Passing the Test: Combat in Korea, April-June 1951

9. ANYTHING BUT PEACEFUL VALLEY

ANYTHING BUT PEACEFUL VALLEY Rain and fog limited UN aerial reconnaissance and hid the extent of the Chinese concentration east of Ch’unch’on aimed at U.S. X Corps. The main enemy blow, consisting of two Chinese armies, was to fall on the U.S. 2d Infantry Division manning Van Fleet’s designated No Name Line. The 9th Infantry Regiment held the left flank of the 2d Division’s line; its 2d and 3d Battalions were dug in on an Outpost Line of Resistance forward of the Main Line of Resistance. The 15th Field Artillery Battalion, organic to the 2d Infantry Division, provided the artillery support for the two battalions on the outpost line. Second Lt. Bevin R. Alexander, a combat historian, studied the 15th Artillery’s actions during the Chinese attack and describes the situation. During a two-day period from 16 May 1951 to 18 May 1951, the 15th FA [Field Artillery] Battalion, the 105mm howitzer outfit that provided direct support for the 9th Infantry Regiment of the 2d Division, participated in a retrograde action down a small valley in the vicinity of Hongch’on before advancing elements of the enemy. During this retreat, the battalion provided defensive covering fire for the 9th Infantry as two battalions of this regiment extricated themselves from a position on the division OPLR that became untenable and retreated to safety behind the MLR, known as the No Name Line. Here is the physical setting for the action: “Peaceful Valley” is a typical small-stream valley in east central Korea. It is approximately ten miles long and runs southeasterly from where the small stream Chapter 9 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 16–18 May 1951 224 PASSING THE TEST which flows through it rises above Sarangch’on until it turns abruptly southwest a little below Tolmoru, then continues in this direction for approximately three miles before the valley joins the larger Hongch’on River valley [near Sodun-ni]. Peaceful Valley is a narrow , constricted stretch, mountains closely pressing it on both sides and open land at a premium throughout. With the exception of the mouth of the valley, where it widens out into a small plain upon joining the Hongch’on River valley, the hollow proper is never wider than 1,000 yards (at Musumak), and is usually 200 to 500 yards “Peaceful” Valley P u k h a n R iv e r Soyang River Hwach’on Reservoir Soyang River H o n g c h ’ o n R i v e r Naech’on River LINE LINE LINE WACO NO NAME LINE KANSAS MISSOURI XX 3 25 3 25 XX 1 MAR 2 X X X 3 25 3 25 X X X IX X X X X X 2 7 ROK XX XX XX XX 7 ROK 3 7 ROK 5 ROK X X X 3 25 3 25 X X X ROK III ROK I X X X X X X X ROK III X X X X Cap ROK 11 ROK X X X X 9 ROK 3 ROK X X X X 5 ROK 7 ROK XX 2 5 R O K X X X X 1 MAR 2 1 8 0 D iv 4 5 D i v 4 4 D i v 35 Div 3 4 D i v 3 1 D i v 81 Div 6 , 1 2 D i v s 1 8 1 D i v 2 , 2 7 D i v s 8 0 ,7 9 D iv s E l m s , 3 1 D i v 3/7 3/7 3/1 3/38 1/38 2/23 3/36 35 27 28 30 22 3/18 1 9 18(-) 2/38 1/9 KMC K M C 1(-) 1(-) 7(-) 7(-) 9(-) 8(-) 5(-) 5(-) 5(-) 23(-) Fr 9 15 23 28 18 30 1/18 7(-) Elms 3,5,8 31(-) 32 3/13 3/9 Cav(-) 13(-) 1/Cav XXXX 27 PLA XXXX 12 PLA XXXX 15 PLA XXXX 60 PLA XXXX 20 PLA XXX V NK XXX II NK 17 17 29 29 24 24 24 2 2 2 2 Hwach’on Yuch’on-ni Toko-ri Yanggu Yongdae-ri Inje Kwandae-ri Naep’yong-ni Ch’unch’on Chaun-ni Putchaetful Han’gye Hongch’on Hasoloh’l P‘ungam-ni Habae-jae Nuron-ni Sangam-ni Hyon-ni TO KANSONG Forward Positions, Evening, 16 May Axis of Enemy Attacks, 16-19 May Forward...