The First Marine Division spearheaded
our assault at Inchon on 15 September, 1950. In the
advance on Seoul, the 5th Marines were on the left and
the 1st Marines on the right. The 5th Marines took
Kimpo Airfield on the 17th and crossed the Han River
northwest of Seoul on the 20th. They would have three
days of hard fighting taking the high ground
immediately northwest of Seoul.
Meanwhile, the 7th Marines had unloaded
at Inchon the afternoon of the 21st and reached Kimpo
that evening. The 1st Marines crossed the river on the
24th and the next day, 25 September, both the 1st and
5th regiments went into Seoul itself. The 7th Marines,
in reserve, crossed the river and took up a position
behind the 5th Marines. The North Korean commander,
Major General Wol Ki Chan, had about 10,000 troops with
which to defend Seoul, and the battle to destroy those
brave and veteran warriors was a savage part of Marine
Corps history.
On the way, they went through
Yongdongpo.
