7th Infantry Division (South Korea)
The 7th Infantry Division (Korean: 제7보병사단, Hanja: 第七步兵師團) is a military formation of the Republic of Korea Army, currently employed on patrol duty in the Korean Demilitarized Zone around Hwacheon County, Gangwon Province. It has a GOP(General outpost) brigade (5th or 8th Brigade), a reserve brigade (3rd Brigade), an artillery brigade, and a subordinate force.
| 7th Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
| 제7보병사단 | |
 Shoulder Sleeve Insignia | |
| Active | 10 June 1949 – present |
| Country |  South Korea |
| Branch |  Republic of Korea Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | II Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Hwacheon County, Gangwon Province |
| Nickname(s) | 칠성 (Chilsung / The Seven Stars) |
| Colors | White, Blue |
| March | 7th Division Hymn |
| Engagements | 28 battles fought During Korean war; notable battles Battle of YeongCheon |
| Decorations | 11 Decorations of Presidential Honour |
| Battle honours | |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Maj. Gen. Son Gwang-je |
Structure
- Headquarters:[1][2]
- 3rd Infantry Brigade (K105A1 howitzers and 81mm mortars)
- 5th Infantry Brigade (K105A1 howitzers and 81mm mortars)
- 8th Infantry Brigade (K808 APCs, K105A1 howitzers and 81mm mortars)[3]
- Artillery Brigade (K9 Thunder SPHs)
History
During the Korean War, the 7th Infantry Division served a total of 28 battles. In particular, the Yeongcheon at the time to perform on the defense division president received a citation for troops to destroy the two Democratic People's Republic of Korea in battle of the world.
The division first started from Youngsan, Seoul on June 10, 1949. The division first saw combat on September 14, 1949, in an operation on Jirisan Mt. to fight Communist guerillas. This division was, after the fall of Taejon, only had a few hundred survivors to participate in the Battle of Pusan Perimeter.[4] During the Battle of Pusan Perimeter, The 7th Infantry Division regrouped with the 3rd, 5th, and 8th infantry regiments to become what formation they have, and destroyed size of two divisions of North Korean army during the Battle of YeongCheon.
On 26 November 1950, a column of retreating ROK Korean soldiers of the ROK 6th and 7th Divisions from Tokchon was attacked by a battalion of the Turkish Brigade who were the first to arrive at Wawon, after the Turks mistook the Koreans for Chinese. 125 Koreans were taken prisoner and many of them were slaughtered by the Turks. The event was wrongly reported in American and European media as a Turkish victory over the Chinese and even after news leaked out about the truth to the Americans, no efforts were made by the media to fix the story.[5][6][7]
After the Chinese intervention and attacks in November 1950, the U.S. 2d Infantry Division, the Turkish Brigade, and the ROK 6th, 7th, and 8th Infantry Divisions suffered substantial loss that they needed extensive rest and refitting to recover combat effectiveness.[8] After recovery, The 7th Division took part of the operation as II Corps's command such as the Retaking of Hwacheon and the Battle of Gumsung.
References
- 육군 제7사단, '백발백중' 통합 화력으로 결전태세 확립 - Kuki News 10-02-2023
- 육군7보병사단 전차대대, K1 전차 초도사격...기존 M48A5K에서 개편 후 첫 실사격훈련 - The Korea News 22-11-2022
- "7사단 8여단 KCTC 미공개 사진입니다". bobaedream.co.kr. 2022-03-14. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
- Webb, William J. The Korean War: The Outbreak. United States Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 19-6. Archived from the original on 2010-06-12. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- Appleman 2008, pp. 88-89.
- Leckie 1996, p. 203.
- Leckie 1962, p. 203.
- Stewart, Richard W. The Korean War: The Chinese Intervention. p. 14. CMH Pub 19-8. Archived from the original on 2011-12-03. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
Sources
- Appleman, Roy E. (2008). Disaster in Korea: The Chinese Confront MacArthur. Vol. 11 of Texas A & M University military history series: Texas A and M University (illustrated ed.). Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-1603441285. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- Leckie, Robert (1996). Conflict: The History of the Korean War, 1950-53 (illustrated, reprint ed.). Da Capo Press. ISBN 0306807165. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- Leckie, Robert (1962). Conflict: The history of the Korean War 1950-1953. G. P. Putnam's Sons., New York.
External links
Media related to 7th Infantry Division (Republic of Korea) at Wikimedia Commons