UNITED STATES ARMY IN THE KOREAN WAR
EBB AND FLOW
NOVEMBER 1950-JULY 1951
by
Billy C. Mossman
CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY
UNITED STATES ARMY
WASHINGTON, D.C., 1990
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents,
U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402
UNITED STATES ARMY IN THE KOREAN WAR
Advisory Committee
(As of 8 September 1988)
Charles P. Roland |
David B. Miller
City Hall Scranton, Pa. 18503 |
Maj. Gen. Robert H. Buker |
Jamie W. Moore |
Edward M. Coffman |
Brig. Gen. Stephen Silvasy, Jr. |
Brig. Gen. Roy K. Flint |
Maj. Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan |
Maj. Gen. Raymond E. Haddock |
Russell F. Weigley |
L. Eugene Hedberg |
Don W. Wilson |
Ernest R. May |
U.S. Army Center of Military History
Brig. Gen. William A. Stofft, Chief of Military History
Acting Chief Historian
|
Morris J. MacGregor, Jr.
|
Chief, Histories Division
|
Lt. Col. Richard O. Perry
|
Editor in Chief
|
John W. Elsberg
|
iii
. . . to Those Who Served
Foreword
This volume completes the general survey of combat operations in Korea that began with the publication in 1960 of Roy Appleman's South to the Naktong, North to the Yalu. It will be followed by a study of theater logistics and an order of battle which, along with the recently published Medics' War, will comprise the series of official Army histories of America's so-called forgotten war.
Ebb and Flow records an important chapter in the Korean War. It begins with the last weeks of the pell-mell rush of United Nations forces to the Chinese border and goes on to describe in great detail the test of American military leadership and resources posed by the taxing retreat of the Eighth Army and X Corps across the frozen wastes of North Korea. It also examines the special problems posed to a fighting army during the deadly months of stalemate in the summer of 1951.
The part of the war described in this volume raises many questions for the military strategist and provides a treasure trove of lessons for the student of the art of war. The book emphasizes the limitations imposed by terrain and weather on the fighting capabilities of an American army facing surprise attack from a large, disciplined enemy. The operations it describes to such careful detail will help vivify the principles of war for those who would study the profession of arms.
It seems particularly appropriate that this volume is going to the printer during a year when the Army is emphasizing the theme of training. It is important to study carefully such a recent and important example of an American army performing superbly against great odds. I encourage the military student and veteran alike to take advantage of the insights into our profession imparted in the pages that follow.
Washington, D.C. |
WILLIAM A. STOFFT |
vii
The Author
A graduate of Wayne State (Nebraska) College, Billy C. Mossman is the author of studies and monographs on U.S. Army operations in the Korean War and of two chapters, "Peace Becomes Cold War, 1945-50," and "The Korean War, 1950-53," in American Military History, a volume in the Army Historical Series. He contributed to Origins, History, and Accomplishments of the U.S. Army Reserve, published by the Historical Evaluation and Research Organization, and to Challenge and Response in Internal Conflict, published by the Center for Research in Social Systems, American University. He is also coauthor of The Last Salute: Civil and Military Funerals, 1921-1969.During World War II, Mr. Mossman served as a platoon leader with the 381st Infantry, 96th Infantry Division, and participated in the Leyte and Okinawa campaigns in the Pacific theater. In the Korean War, he was a military historian with the Eighth Army; Army Forces, Far East; and United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission. Mr. Mossman joined the Office of the Chief of Military History as an Army officer in 1954 and became a civilian staff member in 1957. As a civilian staff member, he served successively as historian, deputy branch chief, branch chief, and acting division chief. He retired in 1983 but remains active in the field of military history.
viii
Preface
This book describes military operations during the Korean War from late November 1950 to early July 1951, a period in which battle lines did indeed ebb and flow in pronounced surges. The volume is one of several in the United States Army in the Korean War series. In its coverage of combat operations, the book falls in the series between South to the Naktong, North to the Yalu by Roy E. Appleman and Truce Tent and Fighting Front by Walter G. Hermes.In describing the large-scale engagements that occurred between sizable opposing forces over seven months' time, I had to focus treatment of the battles at a somewhat high level, often corps or army. I also had to be selective in the use of detail. While this approach does not fully record the gallantry, suffering, and achievements of individual men in combat, I hope that the battle descriptions clearly indicate the substantial measure of their individual accomplishments and valor. I wrote this book over many years, interrupting my work on numerous occasions and for long periods to carry out other responsibilities and assignments. In fact, I gave the account its final touches after I retired from the Center of Military History. It was also in retirement that I designed the maps and selected the photographs that illustrate the book. During the years spent writing the book, I received valuable support and assistance from many people. Supervisory officials at all levels provided unfailing support. The successive Chiefs of Military History included Brig. Gen. James A. Norell, Brig. Gen. William H. Harris, Brig. Gen. Hal C. Pattison, Brig. Gen. James L. Collins, Jr., and Brig. Gen. William A. Stofft. Holding the post of Chief Historian during the period of preparation were Dr. Stetson Conn, Dr. Maurice Matloff, and Dr. David Trask. I received valuable assistance and guidance from a considerable number of officers who served as Chief, Histories Division: Lt. Col. James C. Griffin; Col. Louis G. Mendez, Jr.; Col. Paul P. Hinkley; Col. Leonard G. Robinson; Col. Albert W. Jones; Col. John E. Jessup, Jr.; Col. James W. Dunn; and Lt. Col. Richard O. Perry. Wise counsel also came from my branch chiefs: Charles B. MacDonald, Robert Ross Smith, Robert W. Coakley, and Walter G. Hermes. Over the course of my research, Hannah M. Zeidlik, currently the Chief, Historical Resources Branch, was a mainstay in obtaining and
ix
providing essential records, studies, and reports. On the production level, Joyce W. Hardyman performed the main editing of the volume assisted by James W. Grandy. Also importantly involved in the production process were John W. Elsberg, the current Editor in Chief, Barbara H. Gilbert, and Rae T. Panella. Arthur S. Hardyman and Linda M. Cajka processed the maps from layout to final form. Howell C. Brewer handled the acquisition and preparation of the photographs that illustrate the volume.
Notwithstanding the significant contributions of the persons named above, I alone am responsible for the interpretations made and conclusions drawn in this book and for any deficiencies that it may have.
8 September 1988 Washington, D.C. |
BILLY C. MOSSMAN
|
x
Chapter |
Page |
|
---|---|---|
3 |
||
The Battleground |
3 |
|
The Initial Mission |
7 |
|
The Mission Expanded |
17 |
|
The Mission Reconsidered |
21 |
|
23 |
||
The United Nations Command |
23 |
|
The UNC Plan of Advance |
42 |
|
The Outlook for Victory |
49 |
|
51 |
||
The North Korean Armed Forces |
51 |
|
The Chinese People's Volunteers |
52 |
|
61 |
||
The Advance to Contact |
61 |
|
The Chinese Attack |
65 |
|
The Second Phase Offensive |
72 |
|
The Threat of Envelopment |
76 |
|
84 |
||
X Corps Dispositions, 26 November |
84 |
|
The Advance Toward Mup'yong-ni |
88 |
|
The IX Army Group Attacks |
90 |
|
The Attacks Widen |
98 |
|
The Tokyo Conference |
103 |
|
105 |
||
The Threat of Envelopment |
105 |
|
The Second Disengagement |
109 |
|
Trouble on the Lines of Communication |
114 |
|
The Sukch'on-Sunch'on-Songch'on Line |
116 |
|
The Roadblock Below Kunu-ri |
119 |
xi
VII. CONCENTRATION AT HUNGNAM |
128
|
|
New X Corps Orders |
128
|
|
Shaping the Hamhung-Hungnam Defense |
130 |
|
Concentration at Hagaru-ri |
131 |
|
Withdrawal From the Reservoir |
137 |
|
149 |
||
The Eighth Army Leaves North Korea |
149 |
|
The X Corps Evacuates Hungnam |
165 |
|
IX. THE CHINESE THIRD PHASE OFFENSIVE: THE OPENING |
177
|
|
Ridgway Takes Command |
177 |
|
Defensive Preparations |
184 |
|
The Opening Enemy Assaults |
188 |
|
192 |
||
To the Seoul Bridgehead |
192 |
|
The Outlook, 2 January |
195 |
|
The Evacuation of Seoul |
198 |
|
209 |
||
Withdrawal From the Han |
210 |
|
Wonju and Hill 247 |
216 |
|
East of Route 29 |
223 |
|
228 |
||
The Problem of Motivation |
228 |
|
Allies From North Korea |
229 |
|
The Evacuation Issue Resolved |
230 |
|
Operation Wolfhound |
237 |
|
Task Force Johnson |
239 |
|
Operation Thunderbolt |
240 |
|
248 |
||
Roundup Preparations |
248 |
|
Thunderbolt Continued |
252 |
|
Operation Roundup |
258 |
|
The Newest Army Estimate |
263 |
|
266 |
||
The ROK 8th Division Destroyed |
266 |
xii
Support Force 21 |
269 |
|
From the Road Junction to Hoengsong |
272 |
|
The Costs |
279 |
|
282 |
||
The X Corps Position, 13 February |
282 |
|
The West Shoulder, 13-14 February |
285 |
|
The East Shoulder, 14-18 February |
291 |
|
Chip'yong-ni and Task Force Crombez |
295 |
|
A Turning Point |
300 |
|
301 |
||
The Concept |
301 |
|
Intelligence Problems |
302 |
|
The Plans |
305 |
|
The Advance |
307 |
|
The Ripper Concept |
310 |
|
315 |
||
The Plan |
315 |
|
The Advance to Line Albany |
321 |
|
The Enemy Buildup |
322 |
|
Hongch'on Cleared |
327 |
|
Seoul Retaken |
328 |
|
Ch'unch'on Captured |
330 |
|
On the Eastern Front |
333 |
|
The Courageous Concept |
334 |
|
335 |
||
Operation Courageous |
335 |
|
Ripper Concluded |
343 |
|
The Parallel Question |
344 |
|
The Rugged and Dauntless Concept |
347 |
|
351 |
||
The Enemy Situation |
351 |
|
The Advance to Line Kansas |
353 |
|
Change of Command |
362 |
|
368 |
||
The Enemy's Conspicuous Absence, 11-20 April |
369 |
|
One Day's Notice |
375 |
xiii
378 |
||
The Enemy Plan |
378 |
|
Panic at the IX Corps Left |
381 |
|
Below Ch'orwon and Kumhwa |
384 |
|
Along the Imjin |
385 |
|
Adjusting the Line |
389 |
|
XXII. THE CHINESE SPRING OFFENSIVE: ON THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN FRONTS |
398
|
|
Attack on the Pendleton Line |
398 |
|
Inje Falls |
399 |
|
Repeat Performance |
401 |
|
Censure |
407 |
|
XXIII. THE CHINESE SPRING OFFENSIVE: ON THE WESTERN FRONT |
410
|
|
Defending the Kansas Line |
410 |
|
Withdrawal to Line Delta |
419 |
|
XXIV. THE CHINESE SPRING OFFENSIVE: BATTLE FOR SEOUL |
430
|
|
438 |
||
The Search for the Enemy |
439 |
|
The Offensive Resumed |
444 |
|
The Battle Shifts East |
460 |
|
465 |
||
Stabilizing the Line |
466 |
|
Counterattack |
470 |
|
488 |
||
Ridgway's Mission Redefined |
488 |
|
Operation Piledriver |
491 |
|
Armistice Negotiations: The Search for a Beginning |
494 |
|
The Question of Future Operations |
497 |
|
Negotiations Begin |
499 |
|
The New Dimensions of Battle |
502 |
|
507 |
xiv
511 |
|
513 |
52 |
|
54 |
|
147 |
|
279 |
4 |
|
6 |
|
46 |
|
66 |
|
85 |
|
91 |
|
93 |
|
95 |
|
106 |
|
10. The 2d Infantry Division at Kunu-ri, 29-30 November 1950 |
110 |
133 |
|
144 |
|
152 |
|
168 |
xv
15. Enemy Third Phase Offensive, the Opening Effort, 26 December 1950-1 January 1951 |
181 |
215 |
|
218 |
|
241 |
|
250 |
|
253 |
|
260 |
|
267 |
|
286 |
|
289 |
|
303 |
|
316 |
|
318 |
|
336 |
|
29. The RUGGED and DAUNTLESS Operations, Western Front, 1-22 April 1951 |
354 |
30. The RUGGED and DAUNTLESS Operations, Eastern Front, 1-22 April 1951 |
357 |
363 |
|
32. The Chinese Spring Offensive, the Main Effort, 22-30 April 1951 |
380 |
390 |
|
423 |
|
446 |
|
36. 38th Infantry and Task Force Zebra Positions, 16 May 1951 |
449 |
471 |
page created 2 February 2001