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The Battle of Osan was the first engagement
between United States and North Korean forces during the Korean War.
Vastly outnumbered and ill-equipped, U.S. Task Force Smith suffered 180
casualties while inflicting about 120 casualties on the North Korean force
and delaying them half a day. Task Force Smith was named for Lieutenant
Colonel Charles B. Smith, commanding officer, 1st Battalion, 21st Regiment,
24th Infantry Division. It comprised 406 officers and men: half of the
battalion headquarters company, two under-strength rifle companies (B and
C), a communications section, a recoilless rifle platoon and two mortar
platoons. In addition to its rifles, the task force had two 75mm
recoilless rifles, two 4.2-inch mortars, six 2.36-inch "bazooka" rocket
launchers and four 60mm mortars. Each man was issued 120 rounds of
ammunition and two days' C-rations. Most of the men were 20 years old
or less; only one sixth had seen combat.
Read about the complete History of Task Force Smith
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