50 years ago today - 27 Sep 1950

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

September 27

The Battle of the Barricades continued inside Seoul throughout the day but 
by evening, except for small pockets and a few snipers, the city was free 
of North Koreans.  Casualties were moderate.

South of their overnight positions, the 31st Infantry ran into heavy 
resistance put up by the 105th North Korean Armored Division.  Gains during 
the day were small but the North Korean suffered heavy loses in men, tanks 
and artillery, inflicted by air attacks and artillery.

Meanwhile, a few miles to the south, at dawn the 1st Cavalry Division's 
Task Force 777 moved out toward Osan.  They encountered small pockets of 
resistance but entered the town at 8 AM. Then, at 8:26 AM, Platoon Sergeant 
Edward C. Mancil, L Company, 7th Cavalry, met elements of H Company, 31st 
Infantry a short distance north of Osan.  The rapid advance by Task Force 
777 cut off the North Korean 105 Armored Division in the Ansong and 
P'yongt'aek area plus miscellaneous units in the Taejon area.

In the 25th Division area, all regiments advanced, with 3rd Battalion, 24th 
Infantry reaching Hadong around 5:30 PM.  There they learned a group of 
captured Americans were only being herded northward toward Kurye.  At 
Komdu, 10 miles north of Kurye, advance elements liberated 11 Americans, 
most from the 3rd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment.

At Anui, disaster struck the 3rd Battalion, 23rd Infantry, 2nd Division, 
when an enemy mortar/artillery barrage hit the town.  As this bombardment 
opened, a round struck the 3rd Battalion command post killing the battalion 
executive officer, the S-2, the assistant S-3, the motor officer, the 
artillery liaison officer and an antiaircraft officer.  The battalion 
commander was serious wounded as were 25 EM.  Later that afternoon, the 9th 
Infantry Regiment entered Hyongp'ung-ni, the last hold out in the old 
Naktong Bulge area.

At Okch'on, the 24th Division was fought to a standstill as the North 
Koreans threw everything they had into the battle so the rest of their 
forces could escape from Taejon.


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