50 years ago today - 7 Aug 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

August 7, 1950

Overnight the enemy succeeded in bringing more troops across the Naktong, 
reinforcing  troops already in the Naktong Bulge.  During the morning the 
North Koreans managed to occupy most of Cloverleaf Hill and Obong-ni Ridge 
to the south of Soesil.  A counterattack by the 19th about midmorning on 
Cloverleaf Hill and Obong-ni failed.

To the south the 35th Regiments attack got off to a good start but about 3 
miles from The Notch ran into a North Korean battalion supported by tanks 
which was apparently moving into position to mount an attack.  After a 
5-hour battle the North Korean battalion was routed and the 35th Regiment's 
attack continued so by dusk were on the high ground above the Much'on-ni 
road fork.  In the 24th Regiment sector, things did not go well and by 
evening, the enemy still held its positions in the Sobuk Mountain area.  In 
the 5th RCT area, things did not go well either.  After reaching the road 
junction, instead of continuing west on the Chinju road, somehow the lead 
battalion turned south down the road allotted to the 1st Marine Brigade and 
by noon was on a hill mass 3 miles south of the road fork. As a result, the 
hill northwest of the junction, where the 5th RCT battalion was supposed to 
be, remained unoccupied.  The North Koreans took advantage of this mistake 
and attacked, cutting off "F" Company, 5th RCT on "Fox Hill."  Meanwhile 
below this position, a general melee developed between the 5th Marine 
Regiment, elements of the 5th RCT and even a few units from the 27th 
Infantry, and attacking North Koreans. The enemy attack was beaten off by 
mid-afternoon and the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment attacked up "Fox 
Hill" to relieve "F" Company, 5th RCT.  The attack failed.  Meanwhile 
another North Korean force had circled around Chindong-ni and occupied a 
hill just east of there.  This enemy position blocked the Main Supply Route 
(MSR) from Masan.  Late that afternoon troops from 2nd Battalion, 24th 
Regiment and 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment attack the roadblock but 
the attack failed.
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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