Today is the 58th anniversary of the first US ground combat engagement in the Korean War involving the soldiers of Taskforce Smith. I highly recommend everyone read my prior posting on one of the Heroes of the Korean War, Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Smith that shows the heroism these soldiers displayed despite much diversity and overwhelming odds that isn’t well appreciated by modern history.
Soldiers of Taskforce Smith march to infamy.
I also recommend everyone checking out my prior posting about the Taskforce Smith Memorial and what the battle site looks like today. If you are stationed near Osan you really should take the time to check out this memorial and remember the soldiers that heroically died fighting on this hill 58 years ago.
The Taskforce Smith Memorial near Osan.
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9:22 am on July 5th, 2008 1
The Koreans clean up and developed the other side of the road so its easier to find the Engineer Marking
12:00 pm on July 5th, 2008 2
Task Force Smith was a unit with a destiny with disaster. From McArthur who neither understood the capability of the NK army nor its obvious intentions. (the first of his many blunders), to the under trained ill equipped soldiers, sent to do McArthurs bidding, it ended in death and disaster. Not thier fault. The buck stopped with McArthur.
1:31 pm on July 5th, 2008 3
I don’t know if this is still the case but years ago when I attended ceremonies at the Task Force Smith Memorial at which several TF Smith veterans were in attendance, I was surprised to see that the plaque inKorean on the memorial did not refer to their American nationality anywhere on the plaque but rather refered to them as UN Gun or UN soldiers. Task Force Smith, was not, at that time part of the UN force. I don’t believe there had been a vote when they were sent over. This is the kind of typical Korean rewrite of history that gives the impression that our friends are attempting to deny the role and the sacrifice of the United States.
Sort of like how, according to Korean history books, on 8-15 liberation from the Japanese “happened.” Wow, it happened? Anything important going on that might have caused it to happen? Of course what happened was hundreds of thousands of Americans, British and Austalian allies died to defeat the Japanese as well as thousands of Korean conscripts and volunteers. Anyone know where the memorial is to the American forces who liberated Korea the first time? Me neither. And today, Koreans take to the street protesting the purchase of beef and telling damnable lies about the cattle raised on the ranches owned by the sons and grandsons of those who fought and died in the Pacific.
5:12 am on July 6th, 2008 4
DMZDave you are correct the TF Smith Memorial’s English plaque is headlined with “Korean War Memorial to the First Battle of the UN Forces”. TF Smith is referred to as “UN Forces” throughout the plaque and readers only know they were American forces when the casualties are listed.
However on the plaque in Hangul there is no mention of American forces and even the casualties are listed as UN casualties.
It is really a pathetic rewriting of history minimalizing US involvement in the Korean War that I have seen on various plaques commemorating battle sites the US was involved in across the country.
8:26 am on July 6th, 2008 5
Can anyone tell me exactly where this monument is located? Or at least what road it’s off of and the general area of Osan… Thanx!
10:35 am on July 6th, 2008 6
Rob, I recommend you read my prior posting with directions and a map that should help you find the site:
http://rokdrop.com/2007/07/07/the-taskforce-smith-memorial/