The following war diary for the 52nd Field Artillery documents the unit's withdrawal from
the Yalu into South Korea and its participation in the Korean War during 1951. It was compiled by
Colonel (Ret.) Robert F. Hallahan, Forward Observer, Reconnaissance and Survey Officer, Assistant S-3 and CO
Battery B, 52nd FA Battalion. The document was submitted to the Korean War Educator by James Bolt,
whose memoir can be found on the KWE's Memoirs page.
Date |
Narrative |
2 November 1950 |
Bn withdrew back to vic Chongju. Word received that CCF forces had entered Korean
War in mass. |
3 November 1950 |
Bn displ again back to vic SE of Anju. |
4 November 1950 |
Bn displ 4000 yds N to better spt 21st Inf. Regt. |
5 November 1950 |
Bn displ to psns 6 mi. NE of Anju. Fired on mortars and personnel. |
6 November 1950 |
Fired 24 missions in spt 21 IR. |
7 November 1950 |
En reported retreating W. and N. Resistance light. |
8 November 1950 |
No en activity. Harassing missions fired. |
9 November 1950 |
21st IR to Div. reserve. 52nd FA to reinforce 13th FA in DS 19th Inf. Regt. (19 IR) |
10 November 1950 |
Bn placed in general support of 24th Div. Bn engaged in constn of road leading to main
road leading S from Anju. |
11 November 1950 |
Bn displ across Chongchon R. in vic Sosong-dong (3 mi. NW of Anju). |
12 November 1950 |
Mission to DS 27th British Commonwealth Brigade. B Btry 11th FA reinf. fires of
52nd FA. Survey Officer (Lt. Hallahan) est. flash base. LnO and FOs from 3d Bn sent to
Australian Bn. LnO and FOs remained w/Argyle and Middlesex Bns. |
13 November 1950 |
Bn displ to vic. Hagamsong-ni (4 mi. SE of Pakchon). Resistance light. |
14 November 1950 |
Continued DS Brits. Weather cold (12 degrees) |
15 November 1950 |
Middlesex and Australian Bns sent out patrols. Natives report CCF were on E side
of Chongchon River until 8 Oct when friendly air forced them out. |
16 November 1950 |
Bn displ to 2000yds E of Pakchon. No contact. |
17 November 1950 |
Work parties maintained psns and main road N of Pakchon. |
18 November 1950 |
Australian patrols made contact w/small en force NE of Pakchon. Road work contd. |
19 November 1950 |
C Btry displ to psn at Hanam-ni to spt Australian patrols. Aussie Bn to enter area
1200 yds NW of Pakchon. C Btry fired on group of 100 en in village of Taehung-dong w/excellent
results. En activity increased along entire front. |
20 November 1950 |
Spt patrols. Light en psns fired upon. |
21 November 1950 |
Word rec'd that 17th Inf. Reg't, 7th US Inf Div reached Yalu River. |
23 November 1950 |
Thanksgiving dinner enjoyed by all. |
24 November 1950 |
Bn displ across river to psns 1200 yds E of Napchong-dong. Gen MacArthur visited
24th Div. area to be present for initial phase of general push along entire front. Bn in DS 21st
IR. We thought we would be home by Christmas. |
25 November 1950 |
Bn displ at 1000 hrs to psns 2500 yds E of Chongju. Resistance reported heavy in
other sectors. |
26 November 1950 |
21st IR patrols out. Resistance light. 2d Rocket Btry atchd to Bn. |
27 November 1950 |
Bn displ to rear vic Napchong-dong. 5th RCT reports 40th Chinese Army attack
against 25th Div. Also attack imminent between 5th RCT and 1st ROK Div. Bn fired TOT mission
on large en concentration. 2d Rocket Btry released. |
28 November 1950 |
Bn displ to psns 2000 yds W of Pakchon. 21st IR to maintain bridgehead on W side
of Chongchon River. Bn Survey Officer (Lt. Hallahan) est. OP vic E Co 21 IR to take flash readings
on AF bomber radar directed to target area. |
29 November 1950 |
Recon made for psns 3000 yds SW of Suckchon. Bn. displ 45 mi. to new psns at 0100
hrs, 30 Nov. |
30 November 1950 |
Bn displ to new assembly area 5000 yds SE of Kang-dong. Bridge at Su-ri cut
requiring alternate assembly area. Numerous CCF reported moving south and west. 24 Div. zone
of responsibility on right flank of IX Corps (note: there were no friendly forces beyond that flank
except Marines on East Coast) |
1 December 1950 |
Bn passed through Pyongyang and moved 68 mi. to Siriwon-ni. |
2 December 1950 |
Bn displ to firing psns covering 6 mi between Siriwon-ni and Yuli, DS 21st Inf.
protecting Pyongyang-Seoul MSR to the east. |
5 December 1950 |
A Btry displ to Sangchang-ni to spt. 2d Bn against guerilla attacks on MSR. 2d Bn
broke road block 1 mi. S. of Sangchan-ni. B Btry 11th FA into psn vic Siriwon-ni. Hq moved
from Yuli to Siriwon-ni near CO 21st Inf. |
6 December 1950 |
2d Bn spt by A Btry repulsed attack by 400 en. |
7 December 1950 |
Plans made for move to Uijongbu area. |
8 December 1950 |
At 1330 hrs 52nd FA began move to vic Uijongbu. |
9 December 1950 |
Bn bivouaced on S. bank of Imjin River. At dawn 2 mounted NK cavalrymen were
observed on N bank of river. Bn moved to assembly area 10 mi NE of Uijongbu. |
11 December 1950 |
Bn occupied firing psns vic Singi, S of 38th Parallel. 11th FA Bn attached to 52
FA Bn. |
14 December 1950 |
Bn displaced to psns 1000 yds south. |
15 December 1950 |
Recon party scouted psns along Han River. |
18 December 1950 |
B Btry and 1 Howitzer from 17th FA moved into psn 1000 yds N of Bn to increase range. |
23 December 1950 |
Lt. Gen. Walton H. Walker killed in accident on road to 19th Inf. to visit son Capt. Sam
Walker. Lt.Gen. Matthew B. Ridgeway to command of 8th Army. |
28 December 1950 |
Recon for psns 8 mi. E of Uijongbu. |
31 December 1950 |
Report from IX Corps to expect all out attack not later than 1 January. |
1 January 1951 |
Attack that began on 31 Dec. still in progress. Serious gap developed when 19th
Inf fell 3000 yds behind MLR. Bn displaced to 1000 yds NE of Uijongbu. |
2 January 1951 |
Bn displ. to 7000 yds S of Uijongbu. |
3 January 1951 |
Bn fired 3130 rds between 030530 and 031753. Bn moved to assembly area south of
Changji-ri. 21st Inf in IX Corps reserve mission to block S. of Al Jolson Bridge. |
4 January 1951 |
Bn withdrew to 2 assembly areas between 4-5 Jan. |
6 January 1951 |
Bn occupied firing psns 3000 S of Changwon-ni (CS 795056), GS reinforcing 13th FA. |
12 January 1951 |
Bn displ to vic Hae-dong (CR 7595) near Yugu. |
24 January 1951 |
Bn DS Domino (5th RCT) |
26 January 1951 |
Bn DS 21st IR on Han River between Yogu and Yonghwa-dong. |
29 January 1951 |
Bn 6000 yds W of Yogu. |
1 February 1951 |
Bn 5 mi W of Yogu, DS 21 IR. |
4 February 1951 |
Bn in psn N of Ichon. |
6 February 1951 |
Strong counterattack against 3d Bn, 21 IR broken up. Bn fired 3315 Rds. |
21 February 1951 |
Bn moved to East bank of Han River. Remained in psn until end of February. |
1 March 1951 |
Bn DS 21 IR at CS 709427. |
6 March 1951 |
Bn at CS 696475 spt 21 IR. |
7 March 1951 |
Bn displ to CS 709494 spt. 21 IR in attack on Hill 1157. Fired 4337 rounds in 24
hr. period. |
8 March 1951 |
Bn displ. to four positions to CS 661835 through mountainopus terrain between 7 and 20
March. Advanced generally along Route 17 Corridor. |
9 March 1951 |
Bn reinforced 13 FA until 26 March. |
27 March 1951 |
DS 21 IR in attack on Line Cairo vic. Kapyong. |
28 March 1951 |
Bn crossed Pukhan River to CS 522560. |
1 April 1951 |
Bn in psn at CS 675886 DS 21 IR. Bn ordered to move W into I Corps zone.
Displ to CS 572695. |
4 April 1951 |
Bn displ N in five successive moves between 4 and 20 April to vic. Line Utah.
Attack toward objective at Kumwah. |
11 April 1951 |
General MacArthur fired by Truman. Lt. Gen. James Van Fleet succeeds Gen. Ridgeway
as CG 8th Army. |
20 April 1951 |
21 IR relieved by 5th RCT. Bn GS reinforcing fires of 555 FA Bn. |
22 April 1951 |
Massive Chinese offensive begins. Forward Observers of 555 FA had two battalions
answering calls for fire on their firing channels. |
23 April 1951 |
Bn fired 7006 rds in two days. In next four days, Bn displaced south four times.
21 IR delayed along Route 3A and then Route 17. |
25 April 1951 |
21 IR withdrew to Line Delta. 5th RCT and 555 FA caught in roadblock about one
hour after 52 FA passed through. 555 FA lost 11 howitzers, over 60 vehicles and more than 100
killed, missing or wounded. |
28 April 1951 |
Bn crossed Pukhan River at CS 522560. Light en. contact. CCF offensive
ended. 21 IR on Phase Line No Name. |
1 May 1951 |
Bn remained in psn until 20 May. 21IR strengthened defensive psns. Attack on
16 May repulsed with heavy en losses. |
1 May 1951 |
21 IR attacked N, 48 mile march along Route 17 corridor to Kapyong. 213 FA reinf.
fires of 52 FA. |
27 May 1951 |
17 IR, l7th Inf. Div. on east of Pukhan River and 21 IR on west bank surrounded a large
Chinese force in a pincer movement near Chiam-ni below Line Kansas. Strong night attacks against
21 IR medics and hq elements repulsed with illumination from 11 FA and fire from 52 FA at range under
2000 ydes. Estimated 200 KIA, 250 WIA and 450 en captured. Nearly 3800 CCF troops finally
captured. During the next several days artillery and air strikes pounded en forces attempting to
escape north. |
1 June 1951 |
During the month the 52 FA moved forward to four psn areas, a total of 36 Mi. On 1
June. Bn moved from Otan-ni DS 21 IR on Phase Line Virginia. |
5 June 1951 |
21 IR went into reserve. 52 FA moved to 1000 yds NE of Hwachon to reinforce fires
of 27 ROK FA Bn, 6 ROK Inf. Div. |
21 June 1951 |
21 IR back on line to replace 17th IR, 7th Inf Div. 52 FA took over psns of 49th
FA, 7th Inf Div. Bn remained in this psn near Hahoengchon (CT 836301) until end June, with plans
to spt. 21 IR in advance to Line Kansas. |
1 July 1951 |
Bn remained in psn approximately 12 mi. N of Hwachon, inside the famous Iron Triangle
during July. Extensive training to replace experienced personnel lost to rotation. On 31
July, 52 FA authorized additional LnO and three FO teams to spt. Columbian Bn, atch to 21 IR. |
10 July 1951 |
Negotiations for a cease fire commence at Kaesong. |
1 August 1951 |
Bn in same psn DS 21 IR on Line Wyoming. |
6 August 1951 |
24th Inf Div went into reserve. 52 FA reverted to GS reinforcing fires of ROK 27th
FA Bn. 52 FA displaced, to psn at Myongsomi-dong (CT 903240). B Btyry won command inspection
held 20-21 Aug. |
1 September 1951 |
Bn remained in psn near Myongsomi-dong for entire month. A and B Batteries moved
2500 yds N to better spt fires of 27th ROK FA Bn, 6th ROK Inf. Div. |
4 October 1951 |
Bn moved from CT 903241 to CT 849333. GS IX Corps reinf. fires of 7th Inf. Div.
Arty. |
6 October 1951 |
DS 21 IR. |
13 October 1951 |
21 IR atk Hill 569. Beginning of UN Offensive. |
15 October 1951 |
Bn displ to Kobincok (CT 765364). Bn displaced three times in rapid succession
15-21 Oct. Bn lost two new Forward Observers KIA on 15 and 16 Oct. |
22 October 1951 |
21 IR on forward defensive psns just S of Kumsong. Bn at CT 790434 on 31 Oct.
A Flash Base was established overlooking Kumsong, using two OPs of the 21 IR. |
1 November 1951 |
Bn remained in psn during month. Firing batteries displ. 1000 yds N to better spt.
21 IR on line. PFC Donald F. Wessel last man in 52 FA KIA when flash base OP overrun. |
1 December 1951 |
Bn remained in same psn for entire month. DS 21 IR on defensive line below Kumsong. |
1 January 1952 |
Bn in same psn. On 28 Jan. Bn ordered to move to "Tent City" in preparation for
shipment to Camp Youngens, Japan. The end of 52 FA combat operations in Korea. |