8th Infantry Division (South Korea)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 8th Infantry Division


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dates= Formed June 20, 1949
country= Republic of Korea
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type= Infantry
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History

The 8th Infantry Division was a military formation of the Republic of Korea Army during the 20th Century. The unit is comprised of the 10th, 16th and 21st Regiments. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/8id.htm 8th Infantry Division] ]

Became part of I Corps after the first fall of Seoul.

Was part of the defensive line to slow the North Korean advance from Seoul to Taejon.

Fought in the Battle of Pusan Perimeter. [ [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/KW-Outbreak/outbreak.htm The Korean War: The Outbreak] ]

Supporting the Eighth United States Army advance towards China, the 24th Division and the attached British 27th Brigade positioned on the left, proceeded to the Chongchon; the ROK II Corps, with the ROK 1st Division, advanced on the right. To the east the 8th Division reached Tokchon, forty miles north of Pyongyang, during the night of October 23, and then turned north and arrived at Kujang-dong on the Chongchon River, about ten miles from Tokchon, two days later.

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 were shattered units that would need extensive rest and refitting to recover combat effectiveness. [ [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/kw-chinter/chinter.htm The Korean War: The Chinese Intervention, pg 14] ]

References