50 years ago today - 2 Sep 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

September 2, 1950

In the Naktong Bulge area units of the 9th Infantry, cut off during the 
enemy advance, continued to fight.  The most notable was the stand by 
survivors from “B” Company plus those from heavy weapons companies “D” and 
“H” on Hill 209, the hill overlooking the where the Yongsan—Naktong River 
road ended at a ferry crossing on the Naktong River.  Totaling about 70 men 
and 5 officers, the small American force held the hill against repeated 
North Korean infantry attacks.  As ammunition got low, men would venture 
out to where enemy dead lay and retrieve their weapons, ammunition, food 
and water.  Failing to take the hill, the North Koreans resorted to 
observed and registered mortar fire.  The mortar barrage started about 4 
p.m. and continued until dark when the North Koreans again launched 
infantry attacks.  All were beaten back by the defenders.

At Yongsan, the engineers, tankers and reconnaissance company continued to 
hold the hills north, east and south of the town.  About 2 a.m. an outpost 
notified “D” Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, that a long line of 
white civilian clothes-clad men was moving toward their 
position.  Challenged when the approached, the white-clad figures opened 
fire on “D” Company.  A short sharp battle ensued with the enemy being 
driven back with heavy casualties.  The white clothing made good 
targets.  Shortly there after the North Koreans launched a tank-let attack 
against “D” Company, 2nd Engineers.  This fight lasted until about 11 a.m. 
before being driven off.  Around 3 p.m. “F” & “G” Companies, 9th Infantry 
launched a tank-supported counterattack through 2nd Engineer Battalion 
positions and on into Yongsan, retaking the town after a series of short, 
sharp battles.  During these battles a number of T-34 tanks and Su-76 SP 
artillery guns were destroyed by American tank fire and engineer Bazooka 
teams.  By evening North Korean forces had been driven back into the hills 
to the west of the town.  At this point the 5th Marines were ordered to 
Yongsan while the 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Division was ordered to the 
Susan-ni area some 8 air miles south of Miryang.

Meanwhile, in the 2nd Division area, the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry had 
been cut off in the Changnyong area.  Since the battalion had good 
defensive positions astride a road the North Koreans needed to sustain 
their advance, the battalion commander requested, and received, permission 
to defend his battalion’s present location.

In the 35th Regiment, 25th Division area, the regiment continued to hold 
its blocking positions against repeated North Korean attacks but a platoon 
from “G” Company did lose their outpost position after an all day fight 
which saw the platoon reduced from 40 men and one officer to 29 men, 17 of 
whom were wounded, 11 seriously. The 29 did make it safely into “G” Company 
positions about midnight.  Meanwhile, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry began an 
attack toward “G” Company, 35th Infantry area.  At same time the 3rd 
Battalion, 27th Infantry (still technically the 3rd Battalion, 29th 
Infantry) is ordered to clear the road and hills east of 24th Infantry 
positions in the Sibidang Mountain.

In the P’ohang-dong - Kigye area, “K” Company, 2nd Battalion, 21st Infantry 
and a platoon of tanks attack well dug in North Koreans on Hill 99, located 
northwest of P’ohang-dong. The attack fails with heavy loses including 2 
tanks from the 6th Medium Tank Battalion.

At 10 a.m. following a 37 minute bombing, napalming and strafing attack by 
UN aircraft and a massive artillery barrage on Hill 518 the 1st Battalion, 
7th Cavalry attack up the hill but are stopped short of the crest before 
noon by heavy enemy fire from Hill 518 and from nearby Hill 490.  The 1st 
Battalion withdrew down Hill 518 and that afternoon attacked and take Hill 
490.  Meanwhile in the Tabu-dong—Ka-san Walled City area the North Koreans 
attacked and overran the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment positions on 
Hill 448, located 2 miles west of the Bowling Alley and 2 miles north of 
Tabu-dong.  The 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry withdrew through 3d Battalion 
positions at Tabu-dong.
Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, OK, 74523
Life Member: Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
Web site: http://www.korean-war.com