Tf Smith 21st Infantry W Korea War Sv Merch

On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, a American task force of 540 infantry supported by an artillery battery, was moved to Osan, south of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and was ordered to fight as a rearguard to delay the advancing North Korean forces while more US troops arrived to form a stronger defensive line to the south. North Korean tank column of T34/85 breached US lines, the task force opened fire on a force of some 5,000 North Korean infantry that were approaching its position, which held up their advance. North Korean troops eventually flanked and overwhelmed the US positions.

On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, an American task force of 540 infantry supported by an artillery battery, was moved to Osan, south of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and was ordered to fight as a rearguard to delay the advancing North Korean force. The task force lacked both anti-tank guns and effective infantry anti-tank weapons and had been equipped with obsolete 2.36-inch rocket launchers. A North Korean tank column equipped with ex-Soviet T-34/85 tanks overran the task force.

On July 5, 1950, Task Force Smith, an American task force of 540 infantry supported by an artillery battery, was moved to Osan, south of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and was ordered to fight as a rearguard to delay the advancing North Korean force. The task force lacked both anti-tank guns and effective infantry anti-tank weapons and had been equipped with obsolete 2.36-inch rocket launchers. A North Korean tank column equipped with ex-Soviet T-34/85 tanks overran the task force.

Delaying invasion of South Korea 2 July 1950: Pusan, South Korea; 52d FAH arrives ovemight from Japan via LSTs, unloads a~d moves north by train toward Pyongtaek. 52d FA(-) consists of Battery A with six 105mm howitzers, Half of Hqs Battery and half of Svc Battery. 4 July 1950; Pyongtaek, South Korea; Battery A. 52d FA attached to Task Force Smith (B and C com panies, 1/21 st Inf. 24th Division). 5 July 1950: Osan, South Korea; A little after eight in the moming, Battery A, 52d FA fires the first American artillery round of the Korean War. Battery A has only 6 HEAT2 rounds. The fiv~ 105mm howitzers account for five North Korean tanks before the battery is overrun and the gun$ lost. The sixth 105mm howitzer had been left behind at Pyongtae