50 years ago today - 22 Sep 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

September 22

Early on the morning of the 22nd, the 1st Marine Division issued orders for 
the capture of Seoul.  Under this plan the 1st Marines would attack across 
the Han River from Yongdongp'o while the 7th Marines would cross the Han 
River via the same crossing point used by the 5th Marines and then deploy 
north of 5th Marine positions, thus forming a line for a three regiment 
assault on the Seoul.  Meanwhile, units of the 5th Marines engaged in heavy 
fighting at the western edge of the city, making little or no progress.

Shortly after midnight four North Korean T-34 tanks attacked 7th Division 
Reconnaissance Company positions three miles south of Suwon.  In this 
encounter two T-34 tanks were destroyed.  The remainder of the night was 
fairly quiet and shortly after dawn Reconnaissance Company proceeded to 
Suwon Airfield where it was joined at approximately 10 AM by Task Force 
Hannum.  Later that afternoon the 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry 
Division, arrived at Suwon Airfield and relieved the two units.  Meanwhile, 
a number of small battles took place between the 1st Battalion, 32nd 
Infantry and North Korean units seven miles northeast of Anyang-ni. In 
these the 1st Battalion secured the hills south of the Han River railroad 
and highway bridges.

In the Pusan Perimeter sector, the North Koreans counterattacked the 1st 
Battalion, 23rd Infantry, positions on the Sinban-ni road.  The day-long 
battle ended in a stalemate.  To the north, the 38th Infantry took 
Ch'ogye.  Meanwhile the 9th Infantry began crossing the Naktong, leaving 
its 2nd Battalion on the east side of the river to mop, or contain, enemy 
still on that side of the river..

In the 1st Cavalry Division sector, the division organized Task Force 777 
consisting the 7th Cavalry Regiment, the 77th Field Artillery Battalion, 
and the 70th Tank Battalion.  Led by the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, Task 
Force 777 jumped off from just west of Tabu-dong and advanced against 
occasional organized resistance as it sped toward the river crossing at the 
Sonsan Ferry.  After the task force had turned on to the river road at the 
village of Kumgok, it was ordered to proceed on to Kaktong-ni and cross 
there.   It arrived just before midnight and was fired on by an antitank 
gun, which was destroyed.  However, during this exchange a shell from one 
of the tanks hit a North Korean ammunition truck, which exploded lighting 
up the night.  By the light of exploding shells the task force saw hundreds 
of enemy in the water trying to cross the Naktong as well as a jungle of 
abandoned tanks, trucks and artillery pieces.  It immediately opened fire, 
killing an estimated 200 North Korean troops in the water and capturing 
another 200 plus.

In the mountains north and west of Taegu, the 1st ROK Division, augmented 
by National Police units, continued their advance south and took the Walled 
City on Ka-san (Hill 903,) then continued to clean out enemy pockets on 
that mountain and from surrounding hills.
To the east, the ROK Capital Division took Kigye and advanced toward 
Andong.  On the east coast the 3rd ROK Division captured Hunghae, driving 
the North Korean 5th Division northward toward Yongdok.

For all intents and purposes, the Battle of the Pusan Perimeter was over.

The 65th Infantry Regiment, from Puerto Rico, arrived at Pusan and began 
unloading.


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