Korean War

United States Army
Overview

by Greg Novak

The next country to be involved in the conflict was that of the United States. One must remember that the United States saw the war In Korea as part of the Soviet plot to take over the world, and remembering all too well the failure of appeasement to stop Hitler, the United States was determined to take a stand against aggression. Even before going to the United Nations for approval the United States ordered its Armed Forces to take up positions in Korea in a "police action" to halt aggression.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The main element of the Armed Forces of the United States that would see combat in Korea was the United States Army. Since the end of the Second World War. the 8th Army had been stationed In Japan on occupation duty. The return of the draft due to the outbreak of the Cold War in 1948 had ensured that the minimum strength of the Army would be maintained, but also meant that the eyes of the Army were turned towards the possible outbreak of the "next war" in Europe. The 8th Army in Japan was considered to be a backwater assignment; plush, soft occupational duty where life was easy.

Due to its limited role, the 8th Army had been stripped down to its bare bones. Infantry regiments fielded but two battalions, and even those were at reduced strength. Artillery battalions had only two firing batteries. instead of three. Even the Army's Corps Headquarters were disbanded, leaving the 8th Army in direct command of its four divisions: the 7th, 24th, and 25th Infantry Divisions. and the dismounted 1st Cavalry Division.

One very interesting exception remained to the 2 battalion rule as the 24th Infantry Regiment, one of the two post Civil War black regiments, was allowed to keep all three battalions, as well as all of the black soldiers assigned to the 8th Army. Truman may have ordered the Army desegrated in 1948, but the news had not reached Japan in 1950.

The 8th Army had attempted in 1949 to transform itself into a lean and trim fighting machine, but the nature of the occupation prevented it from ever really taking shape. The 8th Army had more than its share of combat experienced officers and NCO's, but to most of its enlisted men the concept of warfare was passe. After all, the United States had the Atomic Bomb, so who needed to learn how to fight?

Even more important, ones pay as a private in Japan meant that all soldiers who wanted one could a afford a "smoose", a Japanese housegirl who cleaned one's gear, did one's KP, took care of his quarters, and did other services as required. One of the greatest problems for the US Army early on in Korea, was the number of men who were shot attempting to clean their weapons as it had been so long since they had actually done it that they had forgotten how to do it.

The following US Infantry Divisions served in Korea in 1950, having the following components:

    2nd Infantry Division: 9th, 23rd, and 38th Infantry Regiments, 15th, 37th, and 38th Artillery Battalions (105m Howitzer), 12th Artillery Battalion, (155m Howitzer), 2nd Engineer Battalion, 72nd Tank Battalion, 82nd AAA Battalion.

    3nd Infantry Division: 7th. 15th. and 65th (Porto Rico) Infantry Regiment, 10th, 39th, and 58th Artillery Battalions. (105mm Howitzer). 9th Artillery Battalion, (155mm Howitzer), 10th Engineer Battalion, 3rd AAA Battalion, 64th Tank Battalion.

    7th Infantry Division: 17th, 30th, and 31th Infantry Regiments, 48th, 49th and 57th Artillery Battalions, (105m Howitzer), 31st Artillery Battalion. (155mm Howitzer), 13th Engineer Battalion. 15th AAA Battalion. 73rd Tank Battalion.

    24th Infantry Division: 19th, 21st and 34th* Infantry Regiments, 13th, 52nd, and 63rd* Artillery Battalions. (105mm Howitzer), 11th Artillery Battalion. (155mm Howitzer), 3rd Engineer Battalion, 26th AAA Battalion, 6th Tank Battalion.

    * The 34th Infantry Regiment was broken up in August of 1950, and actually replaced in the 24th Division by the 5th Infantry Regiment. At the same time the 63rd Artillery Battalion was also disbanded and replaced by the 555th Artillery, which came out from Hawaii with the 5th Infantry. However Army records show both units as officially still present, while the 5th Infantry and 555th Artillery are only listed as independent units which happened to "attached" to 24th Division for the rest of the war.

    25th Infantry Division: 24th. 27th and 35th Infantry Regiments, 8th, 64th, and 69th Artillery Battalions. (105mm Howitzer), 90th Artillery Battalion, (155mm Howitzer), 65th Engineer Battalion, 21st AAA Battalion, 89th Tank Battalion.

    1st Cavalry Division: 5th, 7th, and 8th Cavalry Regiments, 61st, 77th, and 99th Artillery Battalions, (105mm Howitzer), 90th Artillery Battalion, (155mm Howitzer), 8th Engineer Battalion. 29th AAA Battalion, 70th Tank Battalion.

Based on its experience in the Second World War, the United States Army had revised elements of its organization for the Infantry Division, but kept the concept of the Regimental Combat Team intact. This meant that each Infantry Regiment was joined with a 105mm Field Artillery Battalion, Engineer Company, and other units to form a single combat unit. Identified by the number of the Infantry Regiment. The basic improvements were the addition of a Tank Company for each Infantry Regiment, replacement of the Cannon Company with a Heavy Mortar Company, and the replacement of the anti-tank guns with Recoiless Rifles.

In 1950, a U.S. Infantry Division was to be organized as follows for COMMAND DECISION:

United States Army

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© Copyright 1992 by Greg Novak.

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