Battlefield Up-Date (August, 1950)

[oldRoger]

August 2, 1950
Things are looking grim. Task Force Smith is no more. The 24th Division has only been in Korea a month and has now lost all semblance of an organized fighting force. Casualties have been very heavy. General Dean (commanding 24 Div) has been missing since about July 20 and was replaced by Gen Church. US and RoK forces have withdrawn to a small perimeter around Pusan. However, not enough troops are available to man a MLR around the perimeter. Replacements arriving are sent immediately to fill gaps in seriously undermanned units. Ammunition shortages persist, 105s are limited to 25 rounds/tube per day.
A Marine Brigade arrived Aug 1, and was immediately put on line.
Many GIs captured have been found along the road hands tied behind their back and shot in the back of the head.
The situation has gone from SNAFU to FUBAR.

 

[deralte]

oldRoger, that brings back a lot of memories. I was just finishing high school and got to Korea a couple of years later. I went back to Korea 23 years later in 1976 and saw a sign honoring Task Force Smith.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The Pusan Perimeter was probably the hardest fought foreign campaign the US has ever fought, Walton Walker is a general who has never received the credit he deserves.

 

[oldRoger]

deralte, I had a high school science teacher who had piloted a B-24 in Italy, he used to give us an up-date on the war news at the start of every class. I had a neighbor (marine) who was recalled early in 1951.I didn't get to Korea until after the truce.
Because Gen. Waldon Walker was killed relatively soon after the Pusan Perimeter battles he doubtless did not get the credit for the defense there that he deserved.
I make it a point to reread the histories every 10 years.

 

[rayb]

Check out "This Kind of War" by T R Fehrenbach. Good view of that period.

Went to Korea in the mid 70's and again in the late 80's. Very noticeable changes in that time frame. Used to drive by the small hills where TF Smith met the NK's.

Made you think.

rayb

 

[oldRoger]

"This kind of War" is the classic Korean War History. John Toland's In Mortal Combat was written in 1991 and is more complete with better maps. The Korean War by Max Hastings is also good.

The standout and one of the best books about combat ever written is "Breakout" by Martin Russ, the Chosin Reservoir Campaign.

I left in 1954 never to return, at that time Korea was mostly desolate and destroyed.