The Hadong Ambush destroyed a full US battalion in its first engagement, illustrating early American unpreparedness during the Korean War.
Key Facts
- Date
- July 27, 1950
- US Unit
- 3rd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment
- Duration of firefight
- Three hours
- Outcome
- North Korean victory; US battalion disbanded
- US force experience
- Mostly inexperienced new arrivals
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
North Korean People's Army forces advanced southward through South Korea in the summer of 1950. The US Army ordered the newly formed and largely inexperienced 3rd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment to occupy the pass at Hadong and block the KPA advance, deploying the unit into combat without adequate preparation.
On July 27, 1950, the 3rd Battalion marched into a prepared North Korean ambush in the Hadong pass. KPA soldiers occupying higher ground pinned the Americans in a crossfire for three hours, killing most of the battalion's command staff. The leaderless troops mounted a disorganized defense before the wounded US commander ordered a withdrawal.
The withdrawal rapidly became disorganized, resulting in hundreds of American casualties. The 3rd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment was effectively destroyed after its first engagement and subsequently disbanded, its survivors merged into other units. North Korean forces passed through the Hadong pass and continued attacking US positions to the east.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent