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Battle of Yultong

Coordinates: 38°7′45″N 127°3′59″E / 38.12917°N 127.06639°E / 38.12917; 127.06639 (Yultong)
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Battle of Yultong
Part of the Chinese Spring Offensive of the Korean War
Date22–23 April 1951
Location
Yultong/Yuldong (presently part of Yeoncheon), South Korea
Result UN victory
Belligerents

United Nations UN Command

 China
Commanders and leaders
Dionisio S. Ojeda[1]
Conrado Yap  †
Jose Artiaga, Jr.  †		 Zeng Shaoshan[2]
You Taizhong[3]
Units involved
10th Battalion Combat Team, PEFTOK 34th Division, 12th Army, PVA (UN account)[4]
44th Division, 15th Army, PVA (Chinese account)[5]
Strength
900[6][7] 15,000[8][9][better source needed]
Casualties and losses
12 killed
38 wounded
6 missing		 500+ killed
2 captured[10]

The Battle of Yultong (Korean: 율동 전투; RR: Yultong Jeontu; Filipino: Labanan sa Yultong),[4] also known as the Battle of Meiluodong (Chinese: 美罗洞战斗; pinyin: Měiluódòng Zhàndòu), Battle of Yuldong, or Battle of Yuldong-ri, took place during the Korean War. It was fought between approximately 15,000[better source needed] soldiers from elements of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) 34th Division (44th Division from Chinese sources)[5][11] and 900 Filipino soldiers 10th Battalion Combat Team (BCT), north of Yeoncheon during April 22–23, 1951.[12] The battle was part of the Chinese Spring Offensive.

Background

The Philippine 10th BCT was attached to the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division at the time of the offensive. Initially composed of 9 troops,[13] the battalion was reduced to 9 men due to previous casualties and other losses.[6][7] To prepare for the incoming PVA offensive, the U.S. 65th Infantry Regiment deployed its 3rd and 2nd Battalions, facing west and northwest, respectively, along the Imjin River, while the attached Philippine 10th BCT held the regiment's right flank near Route 33. The Turkish Brigade, was just east of the Filipino unit.[14]

Opposite the United Nations Command forces in the area were the PVA's III Army Group, composed of the 12th, 15th, and 60th Armies. The overall commander of the PVA forces, Peng Dehuai, planned to have the 12th and 15th Army attack and encircle the Turkish Brigade and the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, respectively.[15] Near the Imjin River, the 15th Army had a narrow zone between the river and Route 33 projecting through the area held by the 65th Regiment. Along Route 33 and east of it, the 12th Army and 60th Army were to attack through ground held by the Philippine 10th BCT on the right flank of the 3rd Division and through the Pogae-san ridges occupied by the Turkish Brigade and 24th Infantry Division.[16]

The battle

Unit positions near Yultong during the Chinese Spring Offensive.

The assault began at 20:00 on 22 April when the enemy hit the Turkish Brigade with an artillery barrage. Shortly after midnight, an artillery and mortar barrage followed by intense small-arms and machine gun fire struck the entire 3rd Division line.[14] While the Turkish Brigade were engaged in fierce battle, the 10th BCT, deployed in the Yultong area on the left of the Turkish Brigade, from 23:00 was assaulted in waves by the PVA and fought a series of close combat engagements within its positions.[4] Communication with the 65th Regiment was disconnected by enemy artillery and some friendly fire support[4] but was restored at 00:30.[10] Around midnight, the Turkish Brigade were ordered to withdraw to a position on the Line Kansas south of the Hantan River.[4] The 65th Regiment's 2nd Battalion was forced to fall back several hundred yards to regroup due to the intensity of the PVA attack.[14]

At 01:00 of 23 April, the 29th and 44th Divisions of the PVA 15th Army surrounded the 65th Regiment, cutting off its retreat.[17] The battle forced the 10th BCT's drivers, typists, clerks, medics, cooks, and even the chaplain to join the active combatants.[18][19] Each company was dispersed and fought in confusion without contact between the units.[20][21] The battalion's Baker (B) Company, commanded by Lt. Jose Artiaga Jr., was defending the strategic Yultong Hill when PVA forces overran their position; the left platoon of B Company was pushed back from their position at 03:00 and, after four hours of furious combat, the PVA infiltrated as deeply as Charlie (C) Company position in the reserve area. The company suffered heavy casualties, including Lt. Artiaga.[22] The battalion commander, Col. Dionisio S. Ojeda, received orders to withdraw. All units complied, except the Tank (renamed into Heavy Weapons) Company.[23] Tank Company commander Capt. Conrado Yap led a counterattack towards the hill to rescue any survivors and recover the dead men of B Company. Although Capt. Yap lost his life in the counterattack, Tank Company succeeded in their objective and recovered a squad of survivors.[10][24][25]

The 10th BCT held their positions until early morning and covered the retreat of the U.S. 3rd Division. At first light, the PVA offensive gradually declined, and the battalion launched a counterattack to restore the lost area of B Company.[4] C Company supported by two M24 Chaffee light tanks of Recon Company and an allied artillery unit led the counterattack.[22] At 09:00 on 23 April, Gen. James Van Fleet, commander of the U.S. Eighth Army, ordered a withdrawal to Line Kansas after concluding that many units in I and IX Corps were in danger of being enveloped by the PVA forces.[26] At 12:15, the 10th BCT finally received orders from Gen. Robert Soule to fall back to Line Kansas,[22] withdrawing to a position in Anhung-ri.[27]

Aftermath

For their actions, Capt. Conrado D. Yap was posthumously awarded the Philippine Medal of Valor and the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross, while Lt. Jose Artiaga Jr. was posthumously awarded the Philippine Distinguished Conduct Star.[10][21][28][29] On July 27, 2018, Capt. Yap was awarded the First Class Taegeuk Cordon of the Order of Military Merit on the 65th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement.[30][31]

The 10th Battalion Combat Team reported around 12 killed, 38 wounded, and 6 missing in action. PVA losses were reported to be more than 500 killed and 2 captured.[10]

A total of 7,740 Filipino officers and men served in Korea. They suffered 116 killed in action, 299 wounded and 57 missing (41 repatriated during POW exchanges). The last of the Philippine troops left Korea on 13 May 1955.

On 24 April 1951, the 10th BCT was attached to the British 29th Brigade Group as a reserve force and would later participate in the attempted rescue of the Gloucestershire Regiment during the Battle of the Imjin River.[26]

On 22 April 1966, the 15th anniversary of the Chinese Spring Offensive, a monument was erected to commemorate the battle in Yeoncheon, South Korea.[32][33]

Notes

  1. ^ Villahermosa 2009, p. 104.
  2. ^ Li 2019, p. 129.
  3. ^ Li 2014, p. 137.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Chae, Chung & Yang 2001, p. 625.
  5. ^ a b Chinese Military Science Academy 2000, p. 315.
  6. ^ a b Pobre 2000, p. 443.
  7. ^ a b Pobre 2012, p. 176.
  8. ^ Ramos, Fidel V. (22 April 1993). "Speech of President Ramos on the 42nd anniversary of the Battle of Yultong".
  9. ^ Philippine Army: The First 100 Years. Philippines: Philippine Army. 1997. ISBN 9719180900.
  10. ^ a b c d e War History Compilation Committee 1977, p. 315.
  11. ^ "The Philippines in the Korean War – The Battle of Yultong". History is Now Magazine, Podcasts, Blog and Books | Modern International and American history. 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  12. ^ Chae, Chung & Yang 2001, pp. 625, 627.
  13. ^ Thomas, Abbott & Chappell 1986, p. 21.
  14. ^ a b c Villahermosa 2009, p. 123.
  15. ^ Li 2014, pp. 136–137.
  16. ^ Mossman 2000, p. 379.
  17. ^ Li 2014, p. 136.
  18. ^ Pobre 2012, p. 181.
  19. ^ War History Compilation Committee 1977, p. 332.
  20. ^ War History Compilation Committee 1977, p. 314.
  21. ^ a b Villahermosa 2009, p. 124.
  22. ^ a b c Villasanta 1954, p. 21.
  23. ^ Pobre 2000, p. 445.
  24. ^ Villasanta 1954, p. 22.
  25. ^ Pobre 2000, p. 444.
  26. ^ a b Villahermosa 2009, p. 127.
  27. ^ Chae, Chung & Yang 2001, p. 620.
  28. ^ Guillermo 2012, p. 343.
  29. ^ Pobre 2000, p. 448.
  30. ^ Cal, Ben (5 July 2019). "PH gets Sokor's highest medal for bravery". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  31. ^ Dong-Man, Han (13 September 2018). "Steady on … honoring a Filipino hero of the Korean War". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  32. ^ "The Philippines". Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  33. ^ "Korean War Memorials in Pictures" (PDF). korea.kr. pp. 223–225. Retrieved 1 October 2020.

Bibliography

  • Villahermosa, Gilberto N. (2009), Honor and Fidelity: The 65th Infantry in Korea, 1950-1953, Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History, ISBN 9780160833243, archived from the original on 2010-11-08, retrieved 2010-11-09
  • Chae, Han Kook; Chung, Suk Kyun; Yang, Yong Cho (2001), Yang, Hee Wan; Lim, Won Hyok; Sims, Thomas Lee; Sims, Laura Marie; Kim, Chong Gu; Millett, Allan R. (eds.), The Korean War, vol. II, Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 978-0-8032-7795-3
  • Chinese Military Science Academy (2000), History of War to Resist America and Aid Korea (抗美援朝战争史) (in Chinese), vol. II, Beijing: Chinese Military Science Academy Publishing House, ISBN 7-80137-390-1
  • Hu, Guang Zheng (胡光正); Ma, Shan Ying (马善营) (1987), Chinese People's Volunteer Army Order of Battle (中国人民志愿军序列) (in Chinese), Beijing: Chinese People's Liberation Army Publishing House, OCLC 298945765
  • War History Compilation Committee (1977), The History of the United Nations Forces in the Korean War, vol. 6, Seoul: Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense, OCLC 769331231
  • Institute for Military History (2011), History of the Korean War (6·25전쟁사) (in Korean), vol. VIII, Seoul: Korea Armed Forces Publishing & Printing Depot, ISSN 1739-2705
  • Guillermo, Artemio R. (2012), Historical Dictionary of the Philippines, Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, ISBN 9780810872462
  • Li, Xiaobing (2014), China's Battle for Korea: The 1951 Spring Offensive, Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, ISBN 9780253011633
  • Li, Xiaobing (2019), China's War in Korea: Strategic Culture and Geopolitics, Singapore: Springer Nature, ISBN 9789813296756
  • Mossman, Billy C. (2000), Ebb and Flow, November 1950-July 1951, Washington D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army, ISBN 9781944961350
  • Pobre, Cesar P. (2012), Filipinos in the Korean War, Quezon City, Philippines: Department of National Defense, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, ISBN 9789719541813
  • Pobre, Cesar P. (2000), History of the Armed Forces of the Filipino People, Quezon City, Philippines: New Day Publishers, ISBN 9789711010416
  • Thomas, Nigel; Abbott, Peter; Chappell, Mike (1986), The Korean War, 1950-53, Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing, ISBN 9780850456851
  • Villasanta, Juan F. (1954), Dateline Korea: Stories of the Philippine Battalion, Negros Occidental, Philippines: Nalco Press, OCLC 612957546
  • Rottman, Gordon L. (2002), Korean War Order of Battle: United States, United Nations, and Communist Ground, Naval, and Air Forces, 1950-1953, Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, ISBN 9780275978358

Further reading

  • Uldarico Baclagon, Philippine Campaigns, Graphic House (Publishing), 1958
  • Baclagon, Military History of the Philippines, Saint Mary's Publishing, 1975

38°7′45″N 127°3′59″E / 38.12917°N 127.06639°E / 38.12917; 127.06639 (Yultong)

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