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Korean War: Forgotten 24th and 34th Infantry RegimentsMilitary History | 12 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post
While confusion in its command structure bedeviled the 34th Infantry, the 24th, commanded by Colonel Horton V. White, suffered because of an additional factor–segregation. Many of the black regiment’s white officers held prejudices that affected both their leadership and their later evaluations of the 24th’s troops. Subscribe Today
The regiment experienced its first significant action in Korea when its 3rd Battalion, under Lt. Col. Samuel Pierce, Jr., tried to retake the town of Yechon on July 19, 1950. Darkness intervened in the attack, but the 3rd seized the town on the following day with little trouble. Taking Yechon was unimportant in itself, but it greatly boosted regimental morale, since that was the first town retaken by U.S. troops since the war began. Yechon was turned over to troops of the ROK Capital Division’s 28th Regiment, who later lost it during an enemy counterattack.
On August 6, Company L was ambushed near the town of Sobuk with a fury and suddenness that left the unit in disarray. Company M was struck that night. During that fight, machine-gunner Pfc William Thompson gave his life to stop the enemy and save many of his comrades, for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Meanwhile, a task force built around Company I and a platoon of another segregated unit, the black 77th Engineer Combat Company (ECC), was ambushed on its way to contact U.S. forces near Chindong-ni. At least 12 men were killed and an unknown number wounded, and seven or eight members of the 77th ECC were missing. The unit’s commander, Captain Charles M. Bussey, later rescued those men in a daring foray.
That day, too, a sick Colonel White was relieved of command by 57-year-old Colonel Arthur S. Champeny, and Colonel Pierce of the 3/24th was wounded in action. Lt. Col. John T. Corley, a highly respected officer, took command of the 3/24th on August 9. On the 12th, his battalion attacked through the rugged mountains just south of Sobuk-san (Hill 738), an area of high, very steep, narrow-topped ridges and deep valleys. By the 13th, it was stalled by terrain and a stubborn enemy. A long, bloody struggle for control of some of those ridges went on from mid-August until the breakout from the perimeter in late September.
On August 15, the 24th Infantry held the center of the 25th Division’s Pusan perimeter line. In the north, its positions were on relatively low ground, but as they went south, the line extended along ever steeper and more rugged ridges. The line included Battle Mountain (also known as Hill 665, Old Baldy, Napalm Hill or Bloody Knob), the Rocky Crags and Pil-bong (Hill 743) and extended to a point about 4,000 yards short of Sobuk-san (a k a Bloody Sobuk). A force of ROK troops was placed on Sobuk. From Sobuk, the ridges gradually became smaller as they neared Korea’s southern coast, where the 5th RCT was located.
There were no trails or roads up either Battle Mountain or Pil-bong. It took climbers in good condition two to three hours to ascend Pil-bong, and three or four hours to climb Battle Mountain. Supply bearers needed six hours for a Battle Mountain round trip.
Maintaining wire communications was a nightmare. North Korean patrols constantly cut the wire, then ambushed wiremen trying to find the break. Evacuation of the wounded was even more difficult. It took six men to carry a stretcher off the mountain, often accompanied by an aid man and escorted by riflemen for protection. When it rained, the terrain was almost impossible to negotiate. That demoralizing situation would improve later in the war, when helicopters were introduced to evacuate the wounded.
On August 18, elements of the NKPA 6th Division attacked the 2/24th on Battle Mountain, overrunning Company E, and on the 19th they attacked the 1/24th, driving Company C from its position. Company A held on. According to Lt. Col. Roy Appleman, author of the Army’s official history, the attack on the 18th tore a hole ‘nearly a mile wide in the line north of Pilbong,’ which the enemy could exploit. 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