The Korean War - opening stage
The Defensive stage June 1950 – September 1950
A summary of the opening salvos of the Korean War from invasion to the Pusan Perimeter defense
June 25, 1950 4:00 A.M. the North Korean army, 90,000 strong, poured across the border with South Korea. Supported by Soviet built tanks, the NKA was unstoppable. By June 28th Seoul, South Korea’s capital, had fallen. By July 3rd the important port of Inchon would fall to the NKA.
The initial response of the United States, the western nations and the United Nations was mainly verbal. It was the only response they could give at first as the United States had engaged in massive demobilization, training had been neglected and equipment was antiquated, especially tank defense. Troops were hastily thrown into the fray, but without adequate equipment or strategy, they were forced to retreat after substantial loss of life and equipment.
The UN Security Council, on 7 July, recommended the establishment of a unified command in Korea, under a U.S. commander. President Truman immediately appointed General Douglas MacArthur as Commander in Chief, United Nations Command. Lt. Gen. Walton H. Walker, Commander, U.S. Eighth Army, assumed command of all UN ground forces, which included those of the Republic of Korea. Because of the U.S. lack of preparedness, General Walker engaged in a series of defensive delaying actions to buy more time to gather his forces, resources and plan a strong counter-attack.
U.S. ground forces available to MacArthur were as follows: 1st Cavalry Division and the 7th, 24th, and 25th Infantry Divisions in Japan and the 29th Regiment on Okinawa. The units lacked many of their infantry and artillery units. Further, ammunition supplies were low, and training had been sacrificed to occupation duties in Japan.
Because of the loss of the port at In’chon and the subsequent loss of 90% of the land area called South Korea, a last ditch defensive position had to be held at all costs around the port of Pusan (also known as the Pusan Perimeter).
Courageous and determined resistance by U.S. and UN troops resulted in the Pusan perimeter being held. Many of the decisive battles occurred in the “bowling alley” so named because of the nearly 3 miles of mostly flat straight terrain. Some of the action was hand-to-hand combat and brutal day and night actions occurred. For example, on August 20th the day was quiet but as soon as dark fell, the NKA attacked down the valley in bright moonlight. After an initial barrage of 120mm mortar fire, several T-34 tanks led the attack. The 27th Infantry Division held fire until the enemy was less than 200 yards away, then opened up with combined small arms, machine-gun, mortar, tank and artillery fire. 5 T-34 tanks were destroyed and the NKA retreated with heavy losses.
By the end of August several South Korean units had managed to regroup and British units arrived to reinforce the hard-pressed troops. The port at Pusan had remained open and supplies and extra ammunition had poured in. With fresh troops and supplies the combined forces were ready to go on the offensive.
