This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Pamela LaVerne Jeans-Historian
to remember
Marine Sgt Jack Gaines.
If you knew or served with this Marine and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Casualty Info
Last Address Joplin, MO
Casualty Date Nov 27, 1950
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location Korea, North
Conflict Korean War/CCF Intervention (1950-51)/Battle of the Chosin Reservoir (Battle of Changjin)
Location of Interment Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial - Honolulu, Hawaii
Korean War/UN Offensive (1950)/Second Battle of Seoul
From Month/Year
September / 1950
To Month/Year
September / 1950
Description The advance on Seoul was slow and bloody, after the landings at Inchon. The reason was the appearance in the Seoul area of two first-class fighting units of the North Korean People's Army, the 78th Independent Infantry Regiment and 25th Infantry Brigade, about 7,000 troops in all.
The NKPA launched a T-34 attack, which was trapped and destroyed, and a Yak bombing run in Incheon harbor, which did little damage. The NKPA attempted to stall the UN offensive to allow time to reinforce Seoul and withdraw troops from the south.[citation needed] Though warned that the process of taking Seoul would allow remaining NKPA forces in the south to escape, MacArthur felt that he was bound to honor promises given to the South Korean government to retake the capital as soon as possible.[citation needed]
On the second day, vessels carrying the U.S. Army's 7th Infantry Division arrived in Incheon Harbor. General Almond was eager to get the division into position to block a possible enemy movement from the south of Seoul. On the morning of September 18, the division's 2nd Battalion of the 32nd Infantry Regiment landed at Incheon and the remainder of the regiment went ashore later in the day.
The next morning, the 2nd Battalion moved up to relieve an U.S. Marine battalion occupying positions on the right flank south of Seoul. Meanwhile, the 7th Division's 31st Infantry Regiment came ashore at Incheon. Responsibility for the zone south of Seoul highway passed to 7th Division at 18:00 on September 19. The 7th Infantry Division then engaged in heavy fighting with North Korean soldiers on the outskirts of Seoul.
Before the battle, North Korea had just one understrength division in the city, with the majority of its forces south of the capital. MacArthur personally oversaw the 1st Marine Regiment as it fought through North Korean positions on the road to Seoul. Control of Operation Chromite was then given to Major General Edward Almond, the X Corps commander. General Almond was in an enormous hurry to capture Seoul by September 25, exactly three months of the North Korean assault across the 38th parallel.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
September / 1950
To Month/Year
September / 1950
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories 21 Sep 50 - 7 Oct 50 Capture and securring of Seoul Korea
