Battle of Taejon

Battle of Taejon
Part of the Korean War
South Korean forces in front of the Taejon Railway Station, July 1950
Date 16–20 July 1950 Location Taejon, South Korea 36°28′29″N 127°16′22″E / 36.47472°N 127.27278°E / 36.47472; 127.27278 (Battle of Taejon) Result Tactical North Korean victory Strategic UN victory Territorial changes UN forces establish the Pusan Perimeter
Belligerents
United Nations  United States  South Korea	North Korea
Commanders and leaders
William F. Dean  (POW)	Lee Kwon Mu[1] Lee Yong Ho[2]
Units involved
24th Infantry Division  • 19th Infantry Regiment  • 21st Infantry Regiment  • 34th Infantry Regiment Unorganized elements	3rd Infantry Division 4th Infantry Division 105th Armored Division
Strength
11,400 infantry and support	13,500–20,000 infantry 50 tanks
Casualties and losses
354 killed 185 missing (POW/KIA) (in and around Kum River, date 13–16) 463 killed 295 missing (POW/KIA) (in and around Daejeon, date 16–20)	Unknown

The Battle of Taejon (16–20 July 1950) was an early battle of the Korean War, between U.S. and North Korean forces. Forces of the United States Army attempted to defend the headquarters of the 24th Infantry Division. The 24th Infantry Division was overwhelmed by numerically superior forces of the Korean People's Army (KPA) at the major city and transportation hub of Taejon, now spelled as Daejeon. The 24th Infantry Division's regiments were already exhausted from the previous two weeks of delaying actions to stem the advance of the KPA.

The entire 24th Division gathered to make a final stand around Taejon, holding a line along the Kum River to the east of the city. Hampered by a lack of communication and equipment, and a shortage of heavy weapons to match the KPA's firepower, the outnumbered, ill-equipped and inexperienced U.S. forces were pushed back from the riverbank after several days before fighting an intense urban battle to defend the city. After a fierce three-day struggle, the U.S. withdrew.

Although they could not hold the city, the 24th Infantry Division achieved a strategic victory by delaying the North Koreans, providing time for other U.S. divisions to establish a defensive perimeter around Pusan further south. The delay imposed at Taejon probably prevented a U.S. rout during the subsequent Battle of Pusan Perimeter. During the action, the KPA captured Major General William F. Dean, the commander of the 24th Infantry Division, and highest ranking U.S. prisoner during the Korean War.