50 years ago today - 5 Sep 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

September 5, 1950

In the Naktong Bulge area the North Koreans launched a furious 
counterattack against the 9th Infantry at dawn.  The attack was beaten back 
with heavy casualties on both sides but the advance  continued, both in the 
9th Infantry sector and the 5th Marine sector.  That night at midnight the 
Marines began leaving their positions in the Naktong Bulge for Pusan where 
they were to board waiting transports.  Meanwhile the enemy was finally 
cleared from the hills to the west of the 38th Infantry CP and a relief 
force made contact with the cut-off 1st Battalion at Changnyong.

In the 35th Infantry sector south of the Nam River, the 2nd Battalion, 27th 
Infantry, had received a supply drop of ammunition so began its attack 
again.  By dusk it had cleared North Korean troops from the road and hills 
overlooking the supply road.  Meanwhile in the 24th Infantry sector the 3rd 
Battalion turned its attack toward Haman and drove through to the 24th 
Infantry CP there. While clean up operations continued for several more 
days, the offensive against the 35th Infantry sector had been defeated but 
fighting continued in the 24th Infantry sector and is about to begin in the 
5th Infantry sector to the south as the enemy shifts its attack in that 
direction.

At P'ohang-dong on the east coast North Koreans break through ROK lines and 
occupy the town.  Meanwhile the U.S. 24th Infantry Division is ordered to 
Kyongju. Meanwhile, to the northwest of Kyongju, other North Korean troops 
break through ROK lines north of Yongch'on, (on the important 
Taegu-P'ohang-dong corridor) entering the town that evening.

In the 1st Cavalry Division sector, the 5th & 7th Cavalry Regiments are 
ordered to withdraw to south and east, thus leaving Waegwan and hills to 
north and east of there in North Korean hands once they 
withdraw..  Meanwhile 8th Army and ROK Army Headquarters relocate from 
Taegu to Pusan. On Ka-san, in the 8th Cavalry sector, the North Koreans 
again attack "D" Company, 8th Combat Engineer Battalion positions on Hill 
755.  The attack is repulsed.  About 10 a.m. the advance platoon, "E" 
Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, arrive at the summit of Hill 755 and 
join the engineers but by early afternoon the engineers and infantry are 
driven from the summit and withdraw to their units south of the Tabu-dong area.

At the northern end of 2nd Division area the British 27th Brigade replaces 
the 3rd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, which has been holding this area 
in the southernmost 1st Cavalry Division area.

Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, OK, 74523
Life Member: Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
Web site: http://www.korean-war.com