Seventh Infantry Division - Yearbook (South Korea)

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Jiiiiii - A is Mine sweeper team probe the hillside for hidden mines as they loy communication wire through field. Member of Co. C , 31st Inf. Regt. keeps sharp lookout for signs of the enemy forces.

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vii . A V' Toe-io-foe baffle wiih the enemy. similar task group and supported the Sth and 7th ROK Divisions of the III ROK Corps, which was on the right of the Division zone. Thus the combined UN forces moved northward against the Reds. Then on 12 February, 1951, the Chinese and North Korean forces began their spring counter-offensive. In some ways it was more determined than the counter- attack in November, but the UN troops were ready this time. Task Force White was trapped briefly north of Hoengsong but fought its way out with a minimum of losses and withdrew slowly to Wonju there to protect the X Corps reserve. The 31st Task Force pulled back to Wonju without difficulty and there fought a toe-to- toe battle with the enemy which resulted in a stalemate, thus preventing the Commies from reaching Chechon and cutting the vital supply route of the X Corps units. Two days later on February 17th, the Division launched a mass attack and drove the Reds back, restoring once

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lt. William R. Ponder scans ridge with field glasses. ROK soldiers move across a field during field training problem more a coordinated Eighth Army front. Using a series of limited objective attacks, the 7th was able to tip the see-saw scales in its favor and slowly drive its way back north. Vicious hand-to-hand encounters and artillery, mortar, automatic and rifle fire took a heavy toll in enemy casualties. By the end of the first three months of 1951, the 2nd Battalion, 31st Infantry, had advanced to Hyon-ni, a small town close to the 38th Parallel. On 1 April, the 7th shifted to a new area, this time in the eastern sector to relieve the war-weary lst Ma- rine Division. The Bayonet Division, picking up Where the Leathernecks had left off, continued to attack north and, early in April, added another first,' to their dis- tinguished Korean record. The Division battled its Way across the 38th Parallel-marking the first time a UN force had crossed the line on land. The target was the key city of Yanggu and units of the Division smashed their way into the city on the eastern tip of the Hwa- A 75-mm Recoilless rifle team waits in readiness to offer support fire to other units. . -fx in f. t i '7,,d ., -.f s - -f,Q ,,f,.af Y - 'ti ,Mx 15, cfs- W- A K is ,J V 7-,..v 4 .-