task force smith arrives in south korea
advance elements of 24th infantry division badly defeated in battle of osan on july 5, during first battle between american , north korean forces. force @ battle, task force smith, retreated osan, , u.s. forces again defeated in battle of pyongtaek. on week after defeat of task force smith, 24th infantry division soldiers repeatedly defeated , forced south north korean force s superior numbers , equipment. regiments of 24th infantry division systematically pushed south @ , around chochiwon, chonan, pyongtaek, hadong, , yechon. these american soldiers, of whom had experienced occupation duty in japan , no actual combat, unprepared compared more disciplined north korean units.
on july 12, division s commander, major general william f. dean, ordered division s 19th, 21st, , 34th infantry regiments cross kum river, destroying bridges behind them, , establish defensive positions around taejon. taejon major south korean city 100 miles (160 km) south of seoul , 130 miles (210 km) northwest of pusan, , site of 24th infantry division s headquarters. dean formed line 34th infantry , 19th infantry facing east, , held heavily battered 21st infantry in reserve southeast. kum river wrapped north , west around city, providing defensive line 10 15 miles outskirts of taejon, protected on south sobaek mountains. major railroad lines , roads emanating in directions, taejon stood major transportation hub between seoul , taegu, giving great strategic value both american , north korean forces. taejon had held stop north korean forces converging on unfinished defensive lines around pusan.
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