VOLUME I

_The Pusan Perimeter_

by LYNN MONTROSS and CAPTAIN NICHOLAS A. CANZONA, USMC

Historical Branch, G-3 Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps Washington, D. C., 1954

Foreword

An ability to furnish skilled forces to meet emergency situations on short notice has long been a hallmark of the Marine Corps. When the call came for such a force to be dispatched to Korea on 2 July 1950, the Corps was handicapped by the strictures of a peacetime economy. Nevertheless, a composite brigade consisting of a regiment and an air group was made available within a week’s time.

With a reputation built largely on amphibious warfare, Marines of the 1st Brigade were called upon to prove their versatility in sustained ground action. On three separate occasions within the embattled Perimeter--south toward Sachon and twice along the Naktong River--these Marine units hurled the weight of their assault force at the enemy. All three attacks were successful, and at no point did Marines give ground except as ordered. The quality of their performance in the difficult days of the Pusan Perimeter fighting made them a valuable member of the United Nations team and earned new laurels for their Corps.

LEMUEL C. SHEPHERD, JR., _General, U. S. Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps_.

Preface

This is the first volume of a planned series dealing with United States Marine Operations in Korea during the period 2 August 1950 to 27 July 1953. Volume I is designed to give the military student and the casual reader an accurate and detailed account of the operations in which Marines of the 1st Provisional Brigade and Marine Air Group 33 participated during the fighting in the Pusan Perimeter, from the date of their landing on 2 August until their withdrawal on 13 September 1950, in preparation for the Inchon landing.

Since this is primarily a Marine Corps story, the activities of other services during this period are not described in detail except to present a proper background to the overall account.

Many officers and men who participated in this campaign have contributed to the preparation of the book by answering inquiries, submitting to interviews, and commenting on the preliminary manuscript. Their assistance has been invaluable. Special acknowledgment is also extended to the Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, Pacific Section, and particularly Lieutenant Colonel Roy E. Appleman, USA, for enemy intelligence material; to the Marine Corps Board Study: _An Evaluation of the Influence of Marine Corps Forces on the Course of the Korean War_ for its interpretations and conclusions; and to _Life Magazine_ for courtesy shown in permitting use of Korean photographs made by Mr. David D. Duncan. Maps included herein were prepared by the Reproduction Section, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Va. United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps photographs have also been used to illustrate this monograph.

T. A. WORNHAM, _Brigadier General, U. S. Marine Corps_. _Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3._

Contents

_Page_ I Korea, Doorstep of Strategy 1 The Korean Question--The Russo-Japanese War--Korea as a Japanese Colony--The Partition of Korea--Red Victory in China--Civil Strife in Korea

II Red Aggression in Korea 19 Units of the NKPA--NKPA Command and Leadership--The NKPA Infantry Division--NKPA Air and Armor--NKPA Officer Procurement Conscription--The NKPA Order of Battle

III The Marine Brigade 37 NKPA Gains of First Week--Early U. S. Decisions--Geography of Korea--U. S. Ground Forces in Korea--Requests for U. S. Marines--Activation of the Brigade

IV The Advance Party 55 Conference with CINCFE--The Washington Scene--The Advance Party in Japan--Voyage of the Brigade--The Advance Party in Korea--Crisis of the Eighth Army

V Prelude to Battle 87 Reconnaissance by Jeep--Brigade Air Lands--Landing of Ground Force--Bedlam on Pusan Water Front--The Brigade at Changwon--The Pusan Perimeter--Brigade Air Strikes First--Planning the Sachon-Chinju Offensive

VI Action on Hill 342 103 First Platoon Fight--The Perimeter on Hill 342--Call for Artillery Fires--Task Force Kean Stalled--General Craig Assumes Control--Enemy Attack at Dawn

VII Advance to Kosong 119 Heavy NKPA Resistance--Assault on Hill 255--Confusion at Tosan Junction--Brigade Artillery in Support--Encounter with Japanese Maps--Ambush at Taedabok Pass--The Seizure of Kosong

VIII Fight on Two Fronts 139 The Kosong Turkey Shoot--The Changchon Ambush--Marines Ordered to New Sector--Attack of 3/5 to the Rear--Enemy Dawn Attack at Changchon--Breaking Off Action

IX Battle of the Naktong 173 Task Force Hill Organized--Planning the Next Operation-- Reconnaissance of Terrain--Air and Artillery Preparation --Company D on Objective--Attack of Company E

X Obong-ni Ridge 189 Company B to the Attack--Advance of Company A--Defeat of Enemy Tanks--End of the First Day--Enemy Counterattack on Ridge--Obong-ni Ridge Secured--Supporting Arms Clear the Bulge

XI Second Naktong 207 The Famous Bean Patch--Planning for Inchon Landing-- Return to the Naktong Bulge--All-Out NKPA Offensive--The Marines Jump Off--Progress of Brigade Attack--Assault on Hill 117

XII Mission Completed 227 Collapse of the 9th NKPA Division--Attacks of 5 September--Two Marine Tanks Killed--The Brigade’s Final Action--Brigade Embarkation at Pusan--Results of Brigade Operations--Summaries and Conclusions

_Appendixes_

A Glossary of Military Terms 245

B Command and Staff List 247

C Citations and Commendations 253

Bibliography 257

Index 261

Illustrations

_Photographs_

Sixteen-page sections of photographs follow pages 70 and 156.

_Maps and Sketches_

_Page_

The Strategic Triangle 2

The Far East 5

Korea 11

NKPA Order of Battle 35

NKPA Invasion, 15 July 1950 44

Japan and Korea 61

Eighth Army, Situation of Late July 69

Brigade Action on the Southwestern Front 102

Chindong-ni Area 107

Sachon Offensive, 8–10 August 1950 130

Sachon Offensive, 10 August 1950 133

Sachon Offensive, 11 August 1950 134

Sachon Offensive--Changchon Ambush 145

Sachon Offensive, Situation 12–14 August 149

Enemy Counterattack, Hill 202 154

First Naktong Counteroffensive 180

First Naktong, Situation 17 August 1950 185

First Naktong, Situation 18 August 1950 199

First Naktong, Seizure of Objective Two 202

First Naktong, Seizure of Objective Three 205

Second Naktong Counteroffensive, 3–5 September 1950 218

Second Naktong, Marine Attacks of 3–4 September 1950 223

Second Naktong, Enemy Counterattack 232