Key Facts
- Dates
- August 31 – September 19, 1950
- Duration
- 19 days
- US unit
- 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
- KPA unit
- KPA 7th Division
- Award
- Presidential Unit Citation to 35th Infantry Regiment
Strategic Narrative Overview
On August 31, the KPA 7th Division crossed the Nam River in force. Though the US 35th Infantry Regiment initially stemmed the advance, thousands of KPA troops exploited a gap in the American line, surrounding the regiment. Intense fighting erupted along and behind the line for nearly three weeks, with US and KPA units heavily engaged throughout the area. American forces gradually regained the initiative, engaging the encircling KPA troops in close combat across the region.
01 / The Origins
In the summer of 1950, North Korean People's Army forces had pushed UN and South Korean troops into a small defensive perimeter around the port of Pusan in southeastern Korea. The Battle of the Pusan Perimeter became a critical stand, with multiple engagements fought simultaneously along its edges. The Nam River, a tributary of the Naktong, formed part of the southern flank, defended by the US 25th Infantry Division around the town of Masan.
03 / The Outcome
By September 19, US forces had routed the KPA 7th Division, forcing it back across the Nam River and securing the southern flank of the Pusan Perimeter. The 35th Infantry Regiment's determined defense and counterattack prevented North Korean forces from breaking through to Pusan. The regiment's performance was recognized with a Presidential Unit Citation, and the battle contributed to the broader UN stabilization of the perimeter ahead of the Inchon landings.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.