List owner:  KOREAN-WAR-L (listproc@ukans.edu)
Web site:  http://www.korean-war.com