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My GuestbookThe first elements of the Indianhead Division arrived at Pusan on 31 July 1950. Three ships, the Patrick, Sultan and Towle, docked that first day and immediately began unloading their men and cargo. And as they unloaded, the North Korean army pushed relentlessly southward against the slowly withdrawing UN forces. Eleven enemy divisions had been identified on the line of contact. The disposition of the invading forces formed a disconnected line from Chinju through Kochang, Hwanggon, and Yongju, to Yongdok with the greatest concentration of divisions in the Central part of the line. The enemy action of major significance was the wide envelopment in the south and southwest.
The first troops of the 2d Division to land in Pusan were shuttled as soon as possible northward to the little village of Kyongsan. It was typical of thousands of such hamlets which the men of the Division were to encounter in the coming months as they drove up, down and across the Korean peninsula.
In two days, Kyongsan was headquarters for not only the lead elements of the 9th RCT but the 2d Division command post.
Back at Pusan, one platoon of the 2d QM under Major Webster and Captains Cunning- and Tennant prepared to stage the rest of the Division as it arrived.
4 August—the Mormacsun, Funston and Darby arrive in Pusan. Aboard are elements and equipment of the 23rd Inf, Div Arty Hd, 37th FA Bn, "B" Btry, 82d AA, and "B" Co, 2d Engrs.
5 August—The USNS H. B. Freeman arrives in Pusan with the Ist and 2d Bns, 23d Inf, elements of the 2d Med Bn, 2d MP's, and 2d Sig Co. And on that same date, the Ist Bn, 9th Inf was alerted for action in the zone of the 24th Division. Early the next morning it moved out. With it went the Heavy Mortar Company and "A" Btry, 15th FA Bn.
"A" Battery of the 15th Field became the first 2d Division unit to fire on the enemy when it shoved out its initial rounds on 6 August. The following day during the early morning hours it was attacked by enemy ground forces who had infiltrated between the front lines and the battery position. Standing their ground, the artillerymen repelled attack after attack and finally dispersed the North Koreans. Daylight revealed 15 enemy dead scattered on the fringes of the outfit's perimeter. For their action the members of the battery were officially commended by the 24th Division's Artillery Commander, Brigadier General H. J. D. Meyers.
On 8 August, the 2d Bn and Hdq of the 9th RCT moved into the lines near Yongsan in the
2d Division unit to fire on the vicinity of the 34th RCT near the Naktong River. Upon arrival, the First Battalion which had moved up earlier, reverted to the control of the 9th RCT and a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) was attached. An attack was scheduled for 1500 that afternoon.
The mission of this force was to resume an attack which had been initiated previously by elements of the 24th Division. An enemy force of between 10,000 and 15,000 had to be driven back across the Naktong River.
With Colonel John G. Hill and his executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph O. Gerot, on a hill overlooking the line of departure, the 9th RCT (-3rd Bn) moved out under the covering fire of "A" and "B" Batteries of the 15th FA Bn. The First Battalion ran into heavy small arms and mortar fire but the Second Battalion advanced unopposed, moving 1,000 yards. As night came on, both battalions buttoned up but at first light they moved out again. It was in this attack that Lieutenant Colonel Fred L. Harrison, Second Battalion commander, was wounded, the first battalion commander of the Division to suffer wounds in Korea. With the evacuation of Colonel Harison, Major Joseph Walker assumed command.
"Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Private First Class Lawrence H. BATER Infantry, a member of Headquarters Company, 9th Infantry, for action against the enemy in the vicinity of Yongsan on 11 August 1950. Private BATER was a member of a motor patrol which was suddenly ambushed by a strong and determined enemy force From well concealed positions, the hostile troops directed intense and accurate fire on the patrol, forcing it to withdraw. Private BATER, completely disregarding his personal safety, voluntarily remained behind to cover the withdrawal of the patrol. Under withering enemy fire from three sides, he steadfastly remained in place, fearlessly engaging the enemy with his rifle. Until killed by the intense enemy fire, he defiantly resisted the fanatically charging enemy, inflicting heavy casualties on them with his deadly accurate fire. His heroic and selfless action resulted in the successful withdrawal of his comrades. Three days later, when his remains were recovered, he was found in the position he had held, the area around him littered with enemy dead."
For the first time, the terrific heat and high humidity of Korea began taking its toll. Canteens were soon emptied and a lip-cracking thurst engulfed the men. Water became a critical item. The oppressive sun beat down on the attacking battalions and their exhausted men. Drinking water finally had to be sent forward with the ammunition.
The Second Battalion met heavy resistance on the second day.
It stopped and pulled back while artillery fire was called on
the resisting enemy. The attack was resumed at 1700 hours. After
fighting until dark in face of heavy enemy fire, the force again
buttoned up for the night. Early the next morning the North Koreans
counter-attacked. The valiant 9th clung to its positions in face
of machine gun, artillery and mortar fire which landed throughout
the regi- mental area wounding the regimental surgeon.
The first attacks were beaten off but enemy re enforcements were
pouring across the river and Russian-made tanks were being readied
on barges for a crossing. Again and again the enemy attacked,
taking a heavy toll which was increased by the terrific heat.
On 15 August, four T-34's entered the zone of action. A bazooka
team from "H" Company destroyed one, becoming the first
unit of the 2d Division to knock-out an enemy tank. The other
three retreated to enemy lines.
"Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal Robert C. Carroll, Infantry, a member of Company H. 9th Infantry, for action against the enemy in the vicinity of Yongsan on 15 August 1950. At approximately 0300 hours on 15 August 1950, four enemy tanks penetrated the defense perimeter of the 2d Battalion and succeeded in disrupting communications and destroying several company supply points. Obtaining a 3.5 inch rocket launcher Corporal CARROLL crawled to within 50 yards of the lead tank, fired at the tank and succeeded in immobilizing it. The three remaining tanks immediately withdraw. Armed with a hand grenade, Corporal CARROLL charged the disabled tank which was still firing its guns. Unable to locate an opening through which to drop his grenade. he removed an axe arid sledge strapped outside the vehicle and used them to force open the turret hatch cover. As the hatch cover flew open, an enemy tanker stood up in the hatch, firing a sub-machine gun. In the face of this sudden and unexpected attack, Corporal CARROLL was forced off the tank and the enemy tanker again fastened the hatch cover. Procuring a five gallon can of gasoline from a nearby abandoned vehicle, Corporal CARROLL mounted the tank a second time and poured the gasoline around the turret and on the deck of the tank. Then, after climbing down to the ground, he made a rag torch which he threw on the tank, igniting the gasoline. The enemy tankers remained in the tank, firing all guns, until they were burned to death."
The heaviest enemy attacks against the outnumbered force came on 16 August. Bitter hand to hand fighting developed and continued throughout the day. Friendly air was called in and succeeded in blunting but not stopping the North Korean attack. It became apparent that the troops on hand were not enough to do the job.
In the late afternoon of 16 August, elements of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade arrived and the next day the entire force consisting of the newly arrived Marines, and the 9th RCT (-3rd Bn) launched a new attack. This failed to succeeded although "F" Company chalked up another T-34. But on 18 August the attack was again resumed and the enemy was forced back, withdrawing across the Naktong River.
The following day, the 9th RCT was relieved of its responsibility and began withdrawing to an assembly area near Yongsan. But while the First and Second Battalions had been fighting, the Third Battalion had also been engaged.
On 10 August, a special Task Force Bradley, commanded by the Assistant Division Commander, was assembled with the mission of protecting the vital airbase at POHANGDONG on the east coast. It was composed of the 3rd Bn, 9th RCT; "C" Btry, 15th FA Bn; Tank Company, 9th RCT; "A" Co, 2d Engrs; "A" Btry, 82d AAA; and Headquarters, 9th RCT (rear). The task force moved out tactically in column formation and advanced to a point three miles north of Kyongju. There a destroyed bridge delayed the tanks bringing up the rear and as a result they were separated from the rest of the column. Unable to close the distance after crossing the river the tanks with "K" Company on the decks were proceeding alone. At 0100 hours. 11 August, while still twelve miles from Pohangdong, the tank-infantry force was ambushed. Upon learning of the fight, the TF commander directed "I" Company to return to the ambush area and render aid. But while moving back, "I" Company was also cut-off. And as the two trapped units were fighting their way free, the Task Force moved into the important airbase and set-up defenses against attack. After hours of bitter battle, the two units which had been ambushed managed to fight their way north to the airbase. "K" Company, however, had suf. fered heavy casualties in the action and was forced to withdraw to the town of Kyongju where the survivors were reassigned to other units of the 9th RCT. Task Force Bradley ret mained at the airbase until 20 August when it was dissolved. The Third Battalion with "C" Battery, 15 FA Bn, remained in the Pohang area, however, until mid-September.
This baptism of fire of the 2d Infantry Division became a preview of what the future had in store. And the praise showered down on these advance elements of the division was also a preview of the future. Letters complimenting the 9th RCT for its action with the 24th Division and the Marines came pouring in. From the 5th Marine Regiment came a typical comment, this one passed on to Colonel Hill by a Marine major-- ""A" Company, 9th Infantry, is the best Infantry Company I have seen and worked with. I would like to have a company like that with me at any time."
But while Task Force Bradley consolidated its positions at Pohangdong and the remander of the 9th RCT withdrew to Yongsan after defeating the enemy it had found, other elements of the Division were unloading and moving Northwest out of Pusan. The 23rd RCT had closed into Wondong on 6 August. Then, on 10 August, it departed for Kyongsan minus its Third Battalion which moved to a position southwest of Taegu to operate with elements of the 1st Cavalry Division.
On 12 August, the 23rd RCT ( - ) commanded by Colonel Paul L. Freeman moved to Miryang where it came under operational control of the 24th Division. On 16 August it moved again, this time to Kyongju where it was still under the 24th Division. It made another move on the 18th to Kyongsan and on the 19th it went into defensive positions north of Taegu. On 20 August. the Third Battalion rejoined the 23d RCT but the Second Battalion assumed the mission previously asisgned the Third—operation -with the 1st Cavalry.
Such rapid and frequent moves and changes in control were the practice in the early days of the campaign. Defending forces were spread so thin that constant shifts were necessary to maintain maximum strength as pressure became apparent in various sectors.
The 38th RCT arrived in Pusan on 19 August and on 20 August the last tactical elements of the 2d Infantry Division had arrived in Korea. The 38th RCT was already closing toward Miryang on the 20th and the regimental commander, Colonel George B. Peploe, was making arrangements with the 21st Infantry, 24th Division, for relief of the 21st on the Naktong. The 37th FA Battalion had already been in action near Kyongju as had the 15th and 503d FA Battalions in the area of the 9th RCT. The advance elements of Division Forward had closed into an area four miles northeast of Miryang before nightfall, 20 August.
A critical situation that was to become an all too familiar pattern in those early days developed on 22 August. The Second Battalion of the 23rd RCT, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James W. Edwards, was in defensive positions about ten miles north of Taegu protecting the 8th and 37th FA Bns when an enemy force of at least regimental size struck against its positions. For three hours the savage attacks were beaten off. 'I" Company of the Third Battalion was sent in as a reinforcement and the strengthened force beat off another attack just before dark. However, even though the attacks were repulsed the North Koreans succeeded in placing artillery, mortar and small arms fire on the MSR for a five mile distance. The nights of 23 and 24 August were spent in repelling repeated enemy attacks. The morning of 25 August the Second Battalion counter-attacked the enemy and was successful in gaining the high ground overlooking the MSR and the artillery positions. At the same time, the Third Battalion cleared the ground bordering the highway.
When the action was completed with slight casualties, it was determined that the entire North Korean regiment had been wiped out in the fighting. Lieutenant General Walton H. Walker, Eighth Army Commander, personally congratulated the regiment on its success.
As the 23rd RCT was cleaning its sector of the enemy, the Second Division received orders from Eighth Army to relieve the 24th Division on the Naktong. For the first time since World War II, the Indianhead Division was to operate as a unit against an enemy. At the time of the relief, the 23rd RCT (-Ist Bn) was attached to the 24th Division but it reverted to 2d Division control on 27 August. The Third Battalion of tile 23d RCT had been sent to the 1st Cavalry
When, on 24th August, the 2d Division assumed responsibility for the zone of the 24th Division along the Naktong River, it was composed of the following units; 2d Division Headquarters, 38th Inf, 15th FA Bn, 82d AAA Bn, 72d Tk Bn; 2d Signal Company; 2d Div Arty Hdq; 1st Bn, 23d Inf (reinf.); 38th FA Bn; 2d Engr (c) Bn; 2d MP Co; 2d Med Bn; 9th Inf (3rd Bn at Pohangdong); 503d FA Bn; 702d Ord Co; 2d Recon Co, and attached temporarily were the 19th RCT and the 11th FA Bn.
The division front extended along the Naktong River line from where it joined the Nam River in the south to the town of Hyonpung in the north. It was 35 miles in length. Battalions maintained fronts three times wider than those recomemnded for regiments by establishing strong points on commanding terrain with combat patrols traversing the area between. Outposts kept visual contact between neighboring units. Such was the thin line the division occupied.
Across the Naktong, building up for a mass attack, were elements of four North Korean rifle divisions with supporting artillery and armor. The day of battle for the Indianhead Division was drawing near.
If you served with the 2ID during these times or have questions about anything that happen during these times, please leave a message in this guestbook.
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