laststandonzombieisland

It happened 75 years ago today.

Defense of the Pusan Perimeter, 1950. Men of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade on the line after arriving in country just days prior.

Description: PFC Harold R. Bates and PFC Richard N. Martin rest atop the third objective that U.S. Marines seized overlooking the Naktong River, South Korea, 19 August 1950. Note: Canteen in use, M1 Rifle carried by one Marine and M1 Carbine with fixed bayonet carried by the other, who has a bayonet scabbard attached to his leg.

Photographed by Sgt. Frank C. Kerr, USMC.  Official U.S. Marine Corps Photograph, from the All Hands collection at the Naval History and Heritage Command. Catalog #: NH 96991

The assorted 90,000 UN troops– roughly half ROK, and the other half U.S., with a few Brits– that had been pushed back into the defensive line along the Naktong River with the city of Pusan and the Sea of Japan at their back in August 1950 were at the end of their rope.

When the 6,500-odd men of the “fire brigade” of the 1st Provisional Marines pulled in, they were met with a band– then rushed to the line.

Marines Arrive in Pusan, Korea, 2 August 1950 “Arrival of U.S. Marines at Pusan, Korea. Band music on the dock greets this loaded transport.” From the Official Marine Corps Photograph Collection (COLL/3948)

However, with the might of the fleet carriers USS Valley Forge and the Philippine Sea offshore and dozens of fighter-bomber squadrons of the Fifth Air Force plastering already overextended Nork supply lines, the first counter-offensive of the Korean war soon kicked off and began pushing the invaders almost back to the Yalu River– when a totally new war began.