Seventh Infantry Division - Yearbook (South Korea)

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notably the use of direct fire by 76mm tank guns spaced on the ridge lines all across the front line and the use of towed 90mm anti- tank guns. At the end of February 1952, the Division was ordered back to the reserve area at Kapyong for a well earned rest. Here an intensive training program was initiated which stressed the basic tactics of the squad and platoon on the offensive. At the end of April 1952, the 7th Division relieved the 2d Infantry Division in the im- portant central sector of the Korean battle- front. Before its movement to reserve, the Divi- sion increased the aggressive nature of its patrolling. A proportionately increased num- ber of combat patrols and small unit raids characterized the principal activity of the Division during the month. Enemy probes continued during the first few days of the month against the Division's extended MLR and OPLR positions. All probes were repulsed. Upon moving into reserve positions, the Di- vision spent 5 days rehabilitating positions. On 21 November, an intensive training pro- gram, etc. DECEMBER 1 9 5 2 From 1-29 December, the Division Was in Eighth Army reserve status at KAPYONG AND HWACHON pursuing an intensive training program. After being attached to I US Corps on 27 December, the Division effect- ed the relief of the 2nd US Division on Line JAMESTOWN QMLRD. On 29 December, the Division assumed sector responsibility for the area extending for OJOKSAN-NI to a point east of SONGHYON, in the area west of CHORWON. Upon assumption of sector responsibility for the defense of the MLR and OPLR and for the protection of the I US Corps right flank, the Division initiated an aggressive de- fense policy employing numerous patrols. Combat activity during the last days of the period consisted of small scale patrol clashes along the OPLR. JANUARY 1 9 5 3 The Division strengthened and reinforced its defenses and increased the aggressiveness of its tactical operations while continuing its defense of Line JAMESTOWN QMLRJ dur- ing January. The primary tactical operations consisted of patrolling activities and the raiding of enemy positions with the mission of capturing enemy personnel and equipment. Friendly forces operated as far as 3,000 meters for- ward of the MLR, with raiding parties rang- ing from company to seven platoon in size. Highlight of combat activity was a three platoon raid conducted on 25 January by Company E, 3 1st Infantry Regiment, against T-Bone complex. Despite supporting fires and air strikes against the objectives, three pla- toon-size assaults were unsuccessful. CNote: 3 KIA, 61 WIA in fiascol mp. FEBRUARY 1 9 5 3 Tactical activity of the Division consisted of the dispatching of an increasing number of reconnaissance and combat patrols, the the latter having the mission of capturing en- emy personnel and equipment. Two raids of platoon size were conducted against known enemy positions. Armored elements were ef- fectively employed in platoon size tank shoots to destroy enemy personnel and installations. The enemy employed larger groups and more aggressive tactics during the month, dis- patching numerous patrols and conducting seven probes of MLR positions. MARCH 1953 The Division continued to occupy and de- fend Line JAMESTOWN QMLRJ in I US Corps Sector during March. Principal tactical activity, during the first three weeks of the period consisted of the em- ployment of reconnaissance and combat pa- trols and the interception of enemy forces by friendly outguards. Emphasis was placed on capturing enemy personnel and equipment. Major combat activity of the month oc- curred on 23-24 March, when the enemy ex- ecuted five attacks against the Division MLR and OPLR positions, with one of the attacks, against OLD BALDY, being successful. On 23 March., a reinforced enemy battalion as- saulted OLD BALDY, located in the 31st In- fantry Regimental sector, and the position was seized from elements of the Colombian Bn after an intense struggle. Friendly coun-

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task force supported by an infantry-tank team which was in support of the ROK troops on the Division's left. This Task Force moved north from Wonju through Hoengsong. The 31st Regiment organized a similar artillery- infantry task force which supported the 5th and 7th ROK Divisions of the III ROK Corps on the right of the Division zone. On 12 February 1951, when the Chinese Communist and North Korean Forces launched their coordinated attack, Task Force White fought out of the trap north of Hoengsong with a minimum of losses and withdrew to Wonju to protect X Corps re- serve. The 3 lst Task Force withdrew toward Wonju without difficulty where the Division fought the enemy to a standstill before the communists could reach Chechon to cut the vital supply route of X Corps units. On 17 February, the Division attacked to drive the enemy back to restore a coordinated Eighth Army front. By a series of limited objective attacks, the 7th Infantry Division continued to push the enemy to the North. Artillery, mortar, auto- matic weapons and rifle fire and courageous hand-to-hand combat accounted for a heavy toll in enemy casualties. The 2d Battalion, 31st Infantry had ad- vanced to Hyon-ni, a small town close to the 3 8th Parallel, by 3 1 March 195 1. On 1 April 1951, the Division shifted to a new area to the East and relieved the lst Marine Division. Continuing the attack to the north, the 7th Infantry Division crossed the 38th Parallel for the first time on land. Units of the Division, after capturing the city of Yanggu on the eastern tip of the Hwachon Reservoir, successfully defeated enemy at- tempts to break that key position in an all out offensive on 23 April 1951. The Division was ordered to withdraw on 27 April to the Hangye area to straighten and strengthen the Eighth Army Line. On 1 May 1951, the Division was ordered to move to an area north of Chipyong-ni to plug a gap in the Eighth Army lines. After digging in and holding until 21 May 195 1, the Division launched a counterattack. The counterattack began slowly and gath- ered momentum until the enemy was routed. The Division continued the drive, spearhead- ing IX Corps to the key village of Hwachon about fifteen miles north of the 3 8th Parallel. Thousands of enemy troops were cut off and trapped south of the Hwachon Reservoir. From 1 June 1951 to 23 June 1951, the Division continued to attack against a stub- bornly defending enemy. On 17 June, the 7th Division successfully fought its way to a point southeast of Kumwha. On 23 June 1951, the Division reverted to IX Corps reserve, marking its first time in a reserve status since entering the Korean Cam- paign on 17 September 1950. The assigned mission of the Division was the construction and fortification of a defense line. In August 1950, the 7th Division was or- dered into defense positions north of Hwa- chon and on 26 August to 4 September lim- ited objective attacks were ordered to take key terrain 3,000 meters to the front. The ten day fight for Hills 851, 682, 461, 658 and 602 will long be remembered by the 7th Division, possibly as the most bitter fighting in her history. A determined enemy was well dug in and fortified with earthen and log bunkers, and efforts to dislodge him with heavy artillery rounds and with air strikes using 500 pound bombs and napalm proved fruitless. It was necessary for the attacking elements of the Division to climb the hills through a hail of exploding hand grenades and dislodge the enemy with bayonets. The mission was accomplished with a minimum of friendly casualties. In early October 1951, the 7th Division went into reserve at Kapyong, establishing a semi-permanent camp to be used by many other divisions after her. At the end of October the Division went back into the line above Yanggu in the area between the Mundung-ni and Satae-ri valleys straddling Heartbreak Ridge. In Novem- ber the Division Zone was extended eastward to include the Northern rim of the Punch- bowl. The Division defended this line for the entire winter, patrolling daily to the front. During December, in accordance with the partial agreement made by United Nations' and Communist mediators at Panmunjom pa- trolling was restricted to within 500 yards of the Main Line of Resistance, but during No- vember, December, January and February aggressive patrols constantly probed the en- emy as far as 5,000 meters beyond the Line. Various methods for destroying enemy bunkers were developed during this period,

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terattacks continued for two days but were unsuccessful. 2 1 MARCH Maj. Gen. Arthur G. Trudeau became CG upon the rotation of Maj. Gen. W. C. Smith. APRIL 19 5 3 Combat activity during the period was characterized by aggressive patrol clashes. Reconnaissance and combat patrols were dis- patched frequently, with missions of the lat- ter being to capture enemy personnel and equipment. There were 29 prisoners taken during the month. Highlight of the month's combat activity began on 1 6 April, when simultaneous enemy attacks were made against Outpost PORK CHOP, in the 3 lst Infantry Regimental area, and Outpost ARSENAL, in the 3 2nd Infantry Regimental sector. The action against AR- SENAL proved to be a diversionary attack and a two platoon enemy force was quickly driven off. Friendly positions on PORK CHOP were penetrated initially, but friendly rein- forcements arrived and the positions were re- gained in bitter hand-to-hand combat. Action lasted until 18 April, when a final enemy company-size attack was repulsed. The Division continued to organize and ac- tively defend positions in its sector of Line JAMESTOWN QMLRJ. The Division im- proved its defensive positions during the pe- riod by conducting an extensive fortification program. Patrol clashes along the OPLR continued to characterize the combat activity in the sec- tor. Significant actions occurred on 1 5-16 May on Outpost SNOOK and on 19-20 May on Outpost YOKE. In both engagements, the enemy attacks were repulsed and the outposts remained in friendly hands. 15-16 MAY The enemv attacked Outpost SNOOK, in the 17th Infantry Regimental sector, with an estimated company, but the reinforced squad defending the position held the enemy off with intense automatic weapons fire and grenades until reinforcements arrived and forced the enemy to withdraw. 19-20 MAY Outpost YOKE, in the 3 2nd Infantry Regi- mental sector, engaged an unknown number of enemy. The outpost, defended by a rein- forced platoon of the Ethiopian Bn, received heavy mortar and artillery fire prior to at- tacks from several approaches to the position. Enemy was forced to withdraw after sus- taining heavy casualties. Enemy casualties were 44 counted KIA and 2 PW's captured. JUNE 1953 Activity diminished somewhat during the period. The Division continued its active defense by dispatching numerous recon- naissance and combat patrols. Enemy action consisted of patrols and an occasional limited objective attacks on OPLR positions. Patrol