50 years ago today - 24 Sep 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

September 24

About four AM, the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry launched an attack toward 
the Han River.  This attacked caught the North Korean's asleep and the 1st 
Battalion quickly overran enemy positions, capturing a regimental 
headquarters along with tanks and equipment.  In the next few hours, the 
2nd battalion cleared all North Koreans from a fold in the Han River 
southeast of Seoul setting the stage for attack on Seoul the following day.

North of the Han River the Marines continued the attacks on the enemy-held 
hills defending the western approaches to the city.  After a day of heavy 
fighting the Marines captured Hills 66 and 296, thus partially opening the 
way into Seoul..

Meanwhile the 3rd Battalion, 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment arrived at 
Kimpo after being flown a from Japan.  On arrival, it assumed 
responsibility for the airfield.

In the Suwon area, a North Korean tank-infantry force attacked 31st 
Infantry positions two miles south of the city.  The attack was defeated 
with the North Koreans losing 4 T-34 tanks.

In the 25th Division area, the 27th Infantry advanced toward Chinju along 
the southern coast road while the 35th Infantry advance to the Nam River.

In the 2nd Division sector, the 23rd Infantry attacked Hyopch'on from the 
southeast while the 38th Infantry attacked the town from the northeast in a 
double envelopment movement.  By blocking the north-south Chinju-Kumch'on 
road, the 38th Infantry cut off at least two enemy battalions so when these 
battalions fled Hyopch'on to escape from the advancing 23rd Infantry, they 
ran into preregistered killzone the 38th had established.  The North 
Koreans lost approximately 300 killed at the roadblock while several 
hundred more killed on the road by air attack.  Survivors ran for the hills 
and in doing so became targets for repeated strikes by F-51s supporting the 
advance.

   Meanwhile the 24th Infantry Division attacked up the Taegu-Taejon 
highway, making slow progress against well dug in enemy positions.  The 
advance was stopped 3 miles short of Kumch'on by mines, artillery 
concentrations and the use of every remaining North Korean T-34 in that 
area as the enemy bought time so its forces could retreat northward.

By I Corps orders, 1st Cavalry Division advance troops stopped at Sangju to 
allow the rest of the Division to catch 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