In order to tell a complete story of this historic amphibious operation, the authors have described the mobilization of the Marine Corps reserves to form the components of the Division and Aircraft Wing; the movement to the staging area and the hurried planning for an amphibious landing; the withdrawal of the 1st Provisional Brigade and Marine Air Group 33 from the embattled Pusan Perimeter to amalgamate with the larger force for D-day at Inchon; the seizure of Seoul and its environs, and finally the withdrawal on 7 October to prepare for the Wonsan operation.
Again, this is primarily a Marine Corps story. Activities of other services are presented in sufficient detail only to set this operation in its proper perspective.
Grateful acknowledgment is made for the valuable information furnished by the scores of officers and men consulted by interview or letter and for the assistance provided by the Current History Branch of the Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army.
Maps included herein were prepared by the Reproduction Section, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia.
T. A. Wornham,
Major General, U. S. Marine Corps,
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3.
Contents
| Page | ||
| I | The Communist Challenge | [1] |
| Authorization of Marine Brigade—First Conference on Inchon Landing—General Shepherd in Tokyo—Request for a Marine Division—America’s Force-in-Readiness—Planning for the Pohang Landing | ||
| II | The Minute Men of 1950 | [17] |
| Expansion to Full Peace Strength—Mobilization of Marine Corps Reserve—The Influx at Camp Pendleton—Embarkation of 1st Marine Division—Build-up of 7th Marine Regiment—Staff Groups Flown to Japan | ||
| III | Operation Plan Chromite | [37] |
| Interview with General MacArthur—Conferences in Tokyo—Inception of X Corps—Final Conference on Inchon—Brigade Victory in Korea—The Marine Amphibious Mission | ||
| IV | The Planning Phase | [53] |
| Working Around the Clock—X Corps Scheme of Maneuver—Intelligence Planning for Inchon—The Landing Force Plan—Naval Gunfire and Rockets—Plans for Air Support | ||
| V | Embarkation and Assault | [73] |
| Landing of 1st Marine Division—Plan to Seize Kimpo Airfield—Shipping Assigned to Marines—Movement to the Objective Area—Strikes and Bombardments—Marine Landings on GREEN Beach—The Two Harbor Islands Secured | ||
| VI | Hitting the Beaches | [97] |
| The Assault Plan—Beginning the Ship-to-Shore Movement—Seizure of Cemetery Hill—RED Beach Secured—LSTs under Enemy Fire—Fighting on Observatory Hill—1st Marines on BLUE Beach—Ending the Ship-to-Shore Movement—Seizure of the 0-1 Line | ||
| VII | Securing the Beachhead | [125] |
| Supplies on RED and BLUE Beaches—Surgical Teams on the Beaches—Artillery and Tank Operations—The Attack on D-plus 1—Advance to the Force Beachhead Line—Displacement Ashore of Division CP | ||
| VIII | On to Kimpo | [143] |
| Operations on Other Korean Fronts—Landing of RCT-7 in Japan—Destruction of NKPA Tank Column—General MacArthur Visits the Front—The Drive to Kimpo Airfield—Action at 5th Marines CP—Enemy Counterattack at Kimpo | ||
| IX | Marine Air Support | [165] |
| Helicopters and OYs in Support—Marine Air Units at Kimpo—Progress of Eighth Army Offensive—Division CP Displaces to Oeoso-Ri—Advance of RCT-1 to Sosa—Reports of Enemy Build-up—Preparations for Crossing the Han | ||
| X | Crossing the Han | [187] |
| Swimming Team Leads the Way—Marine LVTs Grounded in Mud—Daylight Assault Crossing by 3/5—Departure of General MacArthur—Supporting Arms of Bridgehead—Command Ashore Assumed by X Corps | ||
| XI | The Fight For Yongdungpo | [205] |
| Three Hills Taken by 1/5-Enemy Minefields Encountered—NKPA Counterattacks of 20 September—Recapture of Hills 80 and 85—1st Marines in Position—Assault of Yongdungpo—Able Company on a Limb—Yongdungpo Secured | ||
| XII | Main Line of Resistance | [233] |
| Three Hills Designated 105—RCT-7 North of the Han—Attack Continued by RCT-5—Modified Plan of Corps Attack—Climax of the Marine Assault—The Epic of Dog Company—River Crossing of RCT-1 | ||
| XIII | Seoul as a Battlefield | [253] |
| Two More River Crossings—Division Attack of 25 September—Night Pursuit Ordered by Corps—Renewal of Drive Through Seoul—Entrapment of Dog Company, RCT-7—Last Fight on Hill 296—1st Marines in the Heart of Seoul—Objective Secured | ||
| XIV | The Drive to Uijongbu | [281] |
| Operations of 28 September—Liberation Ceremony at Seoul—Crumbling of NKPA Resistance—RCT-7 and the Battle for Uijongbu—Last Days of Inchon-Seoul Operation—Summaries and Conclusions—MacArthur’s Report to United Nations | ||
| Appendixes | ||
| A | Glossary of Technical Terms and Abbreviations | [299] |
| B | Build-up of 1st Marine Division (Reinf) | [303] |
| C | Task Organization of Marine Division for Inchon Landing | [305] |
| D | Supplies and Equipment for Inchon | [311] |
| E | Task Organization, Joint Task Force Seven | [313] |
| F | Final Troop List of Division for the Inchon Landing | [321] |
| G | Summary of Operation Orders Issued by 1st Marine Division for the Inchon-Seoul Campaign | [323] |
| H | Enemy Units During the Inchon-Seoul Campaign | [325] |
| I | Congratulatory Messages | [329] |
| J | Casualties During the Inchon-Seoul Campaign | [333] |
| K | Comments on Close Air Support Provided By 1st Marine Aircraft Wing | [335] |
| L | Presidential Unit Citation | [339] |
| Bibliography | [341] | |
| Index | [347] | |