Seventh Infantry Division - Yearbook (South Korea)

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Frafifie part of fensive. , It 8 was on 1 guard the Aleutian approaches, and from 11 May to 2 June 1943, combatj-teams of the 7th fought in the violent battle for Attu. Battling a Hrmly entrenched and fanatical foe under conclitionsiof dense fogs-and cold rains, troops of the 7th Division fought so successfully and heroically that eight Distinguished Unit Cita- tions wereitawarded to various units. After securing the Aleutians, the 7th Di- vision moved to Hawaii for more training and from there assaulted Kwajalein Atoll on 31 January 1944, returning to Hawaii on 14 February. The Mandate Islands Campaign and the subjugation of the Marianas was almost com- pleted When, on 20 October 1944, the Divi- sion as part of XXIV Corps, Sixth Army, and the were ta s Before was was responsible for the and tion of one, two within squad. By September 1 the ing of all Division troops and equipment was completed and the following morning the large convoy sailed from Yokohama, Japan. The Advance Division Command Post landed at Inchon, Korea on 17 September without opposition, and the units of the Divi- sion landed during the following eight days. On 24 September, the 32d Infantry Regi- ment prepared for an attack on Seoul by at- tacking and seizing the south bank of the Han River, the last natural obstacle in the spearheaded the first United States landings in the Philippines on the Island of Leyte. In this operation the 7th Division overcame the determined resistance of the enemy in swamps, tropical jungles and rugged moun- tains for sixty days of some of the bitterest fighting in the Pacific Theatre On 1 April 1945, the Okinawa and t proved its battle was Japan and assigned occupation duties. The 7th Division, commanded by Major General David G. Barr, was garrisoned on the islands of Honshu andI-Iokkaido at the out- break of hostilitiesi in -iia Kgorerapflan early A ' 'f W ' 1 11g, :mgySv-fffH,wff'f' ' jgg ,112 . Q, r .M ,J ,Q We ,,, ,i ' . V '-anis, 5 vw, ,1- path of South Korea's capital city. At da on 25 September, attack across the fire. It

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GENERAL MARK CLARK I wish the sceptics could visit the un- happy peninsula of Korea. There are many nations contribut- ing blood and treasure to the measure of their capability. There are men of many races, creeds, colors, and nation- alities sharing the warm bond of mutual respect and confidence. No one can question the selflessness and brav- ery of these great soldiers. No one should question the sincerity of pur- pose that carries them through a battle they know they cannot, must not, and will not lose.

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7II1 INFANTRY DIVISION Seoul to South Korean President Syngman Rhee in a ceremony at the capitol. On 5 October, the 7th Division began a 300 mile overland movement to Pusan. A11 units had closed in Pusan by 1 5 October, and immediately began training and loading oper- ations for the projected landing at Wonsan, North Korea. On 29 October, the 17th Infantry Regi- ment landed on the beaches of Iwon, North Korea, to spearhead the attack which was to carry elements of the 7th Division to the Manchurian border. The Division fought northward through Pungsan and Kapsan, reaching the northern border of Korea and the Yalu River at Hysenjin on 21 November. Enemy resistence during this operation varied from tenacious small groups to battalions holding key terrain. The 31st Regiment continued to advance and patrol in the Fusen Reservoir area meet- ing constant light resistance, while the 32d sent one battalion to the Chosin Reservoir by way of Hamhung. All units continued ag- gressive advances despite sub-zero weather, snow and the lack of good roads. Ox carts and pack boards were often used to transport ammunition and food. At one time, forward elements at the Yalu and those in the Chosin area were separated by 250 road miles. As the Chinese Communist threat grew, the 31st Regimental Command Post, the 3d Bat- talion of the 31st, the lst Battalion of the 32d, and the 57th Field Artillery Battalion advanced along the eastern shore of the Chosin Reservoir. The lst Marine Division was advancing on the western shore. The task forces of these two divisions, after being at- tacked and surrounded by six Chinese Com- munist Divisions on 28 November, began to fight their way south to join forces at Haga- ru-ri at the southern extremity of the reser- voir. The mobile reserve force, consisting of the 2d Battalion of the 31st Infantry and a Marine tank company, attempted to move north to join the two task forces at Hagaru-ri. Obstructed by heavy enemy attacks fifteen miles south of the reservoir at the town of Koto-ri, this reserve force established a de- fense perimeter around the town and pre- pared for the arrival of the task forces. The remainder of the Division in the Yalu River area and in the Fusen Reservoir area traveled quickly and without notable resistance to Hungnam and set up a defense perimeter there. By 8 December 1950, the 7th Division task force and the lst Marine task force, after joining forces at Hagaru-ri, had fought their way south to the Koto-ri perimeter against overwhelming enemy forces. By 1 1 December, after suffering severe casualties from the in- tense battle, the last elements of the Division reached Hungnam. After completing its defensive preparations at Hungnam and repulsing numerous enemy attacks, the Division completed its outloading on 19 December. Landing at Pusan, the Divi- sion displaced north 50 miles to an assembly area in the vicinity of Yongchon. On 1 January 1951, the 7th Division be- gan its move from the reorganization area at Yongchon to the eastern central mountain front in the Chechon-Tanyang-Chungju area. The 17th Regiment Went into blocking and patrolling positions in the vicinity of Chechong the 32d in Yanyang and the 31st in the Yonju-Punggi area-later moving to Tanyang. The units patrolled extensivelv in these mountainous areas where roads were non-existent. Battalion sized attacks were employed by the Regiment to destroy and drive out the North Korean forces in this rough mountain area, and within three weeks the Division had eliminated the remaining elements of the 2d and 10th North Korean Divisions. On 26 January 19 5 1, the Division launched an attack to the north toward Pyongchang, which was taken by the 17th Infantrv Regi- ment. The 17th was later moved to the west and the 3 lst advanced to Pyongchang, while the 32d secured the MSR and patrolled throughout its area. The 17th and 31st In- fantry Regiments conducted limited obiec- tive attacks to assist the advance of the ROK units on the Division flanks and to prevent any unit from becoming over-extended. The operation was in conformity with the Eighth Army limited advance policy. The '17th Infantry Regiment organized Task Force White, an artillery-infantry