50 years ago today - 26 Sep 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

September 26

Shortly after dawn the North Koreans attacked 32nd Infantry positions on 
South Mountain.  The attack, for the North Korean regiment, was a 
disaster.  The North Koreans lost 394 killed while another 174 surrendered. 
Meanwhile, to the east, the 3rd Battalion, 32nd was advancing toward Hill 
348 when it spotted a large enemy forces on the highway.  It attacked 
immediately, killing over 500 North Korean soldiers, destroying 5 T-34 
tanks plus artillery.  To the east the 17th ROK Regiment took Hills 348 and 
292 and by evening enemy troops had been cleared from both the 17th ROK and 
32nd Infantry sectors. Meanwhile, in Seoul itself, the Marines were slowly 
clearing the city of enemy in what came to be known as "The Battle of the 
Barricades."  By nightfall, X Corps forces controlled approximately half 
the city.

South of Suwon, the 31st Infantry attacked south toward Osan, advancing to 
where Task Force Smith first engaged the North Koreans on July 5th.  The 
attackers dug in just south of there.

The 38th Infantry, 2nd Division, arrived at Koch'ang shortly after dawn and 
was joined two hours later by advance units from the 23rd 
Infantry.  Repeated air attacks had reduced the town to almost nothing.  In 
Koch'ang, the 38th Infantry captured an enemy field hospital.  That 
afternoon, the 23rd Infantry left for Anui, fourteen miles away, arriving 
at approximately 10:30 PM.

The 19th Infantry, 24th Division, took lead out of Kumch'on and its 2nd 
Battalion entered Yongdong that morning, finding three American prisoners 
locked up in the local jail. The regiment continued on to Okch'on, 10 miles 
east of Taejon, where it stopped briefly to refuel the tanks and give the 
men a short rest.  It started on towards Taejon in mid-afternoon but was 
stopped short distance west of Okch'on when the lead tank hit a mine and 
then was destroyed by hidden antitank guns. The fight continues throughout 
the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening so the division dug in 
for the night.

1st Cavalry Division Task Force 777 left Poun a few minutes before noon, 
advancing rapidly toward Ch'ongju, arriving there around mid-afternoon. 
They encountered no enemy resistance during this trip.   The town was 
deserted except for a few civilians. The task force continued  north on the 
Ch'onan, on the main Seoul highway,  arriving shortly after dark.  The town 
was full of enemy soldiers, most wandering aimless around.  None fired on 
the American unit, now led by tank platoon from the 70th Tank 
Battalion.  After leaving Ch'onan, the three-tank platoon headed north on 
the main highway at full speed and rumbled into Osan passing through the 
city.  The platoon stopped just north of town while the platoon leader 
tried to contact the task force but was unsuccessful.  T-34 tank tracks 
warned the commander the enemy was probably nearby and he decided his best 
course was to try and bull his way through to X Corps lines.  Also 
realizing X Corps would probably fire on his tank as he approached, he 
ordered driving lights be turned on, then proceeded at full speed.  The 
three tanks began receiving small arms fire from enemy troops shortly after 
this, and then small arms fire from U.S. infantry as they passed through 
their lines. Fortunately, having the lights on kept X Corps tanks and 
antitank weapons from firing on them.  He reached 31st Infantry lines at 
10:26 PM..  They were very fortunate since they bulled their way through a 
major North Korean tank force as the approached X Corps lines.  The rest of 
the task force was not so lucky.   They were still 10 miles south of Osan 
when they ran into enemy tanks. In the ensuing battle the task force 
destroyed 7 T-34 tanks but lost 2 KIA, 28 wounded, plus two tanks and 15 
other vehicles.  At this point, the task force stopped for the night.


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