Smith, was the most experienced, having commanded a battalion at the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II. The 21st Infantry Regiment was identified as the most combat-ready of the 24th Infantry Division's three regiments, and the 21st Infantry's 1st Battalion was selected because its commander, Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. The plan was to airlift one battalion of the 24th Infantry Division into South Korea via C-54 Skymaster transport aircraft and quickly block advancing North Korean forces while the remainder of the division was transported on ships. The 21st Infantry Regiment Battle position can be seen at lower right of the map Map of the 34th Infantry Regiment's delay action from July 5 to 8. Yet in spite of these deficiencies the division was ordered into South Korea, tasked with taking the initial 'shock' of the North Korean advances until the rest of the Eighth Army could arrive and establish a defense.

Tellingly, the division was under strength and most of its equipment was antiquated due to reductions in military spending. At the time, the closest force was the 24th Infantry Division of the Eighth United States Army, stationed in Japan under the command of William F. forces in the Far East had been steadily decreasing since the end of World War II, five years earlier. Truman subsequently ordered ground troops into the nation. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council voted to send assistance to the collapsing country and United States President Harry S. The majority of the South Korean forces retreated in the face of the invasion, and by June 28 the North Koreans had captured the capital Seoul, and forced the government and its shattered forces to withdraw further southwards. Numerically superior, North Korean forces destroyed isolated resistance, pushing steadily down the peninsula against the South Koreans who could muster just 38,000 men to the front-line to oppose them. Advancing with 89,000 men in six columns, the North Koreans caught the South Korean Army by surprise, resulting in a disastrous rout for the South Koreans who were disorganized, ill-equipped, and unprepared for war. On the night of June 25, 1950, 10 divisions of the North Korean People's Army launched a full-scale invasion on the nation's neighbor to the south, the Republic of Korea. battalions fought in several engagements over the three-day period and suffered massive losses in personnel and equipment, but were able to delay the North Korean forces for several days, allowing the remainder of the 24th Infantry Division to set up blocking positions along the Kum River near the city of Taejon.īackground Outbreak of war Army units were able to inflict substantial damage on the North Korean armor and other vehicles, but were overwhelmed by North Korean infantry. The regiment deployed along roads and railroads in between the two villages, attempting to slow the advance as much as possible.Īided by air strikes, U.S. The United States Army's 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division was assigned to delay two advancing North Korean People's Army divisions following communist victories at Osan, Pyongtaek, and Chonan earlier in the month. After three days of intense fighting, the battle ended in a North Korean victory. The Battle of Chochiwon was an early engagement between United States and North Korean forces during the Korean War, taking place in the villages of Chonui and Chochiwon in western South Korea on July 10–12, 1950.

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