9th Cavalry Regiment
Korean War
"We Can, We Will"
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It happened before dawn on 25 June 1950. Less than 5 years after the terrible
devastations of World War II, a new war broke out from a distant land whose
name means "Morning Calm". The decision of the United States to send immediate
aid to South Korea came two days after the fast moving North Korean broke
through the ROK defenses and sent tanks into the capital city of Seoul. In
addition to the Air Force, Navy an Marines, a 1,000 man battalion from the
24th Infantry Division, including many specialists and noncommissioned
officers transferred from the 1st Cavalry Division, arrived 30 June with a
promise that more help was on the way.
On 18 July the 1st Cavalry Division was ordered to Korea. Initially scheduled
to make an amphibious landing at Inchon, it was redirected to the southeastern
coast of Korea at Pohang-dong a port 80 miles north of Pusan. The North
Koreans were 25 miles away when elements of the 1st Cavalry Division swept
ashore to successfully carry out the first amphibious landing of the Korean
War. The 8th Cavalry Regiment, reinforced by division artillery and other
units, moved by rail, truck and jeep to relieve the 21st Regiment, 24th
Division near Yongdong. By 22 July, all regiments were deployed in battle
positions; in itself a remarkable logistical achievement in the face of
Typhoon Helene that pounded the Korean coastline.
The 1st Battalion, 8th Regiment was deployed north of Taegu, now the temporary
capital of South Korea and astride the direct line of enemy advance. In the
meantime the 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment held positions on the road from Maju
to the southwest. Their baptism of fire came on 23 July. The 8th Regiment was
hit by heavy artillery fire and mortar barrage, and North Korean infantrymen
swarmed toward their entrenched positions. The next day the troopers suffered
their first severe combat losses. For more than 50 days between mid July and
mid September, the First team troopers and the UN Forces performed the
difficult, bloody task of holding on to the vital Pusan Perimeter.
On 01 August 1950, the 16th Reconnaissance Company (a unit eventually
consolidated with the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry in 1957), and the lead
reconnaissance unit of the 1st Cavalry Division, conducting a patrol toward
and beyond Chirye was stopped by enemy fire. With their return route blocked
by the North Koreans, the troopers moved ahead until their vehicles were
knocked out, then moved on foot to friendly lines. Elements of the 16th
Reconnaissance Company barely escaped destruction by these enemy tanks, and
did suffer casualties. Out of the original roster of 57 men, 44 made it safely
back by crossing 35 miles of difficult mountain terrain.
The turning point in this bloody battle came on 15 September 1950, when
MacArthur unleashed his plan to go around the advancing North Korean Army,
Operation
Chromite - an amphibious landing at Inchon, far behind the North
Korean lines. In spite of the many negative operational reasons given by
critics of the plan, the Inchon landing was an immediate success allowing the
1st Cavalry Division to break out of the perimeter and start fighting north.
The routes North was heavily mined. Rather than have the engineering battalion
methodically screen and dig up the mines, 17 tanks of "A" Company, 70th Tank
Battalion were sacrificed to rapidly clear the mines along the routes. It was
during this massive offensive that the 3rd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment,
"C" Company and the "I" & "R" Platoon of the 70th Tank Battalion made the
historical mission of "Task Force Lynch", the Pusan Perimeter Breakout through
106.4 miles of enemy held territory to link up with the 7th Infantry Division
at Osan.
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From 28 September to 03 October, major efforts concentrated on mopping up
operations of the large sector assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division. In its
rapid advance to Osan, the 1st Cavalry Division cut off elements of the 105th
Armored Division in the Ansong and Pyongtaek area along with miscellaneous NKA
units in the Taejon area. On the 28th, elements of "C" Company, 70th Tank
Battalion, and "K" Company, 7th Cavalry, with the strong assistance of
fighter-bombers, destroyed at least seven of ten T34's in the Pyongtaek
area.
By 04 October, the division had re-instated the Northern offensive movements.
On 05 October, the 1st Cavalry Division advanced north of Seoul for the
purpose of securing the US I Corps assembly area near the 38th Parallel. Led
by "I" Company, the 5th Cavalry Regiment crossed to the north side of the
Imjin River at Munsan-ni. On 07 October, the 16th Reconnaissance Company, (the
former 302nd Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop - redesignated on 25
March 1949), entered Kaesong, and that evening elements of the 1st Battalion,
8th Cavalry Regiment, arrived there. By evening of 08 October the 7th and 8th
Cavalry Regiments had secured the I Corps assembly area in the vicinity of
Kaesong. Some of the troops were within small arms range of the 38th Parallel.
On 09 October, the 1st Cavalry Division crossed the 38th Parallel. On 19
October, troopers of the 1st Cavalry Division crashed into Pyongyang,
capturing the capital city of North Korea. This event marked the third "First"
for the Division:
"First in Pyongyang".
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Needs Data
On 20 October 1950, in a related event that happened back in the states, the
9th Cavalry Regiment was converted, redesignated as the 509th Tank Battalion,
relieved from assignment to the 2nd Cavalry Division and activated on 01
November 1950, in accordance with the provisions of General Order Number 7,
issued by the Headquarters of Camp Polk, Louisiana. The cadre of twenty
enlisted men arrived from Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Lewis, Washington.
Lieutenant Colonel John T. Davis assumed command and basic training for
Companies "A", "B" & "C" began on 20 November. On 11 December, the battalion
was attached to the 15th Armored Cavalry Group.
At the beginning of the year 1951, the 509th Tank Battalion was engaged in
basic training. During the month of March, the majority of the personnel
completed their basic training and commenced on the Advanced Individual
Training. Platoon training was begun in May. This effort was characterized by
repeated running of platoon problem involving attacks, withdrawals and
sustained defense. In mid May, range firing was begun using 76mm guns.
In May, Major Charles M. Truax, former Battalion Executive Officer, assumed
temporary command of the battalion, replacing Lieutenant Colonel John. T.
Davis. On 10 June, Lieutenant Colonel Ian F. Turner arrived to assume full
command of the battalion. In support of the local training, a large number of
the enlisted men were sent to Fort Knox to attend courses in motors or tank
commanding. On 15 August, the battalion was ordered to add ten weeks of
training to their schedule to build a stronger foundation in tactics and
gunnery. On 22 October, all platoons had completed their tests with ratings
of satisfactory. On 11 December 1951, the 509th Tank Battalion completed the
field tests, including moving into an assembly area, perimeter defense, plans,
movement into attack position, attack, defense and withdrawal.
The year 1953 began with the battalion remaining in a "caretaker" status with
the mission of maintaining stored equipment and readying itself for tactical
reconstitution. During the month of April, the battalion was integrated. As of
30 April, the personnel roster consisted of twenty percent African-American
and eighty percent Caucasian
Needs Data
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The Korean War wound down to a negotiated halt when the long awaited armistice
was signed at 10:00 on 27 July 1953. A DeMilitarized Zone (DMZ), a corridor -
4 kilometers wide and 249 kilometers long, was established dividing North and
South Korea. The nominal line of the buffer zone is along the 38th parallel;
however, the final negotiations of the adjacent geographical areas, gave the
North Korean Government some 850 square miles south of the 38th parallel and
the South Korean Government some 2,350 square miles north of it.
On 20 August 1957, the First Cavalry Division, guarding the northern sections
of Honshu, Japan was reduced to zero strength and transferred to Korea (minus
equipment). On 23 September 1957, General Order 89 announced the redesignation
of the 24th Infantry Division as the 1st Cavalry Division and ordered a
reorganization of the Division under the "pentomic" concept, In ceremonies
held on 15 October, the colors of the 24th Division were retired and the
colors of the 1st Cavalry Division were passed to the Commanding General of
the old 24th Division, Major General Ralph W. Zwicker. "The First Team" had
returned, standing ready to defend Korea against Communist aggression. The
redesignated and reorganized First Cavalry was assigned the mission of
patrolling the "Freedom's Frontier" (DMZ).
On 15 October 1957, as a part of the pentomic reorganization, Company "A",
509th Tank Battalion, 9th Cavalry, previously inactivated at Fort Knox,
Kentucky was redesignated Troop "A", 9th Cavalry. Subsequently, on 01 November
1957, Troop "A", 9th Cavalry was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters
Troop, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Cavalry; consolidated with the 16th
Reconnaissance Company and assigned to 1st Cavalry Division and activated in
Korea. The squadron served as the "eyes and ears" of the 1st Cavalry Division.
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One of the most unique, and certainly most outstanding unit of the 1st Cavalry
Division, was the Demilitarized Zone Police Company (Provisional). The 150
officers and troopers of the company had the important mission of maintaining
law and order in the United Nations Command section of the demilitarized zone
forward of the Division sector. In addition, the unit had responsibility for
civil control of Tae Song Dong, a small village located in the DMZ, which was
under control of the United Nations.
An all-volunteer outfit, the company, composed of a headquarters platoon and
three line platoons, performed its mission 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
by manning observation posts and patrolling in and along the demilitarized
zone. One platoon would cover the zone in the daytime and two were assigned
to night operations. A patrol consisted of three men, carrying the equipment
that they needed for their specific mission. They always reported in every
thirty minutes. Diligent performance was achieved by screening applicants for
ability, experience and intelligence. Duty was rugged, but high spirits were
maintained by the keen sense of mission importance shared by members of the
unit.
Unlike most of the other subordinate units of the Division, The DMZ Police
Company had never been in combat nor did it have a long history. However, in
its short life span, it constantly performed one of the most important and
toughest duties of the Free World defense. On 01 April 1960. the DMZ Police
Company was inactivated and its security mission, along with assigned
personnel, was transferred to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th
Cavalry.
On 01 September 1963 the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron was reorganized and
redesignated as the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry. The unit remained on duty at
the DMZ until 01 July 1965 when it were transferred (less personnel and
equipment) from Korea to Fort Benning, Georgia and reorganized.
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NOTE - Although fighting was stopped, in July 1953, by the armed truce, North
and South Korea have remained officially in a state of war for forty-five
years, signified by the fact that over 1,000 UN personnel have been killed in
duty at the DMZ. As of today, because of communist obstructionist tactics,
years have gone by and no peace treaty has ever been agreed to and signed. An
ever present "alert" status is in effect, as evidenced by the presence of a
North Korean military force of 1.1 million troops stationed within miles of
the Demilitarized Zone facing the South Korean force of 660,000 troops
supported by 37,000 American soldiers stationed in the area.
On 15 June 2000 the first major breakthrough leading to more stable, peaceful
conditions in the Korean Peninsula came about by the signing of a landmark
agreement committing the Koreans to work toward reunification, to allow the
reunions of families separated during the Korean War, and to improve economic
cooperation between the two nations. While the joint communication was short
of specifics, it signaled that the leaders, South Korean President, Kim
Dae-jung and North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il hoped to put relations on the
Korean Peninsula on an even footing and raised hopes for the eventual
reunification of the nations. Later, South Korean officials outlined plans for
implementing the historic agreement -- including the creation of a military
hotline and building a railway crossing at the nations' heavily patrolled
border.
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0n 01 November 2009, South Korean Officials opened a new bike trail along the
Civilian Control Line (CCL), east and west of the Unification Bridge, on a
limited basis with an eye toward promoting exercise, tourism and the idea of
an eventual reunification of the peninsula. The trail is in an off limits area
for most civilians since Korean War hostilities ended in 1953. One of the
objectives is to promoting a wish for peace and hoping for unification and
appreciating the great nature preserved so well at the DMZ. It is the chance
of a lifetime, to ride on a new bicycle trail through an area that has been
shut off from most of mankind for decades.
Riders have to pass through a military checkpoint to get onto the trail, but
the CCL is a good five miles south of the actual DMZ and within the sight of
the sometimes unpredictable soldiers of North Korea. The ride is filled with
memorable sights. The rivers of the area are unmarred by boat or fisherman.
The terrain is relatively flat, absent of any houses, and, in the distance in
every direction, there are postcard-worthy views of the mountains. This truly
would be a nature-lover's paradise, were it not for the armed soldiers, the
guard towers and all the barbed wire.
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