9th infantry regiment - command report - september 1952 · enemy wi thd.rew. two patrol contacts...
TRANSCRIPT
Korean War
9th Infantry Regiment - Command Report - September 1952
2nd Infantry Division
Korean War Project Record: USA-106
Folder: 070009
Box: 07
File: 09
National Archives and Records Administration
College Park, Maryland
Records: United States Army
Unit Name: Second Infantry Division
Record Group: RG407
Editor: Hal Barker
Korean War Project
P.O. Box 180190
Dallas, TX 75218-0190
http://www.koreanwar.org
Korean War Project 2ID-00200603
Korean War Project 2ID-00200604
COMMAND REPORT SEPT. 1952 · .
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· 9~H I NI=ANTRY RE6T. ~ t
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/EPROOUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
1IEJ:..D~ U ART ERS
9TH Il'f.il'.ANTRY REGDYIEHT
.APO ;!48, c/o Poetmast~r
San Ji're.;::lci:::co, California
( CHGP0-28)
1-30 s~ptemoer 1952
SECURITY R
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SECbRITY '·''
TABLE OF CONTZNTS
I. Introduction
I I. N ar r a. t i v e
III. Appendices
A-l. Unit Journa.ls ;.;,nd Suru,J1.,,rie s
B-l. Periodic Intelligence Rs~orts
C-1. ~sriodic Operations Re)orts
C-2. 'l'raining ~viemorandG>.
C-3. Letters of Instruction
0-4. Oper~tion Instructions
C-5. Operation ?lmns
D-1. Unit Jt)urnad, lst Bn
D-2. Unit Journal, 2nd Bn
D-3. Unit Journal, 3rd Bn
T
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DECLASSlFIED Jr Authority IJtND7'?5"/0 /. \
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As the month of
!EPROOUCEO AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES : I, , ~·-·
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AT tON
occupying 1wevio ul!ly r CJ?Ortcd. }.lO E\it ions on L :Lno J JJ':fEST01tl'N. The re;c;:Lmen t,
with headq_ua:rtc:rs at CT3Sl32:3, clla;.1gcd comr.aanders on the Zd day of the
mo:.1th, w:L th Colonel \Hlbro' Vlilson hamlinc; the rcgimentCJJ. colors to Colonel
Hau.rice :D. Stratta. The right sector, held. oy tho 3d. Bn vicinity CT;370370,
'-'!as comme,;o.dcd oy lviajor Berne:~:d. Il.ogcro; the midcll~ sector, vicinity CT339356,
was held oy the Sd Bn co:nrneJJ.clcd. "by Lt. Col. Horr:v A· Cl1;rlc Jr. v.rho had.
taken col:lr.io)ld. during the })reviou.s month; <"Jr'ld the left sector, held ·cy the
clid the rcscrvt' oatt8.lion, vicL:d ty C13:337;319, \·;hich was the l st En com-
rnanded o:,r Hajor Anthony J. TclCZa•
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II. Tactical Operations· At the beginning of the period the 9th Infantry
Regiment continued to maintain and defend positions on. Line J~vmsTO~iN with
the 2<1, 3d, and TB.U Il attalions occupying defensive positions and the 1 at
Bn in reserve. The mission of the regim~nt remained to hold the present
sector, to occupy and to maintain an active defense of the Line JA.b'::ESTOWN,
and to be prepared to repel enemy attack5 t.o includs airborne a."l..d armored •. ·. ·
The missions were accomplished by dispatching reconnaissance, ambush, and
combat patrols, by· establishing listening :posts, and by utilizing fully
direct and indirect fire 111eapons. Construction of new positions and repair
of old ones was continued to include vlinter installations euch as platoon-
sized warming bunkers, ~~d heavily instulated living bunkers.
The terrain continued to be the gre.atest hinderance to friendly oper...t
e.tions except for small reconnaissance patrols. Due to the lack of PsW,
direct information on the enomy '"as nil; however, information gained from
other intelligence sources, i·e., reconnaissance patrols of extended len~th,
proved invaluable in planning patrols and listening posts. '\'leather cond-
i tions during the period were ideal for combat operations. The road net
1t:as improved, and. bridges ·were reinforced in order to prevent the breakdo'ltm
of the road net in event of heav.y rains ruld floods. Rainfall dropped off
considerably during the period, enabling the r~"~&imen t to repair and improve·
present bun..l.{ers and build new ones·
On 1 September, at Ok130, Company K dispatched an a;11bush patrol
up an ambush vicinity Gr341390, northwest of Hill 281. The patrol
its objective and \'i'B.S fired upon by an enemy listening post vicinity
393. The friendly returned the fire. Two enemy machine guns located 50
yards to the rear of the listening post opened fire on the patrol, end the
patrol destroyed the listenins; post while attempting to destroy the machine.
' guns. The fire fight lasted 45 minutes until the patrol \ITas :forced to with-
draw because of the large ai.a.ount of enc,ny mortar fire. Thxee enemy were
counted KIA. At 0858 Company K dispatched a screening patrol to the vicinity
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CT337395 gro~oed around what ap~eared to be five litters. The friendly
engaged the enemy in a three-minute fire fight, and then the patrol was
forced to withdraw under ~nemy mortar fir~.
The lst Bn relieved the 2d Bn on position in the center sector at
062255I Se:p tem b er, and the 2d Bn closed in to the reserve are a at 070126 I;
beginning i~nediatoly to organize the area in preparation for training.
The main relief was conducted during the hours of darkness with the heav,r.
weapons infiltrating the positions tho day prior to the relief. Screening
patrols were dispatched during the relief, and the entire operation was
concluded without incident.
On 0717451, tvlO enemy were observed vicinity CT306374 carrying a bo:x:.
A patrol from the THAI Bn Company B \•ras aent out, E~.nd after maki:n.,: contact,
it captured one Piv vicinity CT306366, the lower .Alligator Jaw, \\"hile thcrJ
other enemy esca:,£Jed.. The prisone.r Wa5 une.rme.d and seemed in good condition.
An additional patrol i;iao dispatched from Company J3 to search the area for
remaining enemy with negative results.
At· 0906051, two patrols from Company K advanced to an objective vicinity
CT334393, \\'est of HA.DO.Illi:AM-GOL, in the seme area \\'here a previous :patrol had
established contact. Again those patrols made contact as they were fired·
U:.'?On by an e~timated company of enemy in trenches. An hour a.rld thirty
minute fire fight ensued, and. th® fr1end.l;y disengaged under cover
The patrols suffere.d ont KIA and eight IiVIA. La.ter that night, at
\
a sixteen-man patrol from Company K encountered an erstimated platoon of,
at CT348394, west of MYOJJ0iTG~1YON, and. just north of the friendly outpo
positions. A fire fight ensued, and the friendly di~engaged under cover
artillery and mortar. Six enemy KIA were counted, and the friendly suffered
two wu.. At 0921001 tvro platoons of Company E, 72d Te.:nk :Bn relieved two platoons
from Tank Company, 9th Infantry :Regiment on position on Line J.AMESTOi'lN. The
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lNFOR relieved platoons and prepared to conduct training.
This relief was darkness atJ.d involved tanka in
the center tanks in the ri~ht sector were not relieved
due to the dif:ficul ty in placing tanks in position, particularly in the
Company K Sector. Of. :primary difficulty here \'las the fact that the tanks
from the 72d Tank En could not ford the river due to its de-pth. The Engine~rs
were called in to help get the tanks across.
On 1222201, a combat patrol from Company K made contact with three enemy.
vicinity CT343384, northeast of CHUTOSO. A brief fire fight ensued, .and the
enemy wi thd.rew.
Two patrol contacts were reported on 14 Septemoer. At OJ:311367, west Of
N.AJ[BOJIGCHON, on the lower Alligator Jaw, a THAI Company A patrol was fired • on.
by a.'ll estimated enemy squad· Mortar was placed on the enemy, and they with
drew. The THAI Company E patrol engaged an estimahd squad of enemy at·
CT305368, on the west finger of Hill 198· A. ten minute fire fight ensued,
and the enemy withdrew at 1423101.
Five enemy engaged a patrol from Compa<"l.y L at 1521001 vicinity CT356397~
north of Hill 281 A ten-minute fire fight ensued, and the enemy withdrew.
The friendly patrol began swcer.J?ing the a.roa for po esi ble wounded enemy when .. < . ·· '.,·~·y, • •
· it wa.s at;ain engaged by enemy in approximately the oame place·
ute fire fight followed, ~1d the enemy withdrew.
On 1923251, a. Ranger combat patrol from the 1st Bn ambushed. six
were coming down a communication ditCh from the north vicinity CT309378,
the northern tip of the ~ppar Alligator Jaw. The Rangers opened fire
BARs, killing two enemy. The enemy withdrew north and west into
the Rangers per sued. The Rangers were then hit from the east with concussbn<·
grenades thro\~ by six CCF. They immed.iatey regrouped, pursuing the enemy
north into a smsll patch of i'lOOds. Again the Rangers \'lere bitt from the north
and east 'by another cncm;r group, finally disengaging and returning to the ML:R.
The fire fight lasted one hour and forty-five minutes, \;Tith the results of
five enemy KU and zi:x: Vll.A.•
On 1921001 Operation Order 4f61 was published. It set forth the order and.
details of the relief of the regiment the 1nf~1try Regiment on Line
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ordered, and all other reliefs \'lere during tho hours of darkness. The 3d Bn
in the ri~ht .sector was the :firet to be. relieved. Since it was the most vu.l-
nerable sector, it was decided to relieve this sector before the enemy became
aware rK the relief. The 3d Bn was relieved at 190Z00I at which time the 3d
. Bn, 23fl Infantry :R.e~iment assumed the sector. The 2d Bn, 9th Infantry was.
reliaved by the French :Bn of the 23d. gn 1910201. The 2d Bn gath€red. after
the move on Lin(;) ~IYOHING lrrhere it WM to d.o construction \<JOrk specified by
the 2d US Infantry Division, and it closed into new positions at 191515!. ·
Th• 1st Bn was relieved by the l:5t Bn, 23d Infantry, at 200030I at '"hich time
the re~_:,Jonsibi1ity of the re,Simental sector. passed to the 23d Infantry.
f.iortro.~ Com:;?any, Headq_ua.rters COli'\t)eJ.'ly, and HeJdical Com:;a;ny we~re each relieved.
·by lib units of the 23d Infantry duri:n,;;; the dsyli.;ht houre on 19 September.
Th~ THAI Bn was relieved on Linv J.A.MESTOWU by the 2d Bn, 23d Infantry, at
2020401, and the last elements of Tank Company, 9th Infantry, i'Tere relieved
on 20 September at \-rhich ti::":e the res-ponsibility for the security of thll!
bridges vicinity CT368093 and CT313103 was assumed. The relief i'Jas ~ffected
without incident, and e~l units cloe~d into the reserve area known as Camp
INDI.ANHE.AD vicinity CT3414 prior to 2113001.
Upon o rcler s from the Comrne.nding; General, 2d US Inf Div, the 2d Bn
began preparations for the relief of the 1st En, 38th Irdantry Regiment,
and the relief was completed at 2117301 at which time the battalion was
attached to the 38th Infantry.
on· 250943I the 1st Bn depp...rhd the reserve area enroute to KIMPO,.
inity BT878746. The battBlion closed into the
sumed responsibility for the area, .becoming an attachment to the KIMPO Prov-
On 2709301 the 2d :Bn was relieved of positions on Line JJllviESTOW'N by the
2d Bn, 38th Infantry. The battalion was relieved from attached .to 38th Inf ...
an try and closed into positions on Line WYOMING where it commenced construct-
ion work and began training an averaGe of' one-third of its coJlJJlland daily.
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SECUfiiT'f On 301330I Operation Order #62 WaD l)Ublishcd, end the regiment prepared
re~ieved elements
of the 3d US Infant . ~.bili ty. of the security of
FTC #:1 at 3012GOI and. of the 608th .Ac&~'i Radar Station at 301·130I. At. the
closo of the pEJriod, the TH.Al :Sn, Hear.Y lviortar Company, and Headquarters
Company were preparing to move to Camp CASEY.•
During 'the period that the regiment was on line, it wae supported by
Company B, 72d Tank Bn, the 15th FA En, Company A, 2d Engineer En, and one
platoon from the 82d AAJ. :Sn. Heavy Mortar Company and Tank Company fired
daily missions in patrol support ~~d. at targets of opportunity, but both were
handicappfld by strict limitation of ammunition.
At the close of the period, elements of the ra~iment were \-.ridely dis-
persed. However, close contact was maintain$d with each unit, and. prepara-
tions were btdng made to concluct maximum tr·aining while in res~rve.
III. Intelligence. The enerr.y situation a·t th~ beginning; of the period.
Units in contact wera: eli!!J11ent!:f, of the 4th, 5th, and. 3d Companies of the 2d
En, 339th Regt, ll3th Div; 38th CCF Army. Dm·ing the period there were
indications of enemy reliefs on the regimental sector, but at th0 end of
the :period no n4!w units had. been identified. The enemy is well dug in with
communication trenches end bunkers and is continually improving his
No 11£<'\1 enemy we e,pons were reported 'eluting th~ period.
Local enemy r~s~rves consisted of five compenios of infantry.
Btrength of these units is estimated to b~ 75% in men and equipment or
men.. The~• units <?.l'e supported by two artillery battalions (18 pieces),
· elamonts of two anti-tank re,iments (8 x 75mm and 76mm guns), by elements
of one unidentified tank regiment and dements of an unidentified rocket-
launcher division which is report®d to consist of three regiments of 24.x
l32mm rocklilt-launchers each. l4orale and combat effect .iveness are considered
to be good to excellent.
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talions of the 26 nts; let CCF Arty Div. Anti-
tank ~up-port is afford eO. the 4.02d ~ Re~iment, 31st lllTZ
.d Div (atte.ched to the 39th :OOF Army) tihich pos~Sess a total of 24 x 75mm
adn 24 x 57mm guns. The unidentified tank re.giment is l:lelieved to be e.n.
independ1mt re.:;·iment of 40 x T ... 34/8 tanks mountin,g 85mm guns.
The enemy poseeases stocks of all classes of supply which
adequate for a continued de,fensi n action. Ammunition has been stockpiled
forward positions in amounts large eno~h to sustain p~ offensive of seven
ten days· Evidence of this ma,y be seen inthGl lar~e amounts of secondary'
explosions and fires record5d during friendly firin~ on known or su~ected
weapons positions and communications tronches. Inf entry and special units ,
are now at better than ao% in equipment.
Communication trenches and bunkers 5$«m to bs in good condition and
are constantly bein& r®paired. Enemy combat efficiency is excellent, and
his morale is good. Co~~d Posts are located as follows: 2d En, 339th
Ee:;t, ll3th Div, 38th COF Arrrry vicinity OT303406; the 3d :Bn, 339th Regt,
ll3th Div, 38th OCJi' Army vicinity CT3340; and the 1st :Bn, 339th Re:;t,
Div, 38th CCF Army in r~serv0 vicinity CT306436.
Du.ri~ the period the snG'.l1ly continued an activf'J defclnfle of
by harras!ing friendly NLR and out:!;)ost positionn w·ith mortar and artille~:ry
fire. There were 2,100 rounds of incoming morte;r and artillery in the regi~
mental sector during the month.
In September the 9th Infantry B~giment conttnued screoning and
in~ unauthoriz&d indigenous· pereonnol as direchd durin~ the lae:t reportad : > · :period. The I&R platoon, Hsadquartors Company, maintained three road patrols.
Patrols were dispatched as during the lo.st period,. thre~ patrols per
battalion each 24--hour period. ·
The 9th Infantry wa::; rolicv~.d by the 23d Infantry on 20 September.
The relieving unite were briof~d on terrain to the front, enemy positions,
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eneliiY' contact counhr-
re.connaissanco scr~
During the reserve :pel·iod the reg;imetn contihnued to ap:pr€ihtnd all unauth ...
orized personnel aP.d extsnded the identification program to the pereone.l hire
employees in th@ attached TRAILAltD Battalion.
The same obserYation as \'las mad0 last month continued to be made.
general it is observeCl that \.;hen a friendly patrol makes contact with the
enemy either in enelmy po:<ti tionl! or during patrolling, th¢l enemy immediately
react!:! by placin~ intcn::e e;rtill~ry and mortar fir-.; on the friendly MLR .'
Normally on days \~hich shoi~ no <memy patrol contact, tho nUiT.ber of. incomin~
rounds were li~ht; on c·)ntact days, incomin~ fire was heavy~ J1vidently the
enemy hopes to deny friendly forces the opportunity to rt:inforce units in
contact with additional troops from front-line positions•
The \-Hlath@r for the period had n" major effect on operations. The
degrees ~d the minimum, 54 dc~rees.
IV.. PersonnQl
a- Stren~th. E~~inning of tho period, assigned: 146 officers,
rant officers, 3233 $nlisted tnen. End of the period• assigned: 132
23 warr~1t offic$rS, 3134 enlisted men, 35 hospital returnees, 66
replacements, 15 officer replacement:s. Authorized ~trcngth: 156
18 warr~1t officQrs, 3483 enlisted men· Thailand En stren~th: 80
1261 ~nlistcd men. ROK (attached) stren~th: 1 officer, 2 enlisted men.
K.A.TUSA. (int~gl·ated~ stre~gth: 377 enlisted men.
b.., Replacemcnh. The usual amount of li,ht and heav-.r weapons
men were received aud assi(;;nl!ld as well as a :m.umber of specialists.
durin&; the month of August, 318 enlisted replacements were received ae com-.
pared. with 66 for this month. No rotation during the month was recorded.
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c. Discipline. number of cases were processed through the
court!!! during the perio ere traffic ~~d minor
infractions, and l::lrompt ta,lcen against the violators.
Tho AWOL rate continued to remain lO\'V dull! to the excellent morale maintained
by the r ei;;iml;)n t.
d. Prisoners of v'Ta;r. One Chinese prisoner of war: was captured by the
Thailand Bn and turned over to the 2d Division.
e. Burials a.~d Graves Registration. Negative·
. f. lvlorale and Personnel Servicea. T\lTO USO Shows, 11 Cro·ta.tn Callsll
11Hollyr;rood Hi-Jinks," were presented durins: the period.,. the former at :f1e.
iVied.ical ComiJB)J.Y, th.t: ..i.ati;t:,r, SeJ:'V:J.CGl Company- Ir.i was sal.d that these were
amon& the best (!)Ver presented to the r~o.nient. 'l:.ne lte~imcmtal Chaplain,.·
Che_plia:n. (I•laj) StotsenbUl'ii£, made roli~ious servic€s availabl& to all who . . .
desired to attGnd throL1~h the othe.r chaplains 1 ;bh.ro..?lain (Capt) Carty and Ctap7 ,
lain (1st Lt) Johnston, both on the front lin~az and in the rear areas•
g. "Civil Affairs and lviilita.ry Government.· The CIC detacl:u:nent returned
44 Civilians to the rear area durin.g this peJriod1.
j. Civilian .EmployeeEJ- The regiment i,;aVe employmcn t to 84
duri~ this period to d.o odd. jobs sucll as Kl? and :ro e:4 repair.
k. Misc&llaneous. There were three recommendations for the
Star, six Bronze Star with uvn device, ten Bronze Star meritorious,
Commendation Ribbons forwarded for a;p:prova,l. Presented during the
were eleven ES uvu, two BS nMu, and three CR.
v. Lot;htics. I a• Lo~ist ical si tua.tion. Service Com;p r&J.Y remained in the area
iously reported. The Compa.ny, which had . . --
into one area, found the change a definite improvement in the requisitionin:;, '
drawin.g, and ttlrnin, ::.n of all supply itl1l.l'1l5· lt also increased the size
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its Maintenance. Sect .-.teppcd-u:p progra;n o:f vehicle reha'bilitw ~
at ion i1hich had star " e Thailand Trains continued
to be located at the Thailt:lnd li®al' area as pr~viounly reported.
b. Supply. Support~d strength durin, the period remSined at about
5,000 trOOl:>IS including the Thailand :Bn and attached and inte,ra.ted B.OK.A. and
~SA personnel.
Durini; thm period, the 2d ctuarhrmaeter supplied the re&;iment
II wint~r clothing inprcparation :for the ccmi~ wintero
receiv&d. were 7990 shirts flannel, wool OD; 4169 pair trou~ers, wool OD;
3249 pair trouser field, cotton; 3995 b~ t sleeping, mountain; 2491 Ce.!e,
sleepin~, mountain water r&pcllGnt; and 5993 liners for ba£, sleepin'
ain. A total o:f 607 stoves, tent, lv11941 com:plete and 4 heaters, hnt,
were ~lso r~ceived. Phase I clothing rece'iv&d durin~;
issued throughout the units.
The rehabilitation of vehicle!! continued throo.:h the month of
with 278 vehicles stancilcd and 72 vehicle::; painted... The OD r.-nint -v1hich
used for this :_:,rograJU "Vla.S received in sufficient quaxl.tity.
The shorta:;c of parts for vehicles v;hich occurre;d laet month eased up
durin&; this month. There >'lel'O fewer vehiclee deadlined than at any time
The Re~imental Food Advisor and hie Spt?cialist visited all units and.
made 39 inspections. On 5 September the 2d Division Food Advisor inspected
lst :Bn and on the 18th inspected the 2d En, :t'indin~ both in excellent
ition. T1110 enlisted men v-:ere sent to th~ Eta Jima Food Service Sch.ool 1
attendi~ the Mess Stewards course.
Durin' the month, the 2d Battalion, lOlst KSC R!!l,iment
con~truction of bunl::crs, road repair, and supplyin:; ilroops. The T/0 stren!ith ·
of the battalion is 1328, 65 officers and 1263. enlhhd men, but the :Bn is
not ~ to stren~th.
~aon, items :found to be incritical supply were panel ~ets, JP-50;
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mechanics tool set,·2d echelon; and camoufl~e nettinGo
In prepa;ration for the comin~ winter, unit a used shell cases for the J
winterization of tents, an e::x:pedient found. to be qu1tey· ert'ective. 'J.'ent I
. repair kite aro also being used to tho same effect.. ';
Due to last month 1z sup9ly reocrds check, unit supply records improved.·.
considerabl~r. ?eri"'dic checks of thi a nature are to continue durin.: the
next month. I
Colonel, Infantry Commanding;