50 years ago today - 17 Sep 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

September 17

And dawn broke, "D" Company, 5th Marines, saw six tanks on the road to 
their east.  As the enemy armored force moved past undetected "D" Company 
positions a bazooka knocked out one of the tanks.  At the same time, 
Pershing tanks opened fire on the enemy T-34 tanks, destroying the 
remaining five while "D" Company Marines opened fire on enemy infantry who 
were escorting the tanks.  In a matter of minutes approximately 200 enemy 
soldiers, of an estimated 250, were killed while the Marine loss was one 
Marine wounded.  Following this battle the 5th Marines advanced rapidly 
toward Kimpo airfield and were at its southern edge my 4 PM.  In the next 
two hours the 5th Marines seized the southern half of the 
airfield.  Meanwhile the 1st  Marines advanced east along the Seoul highway 
toward Yongdongp'o. During this advance, its armored spearhead destroyed 
for North Korean T-34 tanks.  Three miles west of Sosa, a town halfway 
between Inchon and Seoul, the 1st Marine advance was slowed by a North 
Korean Regiment so at nightfall the Marine regiment dug in a mile west of Sosa.

In Pusan Perimeter, the 2nd Division continued its mop-up in their area of 
North Korean on the east of the Naktong River. By evening they had secured 
the west bank of the Naktong and prepared cross the following day.  During 
this advance they captured a large amount of North Korean equipment and 
supplies.  The North Koreans did not attempt a single counterattack during 
this time.  Meanwhile the 2nd Battalion, 5th RCT, the regimental point, 
advanced slowly toward Waegwan against heavy resistance.

In the Masan area a battalion task force from the 35th Infantry Regiment, 
25th Division, attacked enemy positions on Battle Mountain in an attempt to 
drive the enemy from this commanding terrain.  This attack failed and a new 
task force using the 27th Infantry was organized.

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