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

2. BATTLES ALONG THE OUTPOST LINE

BATTLES ALONG THE OUTPOST LINE The enemy’s Spring Offensive fell unevenly across the UN front. The Chinese and North Koreans planned to hit hard at the weakest and most vulnerable areas and at those UN units defending key terrain covering their main objective, the South Korean capital of Seoul. In other sectors the Communist attacks were designed to deceive or fix units in position so that UN forces could not be shifted to reinforce threatened points. In these areas, the assault forces were weaker and less capable. This was the situation in the U.S. 7th Infantry Division sector, which elements of the North Korean 45th Division, a new and poorly trained formation, and the North Korean 12th Division, a veteran but severely understrength unit, were assigned to attack. The U.S. 7th Infantry Division, X Corps, held a ten-mile line running eastward from the right edge of the Hwach’on Reservoir to the ROK 5th Division, above the town of Inje. The 7th Division had two regiments online, the 17th Infantry on the left and the 32d Infantry on the right. The terrain in the 32d Infantry’s sector was mountainous; there were no roads and only a few difficult trails. The 32d was prepared for the expected attack, its patrols to the front for early warning and strong positions located on commanding terrain. Combat Outpost: Company B, 32d Infantry Regiment, 19–22 April 1951 Members of Company B, 32d Infantry Regiment, which held a Chapter 2 32d Infantry Regiment, 19–23 April 1951 P u k h a n R Hwach’on Res Soyang R Soy ang R 29 24 24 2 Yuch’on-ni Naep’yong-ni Yanggu Kwandae-ri Inje Yongdae-ri Toko-ri Hyon-ni Yangyang TO CH’UNCH’ON LINE KANSAS XX NK 12 XX NK 6 XX NK 45 XXX NK III XXX NK V X X X IX X X X X X 2 7 X X X X X X X ROK III X X X X 7 5 ROK XXX XXX R O K I I I R O K I X X X X Cap ROK 11 ROK Fr 2/23 23( – ) 17 32 35 ROK 35 ROK 5 ROK 5 ROK 3/23 ROK 1 ROK Cav ROK 9 ROK 915 902 770 0 15 MILES Forward Positions, Evening, 22 Apr Axis of North Korean Attacks, 23-24 Apr The eastern front, 22–24 April 1951. (Based on U.S. Army Center of Military History map.) 15 BATTLES ALONG THE OUTPOST LINE combat outpost north of Line Kansas, provided an account of the North Korean 45th Division’s initial attack. At 0700, 19 April 1951, Company B, 32d Infantry Regiment, 7th U.S. Infantry Division, jumped off from Hill 915 [about four miles northwest of Inje] to seize the high ground to the NE approximately 6,000 meters away. Advancing in platoon columns, this objective was secured at 1200 hours without enemy resistance. Upon seizing the objective, a squad patrol was sent 1,500 meters forward to Hill 770 to check and clear the area of enemy. Hill 770 was the highest ground in the area and commanded the approaches to the right and the left of the battalion sector. Prior to reaching Hill 770, the squad was fired on by an undetermined number of enemy using automatic weapons, and was ordered by the squad leader to return to the company perimeter, arriving at approximately 1400. At 1500 hours, the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Gillis, ordered Company B to seize Hill 770 utilizing one platoon to make the attack . Capt. Cecil G. Smith, commanding officer, Company B, ordered the 2d Platoon under the command of 1st Lt. Freemont Piercefield to perform the mission. The platoon advanced via a ridgeline by leapfrogging the squads toward the objective. The position was secured without enemy resistance at approximately 1700 hours. The platoon was ordered by Lt. Piercefield to dig in and secure the hill. Two- and three-man foxholes were dug in perimeter defense . A fence composed of fallen trees and brush was constructed around the perimeter. The strongest emphasis was placed on the approaches from the north and northeast. The brush fence was approximately twenty yards away from the top of the hill. To insure an adequate warning of approaching enemy, three M-1948 parachute flares were emplaced and the approaches into...