The Grist Mill KW (id:#63128)

(ASL 15 - Forgotten War ID: 208)   [next]   [previous]

Soesil, South Korea 1950-08-06 (1 other)

Overview:

During the night of 5 August, the KPA 4th Guards Seoul Division made its initial assault into the “Naktong Bulge”. The North Koreans pressed forward nearly two miles before the 34th’s commander, Colonel Charles Beauchamp, realized what was happening and ordered the 1st Battalion, under Lt. Col. Harold “Red” Ayres, to counterattack and restore the regiment’s position. The next morning, Ayres led C Company forward, where they encountered North Korean positions in the vicinity of Soesil village. Col. Ayres ordered C Company to seize a series of hills occupied by the KPA northwest of Soesil while he directed 60mm mortar fire in support. C Company was forced to break off the attack and fall back. The remnants took refuge in an abandoned grist mill while Col. Ayres and his staff frantically rushed back on foot to bring up the rest of the battalion. The company fought tenaciously in and around the grist mill, utilizing the .50-cal machine gun mounted on a nearby wreck to spray the surrounding hills.

Defender: American (C Company, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division)  

Errata (source)