50 years ago today - 27 July 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

July 27, 1950

About daybreak, 1st Battalion, 27th , 25th Division, came under attack from 
the gap on its left flank.  It lost and regained its positions several 
times during the day but managed to hold on.

At Hoengch'on-ni, the 3rd Battalion, 29th Infantry began moving up toward 
the pass between
there and Hadong at approximately 8:45 a.m.  "L" Company arrived at pass at 
approximately 9: 45 a.m and began digging in.  The battalion command group 
and group of ROKA officers,  including General Chae Byong Duk (former Chief 
of Staff, ROKA) gathered at the pass so they could watch an airstrike that 
had been called in on Hadong.  As the watched, a company of North Korean 
infantry was seen coming up the road from the Hadong side.  At about 100 
yards away, "L" company opened fire.  Simultaneously, mortar and 
machine-gun fire from unsuspected North Korean positions on high ground 
about 200 yards to the north of the pass began impacting where the command 
group was.  General Chae was killed instantly while the 3rd Battalion 
Commander, XO, S-2 and assisted S-2 were wounded.  The fight lasted until 
about noon when the battalion was ordered to withdraw but found the way cut 
off by North Koreans who were dug in to the rear.  Very few made it to 
safety and the 3rd Battalion, 29th ceased to exist as a fighting unit.

Meanwhile, the 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry was sent north from Chinju to 
the Anui area to relieve the 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry which returned to 
Chinju.  Farther to the north, the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Division 
was in dug in at Koch'ang, a town about half way between Chinju and Kumch'on.

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 (ASJA)
Life Member:  Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
Co-list owner: KOREAN-WAR-L   Web site:  http://www.korean-war.com
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