Comments on: Heroes of the Korean War: LTC Charles B. Smith

By: Korean War Photos Displayed in Downtown Seoul

Korean War Photos Displayed in Downtown Seoul — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:07:00 +0000

[...] picture really does capture the horror of the early months of the Korean War that the US veterans had to fight [...]

By: Earl R. Hutchison

Earl R. Hutchison — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:16:40 +0000

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?

By: Recognizing Heroes of the Korean War

Recognizing Heroes of the Korean War — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:25:21 +0000

[...] 1950:Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Smith (USA), Commander 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, Taskforce Smith Battle [...]

By: Heroes of the Korean War: Major General William Dean at ROK Drop

Heroes of the Korean War: Major General William Dean at ROK Drop — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:22:06 +0000

[...] 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. [...]

By: Mr. Joe

Mr. Joe — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 23:11:18 +0000

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!

By: The Taskforce Smith Memorial at ROK Drop

The Taskforce Smith Memorial at ROK Drop — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 22:08:52 +0000

[...] my prior posting I discussed the battlefield heroics of the soldiers of Taskforce Smith. Just north of Suwon you [...]

By: Jerry

Jerry — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 00:09:02 +0000

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.

By: GI Korea

GI Korea — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:26:58 +0000

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.

By: Mr. Joe

Mr. Joe — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:08:03 +0000

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!

By: [GI Korea] Heroes of the Korean War: LTC Charles B. Smith - USFK Forums

[GI Korea] Heroes of the Korean War: LTC Charles B. Smith - USFK Forums — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:39:25 +0000

[...] [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… [...]