Re: 50 years ago today -- 8 Sep 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

>Keith,

> >>Was there any concern that these operations in the Inchon area would 
> tip off
>the North Koreans?  One has to wonder if the objectives were really worth
>that risk.<<

Yes, there was some concern but FECOM decided the gain was worth the risk.  One
needs to understand these offshore islands were very lightly held by North 
Korean troops
because there too few to go around and that since the war began, except for 
the islands
closest to the mainland, all of these islands had changed hands several 
times.  In other
words, the North Koreans would land on island and drive the small National 
Police or military garrison off, then a short time later the National 
Police, ROK Marines, or some other force, would land and drive the North 
Koreans off.  There also was the fact that by September 1950 UN ships -- 
generally British -- would come up the channel at night to shell Inch'on 
and would take a few pot shots at NK-held islands on their way back out 
before dawn.

The hope was that by using local citizens and National Police the North 
Koreans would assume the series of attacks were simply another local drive 
to clear the islands, not a prelude to invasion.  Also by this time, North 
Korean troops were tied down around the Pusan Perimeter with very few 
troops in the Inch'on area (and these were mainly second echelon) so even 
if they had of suspected an invasion was upcoming, they would have had to 
withdraw units from the front lines and move them north, something very 
difficult for them since all roads and railroads were under air attack from 
dawn to dusk.  When the invasion took place, the North Koreans did pull two 
divisions which were refitting in southwest South Korea and send them 
toward Seoul.  These units were mauled during the trip north and arrived 
several days later when the Marines were already fighting in Seoul and the 
7th Division held the road from Seoul to Pusan as far south as Osan.

Bottom line is:  The gamble paid off.

Regards


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