The Battle of Jangsari (Korean: 장사리전투; Hanja: 長沙里戰鬪; RR: Jangsari Jeaontu) or Operation Jangsa Landing (장사상륙작전; 長沙上陸作戰; Jangsa Sangnyuk Jakjeon) was an amphibious invasion and a battle of the Korean War. The official report name for the operation was 'Operational Order 174' (작전명령 174호).
| Battle of Jangsari | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Korean War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 South Korea |
 North Korea | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Lee Myung-heum[3] | Unknown | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
Independent 1st Guerrilla Battalion (ko:독립 제1유격대대) | Subordinate units, KPA II Corps | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 772 (estimate) | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 139 killed in action (estimate) | ~120–130 killed in action (estimate) | ||||||
Background
editIn September 1950, UN Forces had an important plan of launching an all-out offensive along the entire "Pusan Perimeter", a 140-mile (230 km) defensive line around an area on the southeastern tip of South Korea after Inchon landing
The main objective was to block the supply route and therefore achieve disruption of the North Korean Army around Pusan Perimeter by hit-and-run tactics[4] and minor objective is to draw away North Korean Army's attention for the success of Inchon landing.
Battles
editLanding
editThe landing force consisted of 'Independent 1st Guerrilla Battalion' (Estimate: Total 772 - 718 of student volunteer soldiers led by Republic of Korea Army including Captain Lee Myung-heum)
On 15 September, About at 05:00~06:00 in the morning, The battle group landed from LST Musan. The entire beach and Hill 200 of stronghold was captured by 14:50 at the cost of about 150 casualties (60 KIA, 90 WIA)[5]
The ship, LST Musan, was stranded through landing.
Defence
editOn 17 September, North Korean army's counterattack began in earnest.
The Independent 1st Guerrilla Battalion defended the beach and stronghold for two days.
But due to shortages of ammunition, they began to prepare for a retreat.
Withdrawal
editOn September 19, the Independent 1st Guerrilla Battalion were covered by the 7th Fleet bombardment task force, which had USS Helena as their flagship.
39 of 5th Platoon, 2nd Company covered the escape but most were either killed or taken prisoners.
Finally, About above 600 survivors withdrew aboard the ROK Navy's LST Jochiwon.
Honor
editIn 1960, Douglas MacArthur sent the letter to commander Lee Myung-heum[6][7] (He later changed his name to Lee Jong-hoon)
Dear Chairman Lee Jong Hoon:
I was delighted to receive your letter of recent date telling of the formation of the 772 Volunteer Comrade Club. The operation they performed in support of the Incheon Landing was a brilliant one and worthy of the highest commendation. The valor and sacrifice of its members will always be a shining example for the youth of Korea. Please extend to its members my heartiest greetings and affectionate regards. I shall always remember them as loyal and devoted comrades-in-arms.
With best wishes, Most sincerely,
Douglas MacArthur
Memorial
editSince 1960, comrade club had a memorial service.[8]
On July 14 1980, the surviving Independent 1st Guerrilla Battalion formed the Jangsa Landing Operation Guerrilla Comrades Association. (장사상륙작전참전유격동지회), 51 years since the Jangsa landing operation, the comrades association held a national fund-raising campaign together with the monk of Cheongunsa Temple in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do and established memorial monument on September 14 1991.[9]
On March 6 1997, the forgotten battle of the Korean War was revealed to the public when the members of the 1st Marine Division Special Reconnaissance Unit, who were searching the shore in front of Jangsari, discovered Munsan in the tidal flat under the sea.[10]
A 2,000 tons replica of the LST Munsan was constructed as the Jangsa Landing Operation Commemorative Park.[11][12][13]
On 16 November 2020, The Memorial museum was opened.[14]
In the popular culture
editReferences
edit- ^ at that time, called Jangsa-dong
- ^ 향토문화전자대전 - 장사리
- ^ He later changed his name to Lee Jong-hoon
- ^ Action Report - Operation 174 from National Archives of Korea
- ^ 독립 제1유격부대
- ^ 꽃다운 영혼과 뜨거운 구국혼, 당신들을 잊지 않겠습니다
- ^ 장사상륙작전, 잊혀진 영웅들을 찾다
- ^ 盈德上陸戰(영덕상륙전)11周(주) 戰歿將兵慰靈祭(전몰장병위령제)
- ^ 최초공개 - 장사동상륙작전 중 좌초한 문산호(汶山號) 선장·선원 명단
- ^ 영덕앞바다서 좌초 문산함…47년만에 인양
- ^ "문화재방송에 오신걸 환영합니다". www.tntv.kr. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
- ^ "문산호 복원, 학도군 기념탑 설치 … '장사상륙작전 기념공원' 조성 착착". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 2015-06-17. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
- ^ "'장사상륙작전 전승기념관' 영덕 바다 위에 떴다". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 2020-06-03. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
- ^ "장사상륙작전 전승기념관 준공식 개최 | 뉴스로". www.newsro.kr. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
External links
edit- Official website of Memorial Museum
- The Jangsa's Landing Operations during the Korean War - South Korean Institute for Military History
- US Army Combinded Arms Center - Over the Beach US Army Amphibious Operations in the Korean War (pp. 183–186)
- 비사(秘史), 1950년 9월 장사 상륙작전 - South Korean Ministry of National Defense TV