50 years ago today -- 15 Sep 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

                                 THE SITUATION


On the morning of September 15, 1950, heavy fighting continued in the 1st 
Cavalry Division sector of the “Pusan Perimeter” north and west of 
Taegu.  To the south in the 2nd Infantry Division “Naktong Bulge” sector, 
pockets of survivors from 2 North Korean divisions, who had crossed the 
Naktong early in the month, were being slowly reduced and the Naktong River 
Defense Line restored.  Farther to the south in the 25th Division sector 
heavy, see-saw fighting continued in the Sibidang Mountain, Battle Mountain 
& Sobuk Mountain area west of Masan.  On the northern Pusan Perimeter front 
ROK troops, augmented by U.S. artillery, armor and, in some places, 
infantry, battled along a rough east-west line stretching through high 
hills and mountains from P’ohang-dong on the east coast to a few miles 
north of Yongch’on — located 15 miles east of Taegu.  Overall, the “Great 
North Korean September Offensive” had been stopped and UN forces were 
slowly regaining lost ground in most sectors but were stalled in 
some.  Within the Pusan perimeter, two Army Corps had been formed – U.S. I 
Corps at Taegu which consisted of the 1st Cavalry Division, the 5th 
Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division, the British 27th Brigade 
plus the 1st ROK Division and U.S. IX Corps at Miryang, consisting of the 
2nd & 25th Infantry Divisions.

Meanwhile, and as a prelude to the landing at Inch’on, U.S. X Corps had 
been organized in Japan.  X Corps consisted of, the 1st U.S. Marine 
Division, which had sailed from Kobe on 11 September, the 7th U.S. Infantry 
Division, which had also sailed from Yokohama on 11 September, and the 17th 
ROK Infantry Regiment which had sailed from Pusan.  Two days later, on 13 
September, a Navy gunfire support group sailed up Flying Fish Channel and 
began shelling Wolmi-do, an 335-foot high island at the northwestern mouth 
of Inch’on Harbor and connected to the mainland by a causeway. As early as 
4 September aircraft the U.S. Navy Task Force 77 had begun bombing and 
strafing North Korean positions on Wolmi-do.

Extremes tides at Inch’on, which can rise and fall as much 32 feet in a 
12-1/2 hour period, dictated the landing schedule for the Inch’on Invasion 
because at low tide mud flats extend from hundreds of yards to miles 
offshore.  Thus the only time troops could land was from about 2 hours 
before high tide through about 2 hours after high tide.  Because of this it 
was decided the first objective to be taken on “D” Day was Wolmi-do, which 
then could be used as a fire base
against enemy positions in and around Inch’on itself.  The landing on 
Wolmi-do would take place shortly before high tide on the early morning of 
15 September.  The landing at Inch’on proper would then take place in the 
afternoon beginning 3 hours before high tide.


September 15

At 6:33 a.m., following an intense air, rocket and naval gunfire 
bombardment, landing craft carrying the first wave of Marines from the 3rd 
Battalion Landing Team (BLT,) 5th Marine Regiment, reached “Green Beach,” 
located on the north arm of Wolmi-do and the first amphibious assault by 
American forces against an enemy since 1 April 1945 at Okinawa was 
underway.  The initial landing was unopposed and the Marines quickly moved 
inland against scattered and very light resistance.  A half or so after the 
initial landing a group of Marines raised the American flag on the peak of 
the island although light, scattered fighting continued for several more 
hours.  3rd Battalion casualties for this operation were 17 wounded.  North 
Koreans defenders lost over 200 KIA while another 136 surrendered.  Once 
Wolmi-do was secure the 3rd Marine BLT took up defensive positions facing 
Inch’on and prepared to support the main landing later in the day.

Assault troops from the 5th and 1st Marines began going over the side of 
their attack transports and into landing craft at 3:30 p.m.  The first wave 
of the 5th Marine’s reached the seawall of Red Beach at 5:33 p.m.  A 
Company, 5th Marines, encountered in the troops in the trenches and a 
bunker just beyond the seawall.  An intense firefight ensued.  The Marines 
lost 8  men killed and 28 wounded.  However, 22 minutes after landing the 
company fired a flare signaling that it held Cemetery Hill, its first 
objective.  Meanwhile, the 2nd battalion, 5th Marines, had landed on the 
right side of Red Beach, encountered only spotty resistance and gained its 
objective.

Assault elements of the 1st Marines began landing over Blue Beach at 5:32 
PM., and advanced to the Inchon- Seoul highway.  By midnight, all first-day 
objectives had been obtained.

Far to the south in the Pusan Perimeter heavy fighting in the 1st Cavalry 
Division sector continue at all points north and west of Taegu in a 
confused series of small and medium battles but the division held against 
enemy counterattacks and made small gains.

While the Inch’on Landing was in progress, a second landing was taking 
place at Changsa-dong on the east coast north 20 miles north of 
P’ohang-dong and was being made by the Miryang Guerrilla Battalion, an 
irregular South Korean unit made up of men from North Korea. The idea 
behind this landing was to place a roadblock on the only road supplying 
North Korean 3rd Division troops fighting a few miles north of 
P’ohang-dong.  The landing was successful but high seas drove the LST 
carrying the unit aground and broached the ROK Navy vessel.  The attacking 
force made it to the low hills north and west of the town before the North 
Koreans could react, but react they did.  By afternoon the guerrillas were 
under fire from higher ground to their north, south and west and were 
forced to withdraw back toward the beached LST and set up a perimeter in 
the sand dunes between the road and the beach.

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
Web site:  http://www.korean-war.com