It has been 57 years since the Task Force Smith Battle against the communist North Korean forces on July 5, 1950 at the beginning days of the Korean War. The battalion of soldiers called Task Force Smith after their commander Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Smith was quickly deployed from occupation duty in Japan to Korea to delay the North Korean advance until more American units could arrive to fight the communist aggressors. History tends to record Task Force Smith as a an example of a military blunder, but the fact of the matter is that Task Force Smith really did fight the best they could with what they had and should not be looked down upon as being an example of poor soldiering. They were great soldiers and Americans that fought well in defense of freedom for a country few had ever heard of. To truly understand Task Force Smith it is important to examine the morale and psychology of the unit at the time.
The soldiers that composed Task Force Smith were from 1st Battalion, 21st Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. The 24ID was located in Japan and were conducting peacekeeping operations. The priority of the military at the time was on occupation and reconstruction duties in Japan and not collective unit training. Plus the soldiers were living a soft life that included personal shoe shine boys and flirting with numerous prostitutes. Even the lowest private felt like a king in 1950 Japan.
LTC Smith and his boys fought like hell and did a fantastic job. I think the man and his unit gets a bum rap from a lot of history books.
While units on occupation duty after WWII did get soft, Smith came in and instituted an aggressive training program. He probably had some of the finest trained troops in all of Japan before shipping off to Korea–which is why I believe he was chosen to head north first and blunt the enemy's offensive. His commanders had a lot of faith in the man.
If one studies the battle's timeline you'll find that Smith pulled off an extraordinary fete in selecting the site for his defense, and getting his men emplaced just before the North Koreans showed up. He did this all out of experience, instinct, and without the benefit of detailed reconnaissance of the enemy–'tweren't no UAVs or sattelite imagery back then.
He did a great job of getting his men set in, establishing mutually supporting fires, and getting his mortars and artillery registered. All done by the book.
I think Smith's undoing was poor communications–specifically with his artillery–inadequate anti-armor systems, and an enemy force that vastly outnumbered his own. I wouldn't blame the training of him or his men, nor the employment of them. They performed splendidly under the conditions.
Many people criticize the unit for disintegrating during the retrograde, but I think this is really quite unfair. Units back then did not train retreat in the face of the enemy, just as American units today do not train how to retreat in the face of the enemy. Fundamentally, leaders know how to do it–leapfrog elements to the rear while supporting them with fires–but nobody trains it, not now, and not then. So I am not surprised that things unraveled after the order to fall back was issued. It is not something they were disciplined at. Sadly, American units would become very proficient at that particular battle drill before the summer of 1950 was through.
I like using the T-34 in Red Orchestra for its speed and sloped armor. The only thing that sucks is it's slow reload time because of the awkward positioning of the gun in the turret.
[…] [GI Korea] Heroes of the Korean War: LTC Charles B. Smith Published: Thu, 05 Jul 2007 02:52:59 +0000 The Soldiers of Taskforce Smith It has been 57 years since the Task Force Smith Battle against the communist North Korean forces on July 5, 1950 at the beginning days of the Korean War. The battalion of soldiers called Task Force Smith after their commander Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Smith was quickly deployed from occupation duty […] Read More… […]
Mr. Joe
17 years ago
Thanks for the memories!
And if you are ever north of Osan-ni on the old road to Suwon, stop a few minutes, and see the little memorial that is still there, and say a prayer for the heroes of Task Force Smith! I did- 47 years ago, and last year!
It very likely that LTC Smith had the best trained battalion in the 24th ID because he instituted a company level training program which he completed but could not complete his battalion level training program due to the on set of the war.
General Dean must have had confidence in LTC Smith's leadership and training of his soldiers to have sent them first to fight the North Koreans. However, the lack of battalion level training showed when the battalion had to retrograde. Additionally the cutting of communications to the artillerymen ended up being a critical factor in the battle.
Overall though you have to admire what these guys did considering a week before they were sitting in Japan on occupation duty and the next week fighting a vicious war. Though outmanned, outgunned, and out equipped they did put up an effective defense against the North Koreans.
Jerry
17 years ago
John Wayne on TV in 1950 (or earlier)? I don't think so. At the movies? Sure, but not on TV. OK, I'm being picky. Other than that, well done.
[…] my prior posting I discussed the battlefield heroics of the soldiers of Taskforce Smith.Ā Just north of Suwon you […]
Mr. Joe
17 years ago
Hi Jerry! I was released from school in 1953 if I promised to watch Eisenhower's inauguration on TV. I did.
There were not a lot of TV's in West Virginia in those days.
They had small screens like computers do today. Seventeen inch was a big one, and of course, no color.
My school didn't have one, and neither did my family. But my dad's boss lived down the road, and I had been going over to their house in the evenings and watching TV. John Wayne was very prominent on Saturdays.
I believe Mr. Powell first got his TV in 1949 or 1950. People who got off the bus stop by his house would see the big antenna on his roof and knock on the door and ask to see the television! TV was new, but John Wayne, Gene Autry and Johhnie Mack Brown cowboy movies were great!
[…] One of the first real heroes of the Korean War was without a doubt Major General William Dean. MG Dean was the commanding general of the 24th Infantry Division. The 24th Infantry Division was stationed in Japan conducting occupation duties prior to the start of the Korean War. With the outbreak of the Korean War the division was picked to deploy from Japan to Korea to stop the North Korean advance. The most famous unit from this division would go down in history known as Taskforce Smith. […]
[…] 1950:Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Smith (USA), Commander 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, Taskforce Smith Battle […]
Earl R. Hutchison
16 years ago
Why are all these TASK FORCE SMITH historians committing historical errors wholesale?
The third battalion of the 34th Regiment of the 24th Division was the first U.S. force sent to Korea to counter the North Korean attack. Then came the next battalion from the 34th Regiment (the first battalion?)–like most regiments in those four divisions in Japan there were only two. And, of course, they were poorly equipped as well as under strength.
How about correcting all those Task Force Smith errors?
Please, I would like to know how can I get your postings abour the hero of the Korean war for the year 1953, Lt Col Koumanakos George, Commanding Officer of the Greek Expeditionary Forces? (Part 1 and Part 2)
Can you repost it?
setnaffa
8 years ago
If they had not tried to airlift TF Smith, they could have had more stuff in place, possibly two battalions or more on site, including more than 6 rounds of AT for the howitzers…
Andreas, thanks for commenting. When I had my data crash over a year and half ago that posting was one of those that was lost. I do plan to remake the posting and add it back to the website. Give me a couple of weeks and I will have it reposted. Thank you.
Thak you a lot. I will be waiting to sse it re posted. Visit my personal page http://www.koumanakos.eu and you will see a book I have written about the Korean War under the title “The eagle of the Iron Triangle”. I have included in that book your postings. Thank you again. Andreas.
LTC Smith and his boys fought like hell and did a fantastic job. I think the man and his unit gets a bum rap from a lot of history books.
While units on occupation duty after WWII did get soft, Smith came in and instituted an aggressive training program. He probably had some of the finest trained troops in all of Japan before shipping off to Korea–which is why I believe he was chosen to head north first and blunt the enemy's offensive. His commanders had a lot of faith in the man.
If one studies the battle's timeline you'll find that Smith pulled off an extraordinary fete in selecting the site for his defense, and getting his men emplaced just before the North Koreans showed up. He did this all out of experience, instinct, and without the benefit of detailed reconnaissance of the enemy–'tweren't no UAVs or sattelite imagery back then.
He did a great job of getting his men set in, establishing mutually supporting fires, and getting his mortars and artillery registered. All done by the book.
I think Smith's undoing was poor communications–specifically with his artillery–inadequate anti-armor systems, and an enemy force that vastly outnumbered his own. I wouldn't blame the training of him or his men, nor the employment of them. They performed splendidly under the conditions.
Many people criticize the unit for disintegrating during the retrograde, but I think this is really quite unfair. Units back then did not train retreat in the face of the enemy, just as American units today do not train how to retreat in the face of the enemy. Fundamentally, leaders know how to do it–leapfrog elements to the rear while supporting them with fires–but nobody trains it, not now, and not then. So I am not surprised that things unraveled after the order to fall back was issued. It is not something they were disciplined at. Sadly, American units would become very proficient at that particular battle drill before the summer of 1950 was through.
Marcus
This is an awesome post.
I think I'll now watch the 300, again.
http://300themovie.warnerbros.com/
I like using the T-34 in Red Orchestra for its speed and sloped armor. The only thing that sucks is it's slow reload time because of the awkward positioning of the gun in the turret.
[…] [GI Korea] Heroes of the Korean War: LTC Charles B. Smith Published: Thu, 05 Jul 2007 02:52:59 +0000 The Soldiers of Taskforce Smith It has been 57 years since the Task Force Smith Battle against the communist North Korean forces on July 5, 1950 at the beginning days of the Korean War. The battalion of soldiers called Task Force Smith after their commander Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Smith was quickly deployed from occupation duty […] Read More… […]
Thanks for the memories!
And if you are ever north of Osan-ni on the old road to Suwon, stop a few minutes, and see the little memorial that is still there, and say a prayer for the heroes of Task Force Smith! I did- 47 years ago, and last year!
It very likely that LTC Smith had the best trained battalion in the 24th ID because he instituted a company level training program which he completed but could not complete his battalion level training program due to the on set of the war.
General Dean must have had confidence in LTC Smith's leadership and training of his soldiers to have sent them first to fight the North Koreans. However, the lack of battalion level training showed when the battalion had to retrograde. Additionally the cutting of communications to the artillerymen ended up being a critical factor in the battle.
Overall though you have to admire what these guys did considering a week before they were sitting in Japan on occupation duty and the next week fighting a vicious war. Though outmanned, outgunned, and out equipped they did put up an effective defense against the North Koreans.
John Wayne on TV in 1950 (or earlier)? I don't think so. At the movies? Sure, but not on TV. OK, I'm being picky. Other than that, well done.
[…] my prior posting I discussed the battlefield heroics of the soldiers of Taskforce Smith.Ā Just north of Suwon you […]
Hi Jerry! I was released from school in 1953 if I promised to watch Eisenhower's inauguration on TV. I did.
There were not a lot of TV's in West Virginia in those days.
They had small screens like computers do today. Seventeen inch was a big one, and of course, no color.
My school didn't have one, and neither did my family. But my dad's boss lived down the road, and I had been going over to their house in the evenings and watching TV. John Wayne was very prominent on Saturdays.
I believe Mr. Powell first got his TV in 1949 or 1950. People who got off the bus stop by his house would see the big antenna on his roof and knock on the door and ask to see the television! TV was new, but John Wayne, Gene Autry and Johhnie Mack Brown cowboy movies were great!
[…] One of the first real heroes of the Korean War was without a doubt Major General William Dean. MG Dean was the commanding general of the 24th Infantry Division. The 24th Infantry Division was stationed in Japan conducting occupation duties prior to the start of the Korean War. With the outbreak of the Korean War the division was picked to deploy from Japan to Korea to stop the North Korean advance. The most famous unit from this division would go down in history known as Taskforce Smith. […]
[…] 1950:Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Smith (USA), Commander 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, Taskforce Smith Battle […]
Why are all these TASK FORCE SMITH historians committing historical errors wholesale?
The third battalion of the 34th Regiment of the 24th Division was the first U.S. force sent to Korea to counter the North Korean attack. Then came the next battalion from the 34th Regiment (the first battalion?)–like most regiments in those four divisions in Japan there were only two. And, of course, they were poorly equipped as well as under strength.
How about correcting all those Task Force Smith errors?
[…] picture really does capture the horror of the early months of the Korean War that the US veterans had to fight […]
Learn the difference between "to" and "too". It's also "Could have" not "Could of".
[…] http://rokdrop.com/2007/07/05/heroes-of-the-korean-war-ltc-charles-b-smith/ ( Accessed May 19, 2013) Last modified- October 15th, […]
Please, I would like to know how can I get your postings abour the hero of the Korean war for the year 1953, Lt Col Koumanakos George, Commanding Officer of the Greek Expeditionary Forces? (Part 1 and Part 2)
Can you repost it?
If they had not tried to airlift TF Smith, they could have had more stuff in place, possibly two battalions or more on site, including more than 6 rounds of AT for the howitzers…
It might have made the difference.
There’s also the true costs of the so-called “Peace Dividend” to consider: http://warontherocks.com/2015/10/the-next-task-force-smith-the-danger-of-arbitrary-headquarters-reductions/
Andreas, thanks for commenting. When I had my data crash over a year and half ago that posting was one of those that was lost. I do plan to remake the posting and add it back to the website. Give me a couple of weeks and I will have it reposted. Thank you.
Thak you a lot. I will be waiting to sse it re posted. Visit my personal page http://www.koumanakos.eu and you will see a book I have written about the Korean War under the title “The eagle of the Iron Triangle”. I have included in that book your postings. Thank you again. Andreas.