Report, Joint Daily Situation Report Number 123

THE PRESIDENT SEC. 3402 June Date 18, allylei Washington, D.C. 30 October 1950 JOINT DAILY SITREP NO. 123 1 E.O. NARS, (maps attached) Directive From 0700/27 (EST) to 0700/30 (EST) DOD From 2100/27 (Korea) to 2100/30 (Korea) 1. Situation in Brief: Heavy fighting characterized the action along the northern front. A 2-pronged drive of the 24th U.S. Infantry Division made the most significant progress, as the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade fought into the outskirts of Chongju against heavy, armor supported resistance, and the 5th U.S. Infantry RCT advanced to within 2 miles of Kusong. The 1st ROK Division was unable to advance against 2 firmly entrenched enemy battalions north of Unsan. A heavy enemy attack in the Yongdu area overran a friendly command post's rear installations and caused the withdrawal of elements of the 10th and 19th ROK Regiments. Friendly forces suffered the loss of 3 artillery batteries and num- erous vehicles during the attack. The 7th Regiment of the 6th ROK Division engaged a North Korean regiment in a bitter, see-saw battle south of Kojang. On the east coast, the U.S. Marines cleared the enemy from Kojo. Hostile forces continued stubborn resistance against the Capitol and 3d ROK Divisions. Amphibious Group 3 landed elements of the 7th U.S. Infantry Division at Iwon on 29 October. Planes from VALLEY FORGE and LEYTE supported U.S. Mar- ines in the Wonsan and Kojo areas on 27 and 28 October. Planes from BADOENG STRAIT and SICILY provided combat air patrol for ships in the Wonsan area, and close support for ground forces during the three day period. Destroyers HANK and ENGLISH furnished gunfire support for U.S. Marines in the Kojo area on 28-29 October. Minesweeping operations continued on both coasts. Naval air flew 718 sorties during the three day period, while U.N. aircraft under FEAF control flew 1,091 sorties, including 441 combat. (FECOM) (SECRET) 2. Weather: Scattered low clouds over all Korea. Visibility 10 miles, lowering to 1 to 3 miles in early morning fog and haze. Forecast: Generally broken low clouds with light rain. Visibility, no change. (FEAF)(SECRET) 3. United Nations Situation: GROUND a. U.S. I Corps: The 24th U.S. Infantry Division Command Post opened in the vicinity of Pakchon. The 27th British Commonwealth Infantry Brigade re- pulsed an enemy counterattack, crossed the river approximately 1,200 yards east of Chongju, and continued the attack west. The 5th U.S. Infantry RCT