50 years ago today - 29 July 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

July 29, 1950

The attack on the 34th Infantry Regiment at Koch'ang began around 4 
a.m.  One North Korean force struck from the north and cut of "I" Company 
while a second North Korean force circled north of the town, then southward 
and cut the road east of Koch'ang.  The 1st Battalion repulsed this attack, 
then withdrew without orders to secondary positions three miles east of 
Koch'ang.  A short time later the 3rd Battalion also withdrew from 
Koch'ang, leaving "I" Company.  After daylight the 1st Battalion returned 
and rescued most of "I" Company except for one platoon which was either 
killed or captured.  The regiment then withdrew to new positions 15 miles 
to the east near the town of Sanje on the Hyopch'on road.  As they 
withdrew, engineers destroyed all bridges and blew cliffs to block the 
road.  Alarmed by the loss of Koch'ang, 8th Army ordered the 17th ROK 
Regiment to Sanje and the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry from the 
Yongdok-P'ohang-dong area on the east coast to Hyopch'ong where it took up 
positions back of the 34th .

At Umyong-ni, the 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry, commander did not learn of 
the disaster at Anui until early morning.  By this time what was left of 
the 1st Battalion and mixed force of ROKA/ROKMC units was under 
attack.  These forces withdrew towards Sanch'ong, a town about 20 miles 
north of Chinju, after dark.

2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry withdraws to new positions 2 miles north of 
Sangju while the 27th Infantry is ordered into Army reserve at Waegwan on 
the Naktong River.  After the 27th had withdrawn through 1st Cavalry 
positions, the 1st Cavalry began withdrawing to new positions near 
Kumch'on, an important road junction 30 air miles northeast of Taegu.  The 
8th Cavalry took up a position astride the Sangju road, the 5th Cavalry 
astride the Chirye road and the 7th Cavalry astride the Yongdong road six 
miles northwest of 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
PGP public key available on request