1st CAVALRY DIVISION
The third division to sail from Japan in the summer of 1950, the 'First Team' made the first
amphibious landing of the war at Pohang-dong and was the first unit to approach the North Korean
capital of Pyongyang. The Chinese intervention forced them back from Unsan over the 38th
Parallel
which the 1st Cavalry crossed again on the offensive in 1951 where the settled until relieved at
the
end of the year.
2d INFANTRY DIVISION
Holding their motto coined during World War I, the 2d Division came second to none during the
Korean War. The first to deploy directly from the United States, the division fought in Korea
from August 1950 through the armistice and after a brief return to the States, continues to
defend the DMZ today. Baptized at the Naktong, tested at the Ch'ongch'on River and during the
May Massacre, the Indianhead held strong through countless other engagements during combat in
Korea.
3d INFANTRY DIVISION
Pulling units headquartered throughout the United States and the 65th Infantry from Puerto Rico,
the 3d Divisions rapid response to Korea earned it the title of Fire Brigade. Fully assembling
in Japan before landing in Wonsan to defend the X Corps evacuation from the east coast, the 3d
Division remained in the war for the duration. From patrols and skirmishes along the Imjin to
settling in the Kumsong area, the Division continued a legacy it began in the First World War.
7th INFANTRY DIVISION
Code named Bayonet for its movement to Korea in September 1950, the 7th Division had been
rebuilt with replacements from the United States and the remaining third from conscripted
South
Koreans. The Division was quickly forged into a powerful fighting force that remained in
Korea
for the entirety of the war, from the Inchon landing through the devastating Chosin
Reservoir
campaign and into the wire laced trenches as stalemate ensued.
24th INFANTRY DIVISION
Immediately after the outbreak of war, the 24th Division was called on in Japan to be the
first
to fight against the North Korean invasion in the first week of July 1950. Unprepared for
the
intensity brought forth by the enemy, the Division was repeatedly battered only to push back
again and again. In the first year of fighting, the 24th Division soldiers put more miles on
their boots than any other unit fighting up and down the Korean peninsula from their first
contact near Osan to Taejon, Pusan, up towards the northern border and back again.
25th INFANTRY DIVISION
The 25th Division followed as the second unit on Korean soil in 1950 and the Tropic
Lightning
struck against a determined enemy. As understrength as any unit in the first summer, the
Division's two organic regiments along with the doomed 29th Regimental Combat Team charged
through Korea, defending the Pusan perimeter and fighting across the 38th Parallel and back
again where they settled for the duration of the war.
40th INFANTRY DIVISION
The only other National Guard division activated for the war in Korea, the 40th Division
sailed
from California to Japan and finally to Korea after a year of occupation and training
duties. A
cohesive and well prepared unit, men of the Fireball took over cold bunkers from the tired
24th
Division in January 1952. They were immediately in combat, and remained at the sharp end
through
the Punchbowl, Heartbreak Ridge, and Sandbag Castle until returning home in 1954.
45th INFANTRY DIVISION
The first National Guard division to deploy to Korea, the Thunderbirds arrived in country in
December 1951 replacing the 1st Cavalry Division on the line. Finding a home in the trench
laced ridges of the Yonchon-Chorwon area, the Division claimed notable battles at Old Baldy,
Pork Chop
Hill, Heartbreak Ridge, and Luke's Castle.
1st COMMONWEALTH DIVISION
Comprised predominantly of British and Canadian brigades, the Commonwealth Division also
included Australians, New
Zealanders, and a small contingent of Indian forces. This unified command was fully established
in July
1951, some months after the first British, Canadian and Australian infantry battalions had
rushed to the Korean peninsula.
From Kapyong to The Hook, the Commonwealth forces held Communist aggression at bay during their
tenure in the Far East.
27th & 28th COMMONWEALTH INFANTRY BRIGADES
The understrength 27th Infantry Brigade deployed from Hong Kong to Korea in 1950 and was rebranded as a Commonwealth Brigade when Australians and Canadians joined in September. It continued to grow in size and strength until April 1951 when the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade replaced it and abosorbed the original battalions of the 27th.
29th BRITISH INFANTRY BRIGADE
Unlike the 27th and 28th Brigades, the 29th was fully comprised of British battalions that arrived in Korea beginning in November 1950. First fighting as an independent brigade, they joined the Commonwealth Division in 1951, but retained their identity. They fought up to the Yalu, back to the Imjin and held the Hook during their tenure in Korea.
25th CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE
First raised as the Special Force specifically for Korean duty, the 25th Canadian Infantry
Brigade Group was officially
coined in November 1950 and arrived in Korea in May 1951. Beginning with the 2d Battalions, each
regimental battalion
served year-long tours before rotating with their sister regiments. Unlike the other
Commonwealth units which were mixed,
the Canadian Brigade was exclusive. Their 'Strange Battleground' ranged from obscure hills known
by number, forgotten
fights like Songgok, and the infamous Kapyong.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Combat in Korea proved the value of the Marine Corps who were facing a question of obsolescence
in the post-war period.
Carrying a reputation from victories against the Japanese and still using Second World War
equipment including their
signature khaki leggings, the North Koreans and Chinese alike came to fear the rugged Marine
Corps, heeding the warning to
beware of the yellow-legs.
5TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM
Coming straight from Hawaii in July 1950, the 5th R.C.T. supported the under strength and
rapidly depleting 1st Cavalry,
24th, and 25th Divisions in defense of the Pusan Perimeter. The Bobcats remained attached to the
24th Division after the
34th Infantry was reduced to paper status and continued to serve on Korean soil after the 24th
rotated out.
187TH AIRBORNE R.C.T.
The only airborne unit to serve in Korea was quickly organized out of Fort Campbell, pulling
paratroopers and supporting
units from other airborne units. After the 3d Battalion advance party fought through Kimpo
airfield in September 1950, the
regiment made two combat jumps during nine months of combat. They left Korea for garrison duty
in Japan, a familiar
country from occupation duty and where they received their moniker 'Rakkasans' a few years
prior.
SPARTA BATTALION
Beginning in ancient times after their historic stand at Thermopylae, the Spartans forged an
image of revered warriors.
The Greeks deployed to Korea at the end of 1950 to support the United Nations' effort to uphold
democracy and deter the
threat of an oppressive dictatorship, exactly as the outnumbered Spartans had done thousands of
years before and
throughout their rich history. After their own civil war against communism, the Greeks were
passionate about upholding the
values of freedom as far away as Korea.
BELGIAN BATTALION
While their own nation remained in turmoil following the Second World War, French and Dutch
speaking Belgians and
Luxembourgers seized the opportunity to assist the war effort in Korea and mustered a battalion
sized force of all
volunteers. Initially, seven hundred troops donned their iconic brown berets and headed for the
Far East, beginning a
rotation of battalions that lasted through the war.
NAVAL FORCES | U.S. NAVY, ROYAL NAVY & ROYAL CANADIAN
NAVY
UNITED STATES NAVY
At the war's beginning, United States Naval Forces in the Far East were slimmed down from
wartime strength and the force
possessed only a few operational vessels. It was a major effort to recommission ships needed,
but soon enough the Navy
became a superior adversary along the Korean coast providing fire support, coastal bombardments,
blockades, mine sweeping,
amphibious assault and evacuation, and much more.
ROYAL NAVY
At the breakout of war on the Korean peninsula, the Royal Navy was well prepared and as strong
in numbers as its United
States' allies initially committed in Far Eastern waters. Contributing carriers, destroyers,
cruisers and frigates, the
Royal Navy operated along both coasts in coordinated efforts with United Nations Forces for an
effective fighting force at
sea.
ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY
Arriving in time to take on operations to support the defense of the Pusan Perimeter, the
Canadian Navy deployed its
Tribal class destroyers for coastal offense, blockades, assisting coastal villages, and
bombarding rail lines earning them
the moniker of the "Trainbusters Club." Regarded with prestige for their sheer power, the
Canadian destroyers delivered
exactly that in Korean waters.
AIR FORCES | UNITED STATES, GREECE & SOUTH AFRICA
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
War in Korea was the first conflict for the newly created U.S. Air Force that had achieved
independence from the Army less
than three years earlier in September 1947. Attempting to expand and gain strength in a time of
reductions across all
services, the Far East Air Force drew from existing units and activated new wings and groups to
support the air war in Korea.
From combat cargo to pulverizing the mountainous landscape, intercepting Russian MiGs, and
blowing away trains, the Air Force
exhibited its thunder over the Far East.
ROYAL HELLENIC AIR FORCE
A desperate need for airlifting operations brought Greece in as the fifth nation to provide an
air force in Korea. Beginning
in early December 1950, the 13th Flight ferried battered soldiers and marines from North Korea
to safety. After World War II,
the 13th Bombing Squadron was the sole remaining unit of the RHAF and had been reflagged as a
transport unit to support troops
in Korea. The unit embodied the best of Spartan attitude in the air just as they did on land.
SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE
Having proved their record in the Second World War, No. 2 Squadron was selected to represent the
Union during the Korean War.
Initially the call for volunteers was met with an overwhelming response from active service,
veterans, and citizens, and it
was decided to send them off and purchase all equipment from the United States. Initially, the
squadron flew P-51 Mustangs and
transitioned to the F-86 Sabre in February 1953. The squadron was well respected within the 18th
Fighter Bomber Wing to which
they were attached and ultimately left with a resounding record of sorties and missions flown.
1st Cav
2d Div
3d Div
7th Div
24th Div
25th Div
40th Div
45th Div
27-28th Bde
29th Bde
ComWel Div
25th Bde
USMC
5th RCT
187th RCT
Sparta Bn
Belgian Bn
USN
RCN
RN
USAF
RHAF
SAAF