Battle of Jangsari

The Battle of Jangsari or Operation Jangsa Landing  was an amphibious invasion and a battle of the Korean War. The official report name for the operation was 'Operational Order 174'.

Background
In September 1950, UN Forces had an important plan of launching an all-out offensive along the entire "Pusan Perimeter", a 140 mi defensive line around an area on the southeastern tip of South Korea after Inchon landing

The main objective was to block the supply route and therefore achieve disruption of the North Korean Army around Pusan Perimeter by hit-and-run tactics and minor objective is to draw away North Korean Army's attention for the success of Inchon landing.

Landing
The landing force consisted of 'Independent 1st Guerrilla Battalion' (Estimate: Total 772 - 718 of student volunteer soldiers led by Republic of Korea Army including Captain Lee Myung-heum)

On 15 September, About at 05:00~06:00 in the morning, The battle group landed from LST Musan. The entire beach and Hill 200 of stronghold was captured by 14:50 at the cost of about 150 casualties (60 KIA, 90 WIA)

The ship, LST Musan, was stranded through landing.

Defence
On 17 September, North Korean army's counterattack began in earnest.

The Independent 1st Guerrilla Battalion defended the beach and stronghold for two days.

But due to shortages of ammunition, they began to prepare for a retreat.

Withdrawal
On September 19, the Independent 1st Guerrilla Battalion were covered by the 7th Fleet bombardment task force, which had USS Helena as their flagship.

39 of 5th Platoon, 2nd Company covered the escape but most were either killed or taken prisoners.

Finally, About above 600 survivors withdrew aboard the ROK Navy's LST Jochiwon.

Honor
In 1960, Douglas MacArthur sent the letter to commander Lee Myung-heum (He later changed his name to Lee Jong-hoon)

Dear Chairman Lee Jong Hoon:

I was delighted to receive your letter of recent date telling of the formation of the 772 Volunteer Comrade Club. The operation they performed in support of the Incheon Landing was a brilliant one and worthy of the highest commendation. The valor and sacrifice of its members will always be a shining example for the youth of Korea. Please extend to its members my heartiest greetings and affectionate regards. I shall always remember them as loyal and devoted comrades-in-arms.

With best wishes, Most sincerely,

Douglas MacArthur

Memorial
Since 1960, comrade club had a memorial service.

On July 14 1980, the surviving Independent 1st Guerrilla Battalion formed the Jangsa Landing Operation Guerrilla Comrades Association. , 51 years since the Jangsa landing operation, the comrades association held a national fund-raising campaign together with the monk of Cheongunsa Temple in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do and established memorial monument on September 14 1991.

On March 6 1997, the forgotten battle of the Korean War was revealed to the public when the members of the 1st Marine Division Special Reconnaissance Unit, who were searching the shore in front of Jangsari, discovered Munsan in the tidal flat under the sea.

A 2,000 tons replica of the LST Munsan was constructed as the Jangsa Landing Operation Commemorative Park.

On 16 November 2020, The Memorial museum was opened.

In the popular culture

 * The Battle of Jangsari