50 years ago today - 13 July 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

July 13, 1950

By the morning of 13 July, the 24th Division was in defensive positions 
along the south bank of the Kum River on at Taejon and Taep'yong-ni.  As 
soon as the last troops were south of the river engineers blew all road and 
railroad bridges crossing the Kum while the 24th Reconnaissance Company 
fanned out along the Kum's south bank, destroying all ferries and 
flat-bottomed boats. The front now extended from Taejon,  northeast to 
Ch'ongju, and across the Taebaek Mountains P'yonghae-ri on the east 
coast.  In the Taejon-Kongju area the 24th Division was deployed with the 
24th Reconnaissance Company watching principle river crossings west of 
Kongju, the 34th Infantry at Kongju, the newly arrived 19th Infantry 
Regiment at Taejon, and the badly mauled 21st Infantry Regiment in blocking 
position southeast of Taejon.   The 21st was down to a total strength of 
approximately 1100 men, having 1,433 men missing-in-action during the first 
week of fighting. At Kongju the 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment was 
on the high ground around Kongju astride the Kongju-Nonsan road.  On the 
line from left to right were "L." "I," and "K" Companies, with the heavy 
mortars of "M" (Heavy Weapons) Company behind them.

Also on the 13th, 8th Army Headquarters, under command of Lt. Gen. Walton 
Walker, is established at Taegu.  At the same time ROK Army Headquarters is 
moved to Taegu.
Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, OK, 74523
Author: DARKMOON: Eighth Army Special Operations in the Korean War
Member:  American Society of Journalists and Authors
Life Member: Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
Co-list owner: KOREAN-WAR-L  Web site: http://www.korean-war.com