Essay On Outpost Harry

Battle Analysis: Outpost Harry

This paper will present details of the battle at Outpost Harry, the Korean War, political influence, and potential alternate outcome. Operations during the Korean War were marked with setbacks, disappointments, and strategic victories. Initially the North Korean People’s Army (KPA) intended to unify the Korean peninsula by overrunning the South Korean defenses. They nearly succeeded but United Nations Command (UNC) forces, led by the United States Army, drove them back. The amphibious landing at Inchon initiated the UNC push back of the KPA north, just south of the Yula River, the border with China. The Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) intervened at this point since the KPA were ineffective and UNC forces could

These “stalemate” years saw territorial gains and losses that were, in the end, insignificant. The events of the battle of Outpost Harry occurred during this period from 10 to 18 June 1953, just over a month before the end of combat operations.

The Battle

Outpost Harry was on a hill in central Korea, north east of Seoul, in the area known as the Iron Triangle. Ben Loudermilk (2017) provides as description of the area as, “commanding the approach to Seoul” and “one of the UN’s most important observation posts in the area, as it allowed the UN forces to view and call accurate artillery strikes against the Chinese army.” The UN advantage with holding Outpost Harry would have also worked in the opposite direction to the CCF’s favor, threatening the friendly Main Line of Resistance. The 15th Regiment Command Report (1953), identified Harry as a “major outpost because of its strategic importance,” and that “The 15th Infantry was charged with defending Harry at all costs.” The outpost was only large enough to accommodate an infantry company, approximately 150 to 180 men. The 15th Regiment commander, Colonel Akers, implemented a

Predominant war doctrine, equipment, and senior leadership were carry overs from the previous war. The United States was tired of war and the populace and government had no interest in updating the standing army. This fatigue and disinterest is the backdrop on which the Korean War started and the first enemy engagements occurred. The Soldiers who defended Outpost Harry would have all experienced this malaise. They also would have learned from the battlefield the need for and value that intelligence assets provide. The initial stage of the war highlighted the lack of readiness of U.S. forces, in men, equipment, and tactics. U.S. Soldiers arrived in Korea with little to no training, insufficient ammunition and supplies, and poor guidance on the objectives. As the war progressed these circumstances were corrected and the Soldiers who fought on and supported Outpost Harry had the benefit of the lessons learned at the start of the war. Many of the KPA and CCF were battle hardened from serving in the Russian army in World War II or with the Chinese Communist during the Chinese Civil War. The KPA motivated by their leader Kim Il-sung, sought to unify the peninsula and end the division established by the Soviet Union and the United States at the end of World War II. Kim Il-sung, being a communist, secured the support of the Soviet Union and China for his initial