50 years ago today -- 8 Sep 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

September 8, 1950

In the Changnyong  area the North Koreans launched a desperate, all-out 
attack against the 23rd Infantry which was now defending this 
terrain.  Fighting continued throughout the day and into the night in a 
see-saw battle in which both sides suffered heavy casualties.  But in the 
end, the 23rd still held its positions and the North Korean 2nd Infantry 
Division had been virtually destroyed.

In the Waegwan area, the 5th Cavalry is driven from its positions 3 miles 
east of the town and withdraws to a new defense line consisting of Hills 
203 and 174.  The North Korean advance is stopped at this point and a 
see-saw battle develops that continues for several days.  The 3rd Battalion 
8th Calvary mount an attack against Hill 570 south of Ka-san.  The attack 
partially succeeds but the crest of Hill 570 remains in North Korean hands.

Fighting between the Capital ROK Division and North Korean forces continued 
in the hills bordering the valley from An'gang-ni to Kyongju.

On Battle Mountain, the 3rd Battalion, 27th Infantry attacked but failed to 
recapture the mountain and a see-saw battle for the mountain developed that 
would continue until September 14.  Meanwhile the 1st & 2nd Battalions, 
27th Infantry went into division reserve while the 5th Infantry was ordered 
into army reserve near the Taegu front.  For all intents the "Great North 
Korean Naktong Offensive" was over in the 25th Division area.

In the Inch'on Approach Island area, USN Lt. Eugene Clark's irregulars take 
Taemuui-do, an island on the north side of Flying Fish Channel and later in 
the day take Yongyu-do in the same area.  Meanwhile National Police forces 
retake several other small islands to the north and south of Flying Fish 
Channel.
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
Life Member: Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
Web site: http://www.korean-war.com