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Korean War: Forgotten 24th and 34th Infantry RegimentsMilitary History | 12 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post
The regiment had lost two commanders in two days, along with the operations officers of the regiment and of the 3rd Battalion. A number of other senior officers were also gone. Moreover, the two battalions of the 34th had been placed in no-win situations, as at Pyongtaek and Chonan. Subscribe Today
At about 5 p.m. on July 12, the NKPA attacked the 1/34th near Kongju. The battalion held until about 2:30 a.m. on the 13th, then silently withdrew, concealed in the shadow of a hill.
On July 13, the 34th and 19th Infantry regiments, plus the divisional recon company and the I&R platoon, defended a 34-mile-long line on the Kum River, the first major obstacle to the NKPA’s advance since they had crossed the Han River farther north. The 34th’s 3rd Battalion was on the river, and the 1st was at Yongsong, about two miles to the south.
An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 troops of the NKPA 4th Division, backed by 20 tanks of the 105th Brigade’s 793rd Tank Battalion, were poised to attack the 34th Regiment at Kongju, while roughly the same number of men from the NKPA 3rd Infantry Division prepared to take on the 19th. American front-line strength along the Kum was not more than 2,000 men.
Communications within the 3/34th were poor. Telephone wire was almost unobtainable, and most radios lacked replacement batteries. All three rifle companies of the battalion were distributed along a two-mile river front. That night the 40 exhausted men of Company K were evacuated to Taejon, leaving about 104 men in the remaining two units to carry on the defense. On the 14th, while North Korean mortar and artillery fire fell on the battalion, an estimated 500 soldiers of the NKPA 16th Regiment crossed the Kum River about two miles to the south. Believing his position untenable, the Company L commander, 1st Lt. Archie L. Stith, withdrew his unit around 11 a.m. Stith then left to find the battalion CP, which he finally located 20 miles south of Konju, and reported his decision to the new battalion commander, Major Newton W. Lantron–who summarily relieved him of command and threatened to court-martial him.
The NKPA 16th Infantry also attacked the 63rd Field Artillery Battalion (FAB). At least two of the battalion’s howitzers were destroyed by North Korean mortar fire. The men were unable to get the other eight guns out, so they disabled them.
Ayres’ 1/34th was ordered to the 63rd FAB positions to’save any men or equipment in the area,’ but was told to return at dark. His men met intense small-arms and machine-gun fire from high ground overlooking the artillery position. After locating a few wounded men and some jeeps in operating condition, he withdrew the battalion to Nonsan at nightfall.
Company I had stayed in its Kum River position. Except for shelling, the NKPA left the unit alone. It was withdrawn at 9:30 p.m.
On July 19, the 1/34th Infantry was positioned along the Kapchon River west of Taejon, astride the Kongju Road. The 2/19th Infantry, south of the 1/34th, was also on the Kapchon, defending the Nonsan Road.
At daylight on July 20, the NKPA 4th Division’s 5th Infantry Regiment struck the 1/34th with infantry and six to eight tanks, forcing Company B northward. Company A held until about 11 a.m., when it withdrew toward Taejon. The battalion CP was attacked at 4 a.m. and forced to displace an hour later.
The 2/19th Infantry was also attacked. Since the 1/34th had apparently withdrawn, the 2/19th commander began withdrawing his battalion. By 10 a.m., both battalions had pulled out, opening the way to Taejon.
In the battle for Taejon, rocket-launcher teams from several units including the 3/34th (which had been deployed to the rear of the 1st Battalion and on the northern road into Taejon) knocked out eight T-34 tanks. However, a counterattack into the gap between the 1st Battalion and 2/19th Infantry by elements of the 3/34th Infantry shortly after daylight was thwarted by six North Korean tanks and a battalion of the 5th Infantry. Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
            Tags: 20th - 21st Century, Historical Conflicts, Korean War
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12 Comments to “Korean War: Forgotten 24th and 34th Infantry Regiments”
My brother inlaw served in the Korean
war with the 24th division company A 19th regiment,he is trying to locate information on his unit.
By myles eidsmoe on Jul 9, 2008 at 5:17 pm
HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW I SUBSCRIDE TO MILITARY
HISTORY MAGAZINE.
By fFletcher R. Dunaway on Dec 23, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Thanks for the information! My uncle was in L co. 34th Inf. Rgt. and was killed at Taejon. This document helped my research.
By Lee Olyer on Feb 7, 2009 at 4:13 pm
My father, James, (Jimmy) Brown was one of the 184 remaining in the 34th Regiment. Then became part of the 19th. Also was in the 82nd Airborne. He is looking for others that he might have known. He is now 78. He can be contacted at JamesandIsabelBrown@gmail.com
Thank you,
By Brenda Brown on Apr 9, 2009 at 1:17 pm
My grandmothers brother served in the 24th infantry, his name was Clarence William Coe..
By Taylor on May 11, 2009 at 5:06 pm
My dad, Howard Thomas, Sr. served in the 24th Infantry Divsion Korean War. Received a purple heart and bronze medal. Doesn’t talk much about what happended. I would like to know more about what my dad endured during this time.
His daughter, Holly.
By Holly Ciecierski on Jun 8, 2009 at 12:12 pm
My dad, Clyde A. Jones served with the Segregated last of the last 24th Infantry Division Korean War 1950 -1952 (I Company) and received a purple heart. My Name is Chrystal Jones and I a member of the 24th Infantry R.C.T. Association (Buffalo Soldiers). We are always trying to find more comrades that may be out there and needing information, please give me a call at 865-882-7370 if you’re interested information on the 24th Infantry R.C.T. Association. We have a reunion every year the 2nd or 3rd week of July, and this year it will be in Houston, Texas July 22-26, 2009.
By Chrystal Jones on Jun 16, 2009 at 5:23 pm
My father, Sgt. Frederick F Davis JR, served with the 24th Infantry regiment, 25th Division when he died of injuries on 11/19/50. He was born in Houston and was living in NYC when he entered the army in 1942.
By Frederick F Davis III on Jun 30, 2009 at 6:18 pm
My father, Sgt. Frederick F Davis JR, served in the 24th Infantry Regiment (Company F?), 25th Division. He died of injuries in Korea on 11/19/50 at age 26. He was born in Houston and was living in NYC when he entered the army in 1942. He was with the 577th Engineers Dump Truck Det. in 1948 when I was born at Scholfield. My sister, Leilani was born the next year in Honolulu. My mom, Irma (still in good health), returned to Cleveland, OH with us after my father was shipped to Korea.
By Frederick F Davis III on Jun 30, 2009 at 6:53 pm
My uncle Hubert H. Johnson, was a soldier in the 24th infantry in Korea 3 division – segregated. His family is having a memorial and reinterment on July 24, 2009. Moving him from Pensacola to a new military facility in Jacksonville, FL. This is a special moment for our family as his mother has died. She cried all the time for her young son who was not 18 years old. So many others from Stanton High School were lost as well. The memorial will be held at the Bethel Baptist Inst. Church at 11:00am. To God Be the Glory! No one will ever no the complete hell they went through for this country. This is heart breaking as is all wars necessary and unecessary.v
By vala williams on Jul 21, 2009 at 3:35 pm
After i left the 45th div.279th inf. b co. 1st. btn after the cease fire
I was transferd to the 24th. 34th inf.L co.and spent the last few months before i was rotated home.Iwould love to learn more about the unit in ehich I served. I have a few photos of that time that i could share.
do you have a assocition i f so I would like to become a member and timme is of the essence as i am approching 77 years.
thank you
cpl. melvin b. Forston.
my emali adress is melmen@cox.net
By m b forston on Jul 21, 2009 at 7:04 pm
this is my Uncle he died before i was born I am trying to find info about him and pics if there are any because there in none of him in the family any more they was lost so i do not even know what he looked like please contact me at memphisconnie@comcast.net thank you
CPL OTTIS D JOHNSON
34th Infantry Regiment
24th Infantry Division
Army
Hostile, Died (KIA)
Date Of Loss: July 20, 1950
Service Number: RA15257526
RUSSELL COUNTY, KY
Location of Loss: TAEJON
Born: January 14, 1927
Comments: Corporal Johnson was a member of the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy near Taejon, South Korea on July 20, 1950.
By Connie on Nov 13, 2009 at 7:16 am