The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Task Force Smith - Korea 1950 - Jan. 31st, 2003

http://www.quartermaster.army.mil/oqmg/Professional_Bulletin/1996/Spring/tfsmith.html ^ | LTC Keith K. Fukumitsu

[SAMWolf]

General Douglas MacArthur ordered the Eighth Army’s 24th Infantry Division from Ford Wood, Japan, to Pusan, Korea, after President Harry S. Truman committed US ground forces to stop the North Korean invasion of South Korea. The July 1, 1950, operations order provided for a delaying force to go to Pusan, Korea, by air immediately. Named for its commander, LTC Charles B. "Brad" Smith, Task Force Smith was assembled June 30 and then trucked to C-54 aircraft at nearby Itazuke Air Base for flight beginning at 0845 on July 1. This initial commitment of US ground troops in the Korean War consisted of two understrength rifle companies, half a battalion headquarters company, half of a communications platoon, a 75-mm recoilless rifle platoon with two guns, and two 4.2-inch mortars. Also, the two rifle companies had six 2.36-inch bazooka teams and four 60-mm mortars. Each man carried 120 rounds of .30-caliber ammunition and two days of C-Rations.



Only five years after the end of World War II, less than one-sixth of Task Force Smith had combat experience. After the 406 men arrived at Pusan, Task Force Smith was trucked through cheering crowds to the train station for its trip north. This send-off in South Korea boosted the already high morale of the soldiers who thought that the North Koreans would stop in the face of the "invincible" US Army. LTC Smith chose an excellent infantry position three miles north of Osan to set up a road block for the first engagement on the morning of July 5, but he did not have the firepower to stop the Soviet-made T-34/85 tanks. General MacArthur had called this small, ill-equipped unit an "arrogant display of strength." Like everyone else, the general thought that the mere presence of US troops would "chill the enemy commander into taking precautionary and time-consuming" actions.

[SAMWolf]

On June 25, 1950, communist North Korea invaded their southern neighbor, the Republic of Korea. After their artificial separation following World War II, both nations had contemplated reunification by way of invasion, and border clashes were common. Knowing this and underestimating the North Korean army, the United States refused to supply the South with heavy weapons, including tanks and artillery. The ROK Army initially offered stiff resistance, but it lost vital battles north of Seoul and lost many men and important equipment when a bridge over the Han was prematurely blown in Seoul.

US defense spending had reached a modern day low after World War. The military was ill-prepared and those in authority embaced questionable doctrines. The usefulness of the tank in World War II had been lost to those in charge, and the Army had only a single armored division. The weaponry of World War II had not been significantly improved upon. Aircraft carriers and amphibious warfare were thought obsolete in the nuclear age, and the A-Bomb was seen as a serious deterent to ANY enemy aggression.

In Japan, US occupation forces were prepared for quick shipment to Korea. A 540 man battalion sized task force of the 24th Infantry Division under Lt. Col. Charles Smith was rushed to Korea on transport planes and moved north through hordes of refugees and retreating ROK Army units to block the enemy advance. They were told the communists would flee at the sight of American soldiers.



Early on the morning of July 5th, Task Force Smith took up position a mile long just north of Osan on ridge 300 feet above the plain to the north. A platoon of B Company occupied a knob to the west of the road while the other two platoons as well as the two platoons of C Company occupied the ridge to the east. Two mortar platoons were 400 yards to the rear and five 105 mm howitzers were 2,000 yards to the rear.

At around 7:00 AM the approaching enemy was sighted, and at 8:16 the artillery began firing on the advancing enemy. Leading the North Korean advance was the 107th Armored Brigade equipped with T-34 tanks. Not bothering to deploy, the tanks advanced straight up the road toward the American position. Fire from two American 75 mm recoilless rifles did not damage the advancing T-34s. No anti-tank mines had been brought along, and anti-tank guns, a vital part of World War II armies, were no longer used. As the tanks continued, the Americans opened up with the 2.36 inch bazookas. These weapons were quickly obsolete in World War II and predictably could not penetrate the T-34s' frontal armor. They were even of questionable use against the weaker areas of the tanks. One of the 105 mm howitzers fired HEAT rounds as the tanks crested the ridge, and the front two tanks were disabled. The remaining 33 tanks continued down the road, firing as they went. The tanks tore up the communications wire as they went and bypassed the howitzers, whose rounds stopped only three of the T-34s.



Before noon, 1,000 men in two regiments of the North Korean 4th Division supported by three tanks deployed to attack the ridge. The Americans held off attacks to their front, but the enemy began moving around both flanks. At 12:30 PM, the North Koreans occupied a hill overlooking the American position west of the road, so the American platoon fell back to the east side. Running low on ammunition and with the enemy around both flanks, Smith ordered a withdrawal at 2:30. The retreat was confused and the guns were abandoned. Although they had inflicted 127 casualties, the task force suffered 181 casualties and was so scattered it would be largely ineffective. Over the coming months, additional US troops were sent to Korea, and the battlelines finally stabilized at the Pusan Perimeter, where UN troops fought off desperate human wave attacks. In September, landings at Inchon would turn the tide in favor of the UN.

The battle at Osan is a low point in American history. It symbolizes the price in blood our troops pay for ill preparedness and inadequate defense spending. Has America learned this lesson? Other than Korean War veterans, how many people have heard of Task Force Smith?

[SAMWolf]

'Honor our brave soldiers of Task Force Smith -- and those who followed them to hold the line in Korea. They sacrificed and rendered selfless service in the cause of freedom. They deserve our respect as much as those who fought in Vietnam, World War Two, and World War One.'

--Lt. Col. Thomas J. Vance, USAR

'No more Task Force Smiths.'

--Gordon R. Sullivan, Army Chief of Staff

[SAMWolf]

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[SAMWolf]

Thanks, Doughty!

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Everybody.

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[SAMWolf]

Good morning Cote, thanks for your daily poem.

[CholeraJoe]

Salute to the 21st Infantry.

"BORE BROTHER BORE"

[Jen]

PING! It's a new day to remember and honor Veterans!

If you would like to be removed from this list, send me a BLANK FReepmail with "Remove" in the subject line. Thanks.

[Jen]

I've never heard of Task Force Smith. Thanks for this terrific thread. I'll be back later - when I'm awake - to read it.

[manna]

Present!

[Mudboy Slim]

"Take It To The Senate!!"
(To be sung to the Eagles' "Take It To The Limit")

Willie moans as he dreams 'bout Lewinsky...
While the HildaBeast's playin' "The FOOL!!"
Slick keeps lying about "those women" he's used...used like SlixTools!!
You know Bill's always been a creeper...spent his life sleepin' 'round...
And it's so hard to change...Lib'rals like to go down!!!
But these crimes we've seen lately...
Slick's a Whore fer Power, tearin' FReedoms down and sellin' out to Beijing!!

So join US on the high road...tell Ashcroft, "INDICT!!!"
Take it to the Senate, RE-Impeach RATS' Slime!!!

Bill just spends all his time hustlin' money.
Willie spends all his Power hiding crimes.
When it all falls to pieces tomorrow,
Slick'll do Prison Time!!

I know y'all're searchin' for a reason...why nobody seems to care...
That EX-Prez'dent's a Whore...Left loves their Tyrant PIGS!!
Still, this Country's worth retrievin'...
Right'll come storming back, STAY on The Attack...
Next, We'll WHUP [enter RAT POTUS nominee '04]!!

So join me on the high road...Demand Slick, "Resign!!"**
Take it to the Senate...Convict RATS' Slime!!!

Take it to the Senate...RE-Impeach Bill Clinton!!
Take it to the Senate, it's Justice Time.......

(Chorus to fade)

MUDBOY SLIM

BTW...RE-IMPEACH. CONVICT. DETHRONE. DISBAR. DE-PENSION. INDICT. CONVICT. IMPRISON. DISCARD KEY.

It's that simple, folks, and it starts with you...MUD

1 Posted on 06/12/2000 12:40:56 PDT by Mudboy Slim (Impeach@gain.harder!!)

**Too late, Slick...yer gettin' the Full Monty...MUD

[HiJinx]

Good Morning everybody!

Quick Bump to say Hi! and thanks to all who have gone before...
And to those who will be making history in the weeks to come.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[Darksheare]

Not at all mentioned in modern US Histroy classes.
Thanks, libs....

[SAMWolf]

I think the Liberals will never learn that lesson and out young people in the Military keep paying the price.

[SAMWolf]

Morning, CholeraJoe.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Mud, good parody.