50 years ago today - 20 Sep 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

September 20

After a heavy artillery preparation against Hill 125, I Company, 5th 
Marines, began the assault crossing at 6:45 AM.  Enemy fire from automatic 
weapons and small arms on Hill 125 caused heavy casualties to I Company 
Marines.  Despite the casualties, I Company secured Hill 125 by 9:40 
AM.  While this battle was going on other 3rd battalion Marines, riding 
LVT’s, cross the Han River encountering little or no resistance so continue 
north for about a mile cutting the Seoul-Kaesong railroad and the road at 
the village of Nung-dong.  Here the attacking 3rd Battalion Marines turned 
right and the Southeast along the railroad track towards Seoul.  Meanwhile, 
the 2nd battalion, 5th Marines, followed the 3rd battalion across the river 
with the whole battalion across by 10 AM.  Even before the 3rd battalion 
had completed crossing engineers began construction on pontoon bridge.  The 
2nd battalion passed through the 3rd battalion and continued the 
advance.  By nightfall the 5th Marines with 12 tanks were across the river.

On the south side of the Han River the 1st Marines, relieved by the 32nd 
Infantry Regiment the previous evening, had shifted northeast at that time 
to occupy the hills formerly held by the 5th Marines.  Company A took up 
positions on Hill 118.  However the 1st Battalion failed to occupy Hills 80 
and 85. During the night North Korean forces occupied Hills 80 and 85, then 
the counterattacked Hill 118 shortly before dawn.  The attack was repulsed 
and the 1st Battalion advanced toward Yongdongp’o.  A bloody battle ensued 
as the Marines retook Hills 80 and 85.  Simultaneous with the North Korean 
attack Hill 118 a battalion sized North Korean force, accompanied by 5 T-34 
tanks, moved out of Yongdongp’o and advanced toward 1st Marine positions on 
the highway west of the city.  In the battle that ensued when the North 
Koreans met the Marines the North Korean force was annihilated.  When the 
battle was over the 1st Marines continued their advance toward Yongdongp’o 
and by 9:45 AM occupied the high ground on the west side of the city.  They 
remained in their positions for the rest of the day while artillery and air 
attacks pounded enemy positions within Yongdongp’o.

As the 1st Marines fought its way along the Inchon-Seoul highway and into 
to Yongdongp’o, the 7th Infantry Division protected its right flank and 
engaged in the units moving toward the battle area from the south.  During 
the day the 32nd infantry Regiment captured T’ongdok Mountain and part of 
Copper Mine Hill, located approximately two miles south of Yongdongp’o and 
just northeast of Anyang-ni.

In the 1st Cavalry sector, the 5th RCT continued its attack, taking Hill 
303 north of Waegwan and clearing all the ground within its area of 
responsibility, thus achieving all it objectives on the east side of the 
Naktong. Then, at 7:45 PM, the 1st Battalion, 5th RCT, began crossing the 
river a mile above the Waegwan railroad bridge.  The crossing went smoothly 
and the 1st Battalion was followed by the 2nd Battalion.  By midnight both 
battalions were across and dug in on the high ground on the west side of 
the Naktong.  Meanwhile, the 1st & 2nd Battalions, 7th Cavalry, advanced up 
the Waegwan – Tabu-dong road (which looped north of the mountains held by 
the North Koreans) with  the advance slowed by mines and enemy road 
blocks.  Despite this the battalions reached Togae-dong that afternoon, 4 
miles short of Tabu-dong.

During the day, the British 27th Brigade crossed the Naktong, using the 
same site used by the 19th
Infantry.  It was across by late afternoon.  Thus, the entire 24th Infantry 
Division was now on the west side of the Naktong.

To the south of the 24th Division, about two hours before dawn the 3rd 
Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, crossed the 
Naktong River at the Sangp’o ferry site, just south of where the Sinban 
River enters the Naktong from the west.  The battalion achieved complete 
surprise, capturing a North Korean battalion headquarters, complete with 
its staff, and their maps. By noon the battalion had captured Hill 227, the 
terrain feature commanding the crossing site.  That after the 1st 
Battalion, 23rd Infantry crossed the Naktong, turned north and advanced 
toward Hill 207, their objective, which they took.

In the 25th Division area the 35th Infantry took the high ground 
overlooking Chungam-ni.  Meanwhile, on the southern flank, the 27th 
Infantry was engaged in a bitter battle against a well-dug in enemy, making 
little or no gains for the day.

On the east coast, the 3rd ROK Division finally captured P’ohang-dong and 
began advancing toward Hunghae.

At Pusan, the Swedish Red Cross Field Hospital arrived and began setting up.

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