Republic of Colombia
List for UN Allies
Battle in Advancing to Geumseong (1951. 10. 13~21)
This was the battle in which the Colombian Battalion participated in advancing to Geumseong after being attached to the U.S. 24th Division and fought against the 119th Division and 200th Division under the command of the Chinese Communist 67th Army Corps. In this battle, this Battalion was operated as a battalion in the battle zone and it attacked Hill 570 in front of Heukunto Pass on Oct. 13 and the Hoe pass in the south of Geumseong on Oct. 21 to make a contribution in Division's advance to Geumseong. This Battalion faced the Chinese Communist's stiff resistance in these two locations but it captured target positions with bravery. After confronting with the Chinese Communist at the Hoe pass, this Battalion later became a reserve unit on Nov. 15.
Battle of Kimhwa Hill 400 (1952. 6. 21)
This was the battle in which this Battalion after being attached to the U.S. 7th Division launched a surprise attack on the enemy's outpost Hill 400 while performing a preliminary duty at Wasu-ri. The patrol unit formed with 1 platoon size of troops from this Battalion "A" Company launched a surprise attack on the Communist's outpost located 500m north of the friendly forces outpost at the dawn and captured it. It then destroyed strongly built defense facilities before return.
Battle of Hill 180 (The combat patrol unit right before going into action, 1953. 3. 10)
This was the battle in which this Battalion attacked the Communist's outpost located 500m from the front of the enemy's main defense line while carrying out a preliminary duty at Mageo-ri, northwest of Yeoncheon. The Colombian Battalion "A" Company was able to secretly approach Hill 180, the outpost strongly built by the Chinese Communist Army, at the dawn but it suffered huge casualties to capture the hill due to the enemy's stiff resistance in the following battles. After capturing Hill 180, "A" Company destroyed the enemys defending facilities before return.
Battle of Old Baldy (1953. 3. 23~25)
The Colombian Battalion after being attached to the U.S. 7th Division fought at the Hill 180 battle and took over the guarding duty of the main defense line of Deokeundong in the north of Yeoncheon. And then they fought against the 423rd Regiment of the Chinese Communist 141st Division at the Old Baldy Hill, the outpost of the main defense line. As "A" Company that was dispatched to the Old Baldy Hill suffered heavy casualties by continued bombings by the Chinese Communist, the Battalion decided to replace "A" Company with "B" Company. The Chinese Communist attacked on the night of Mar. 23 when the Battalion was replacing companies.
The Chinese Communist approached to the front of the Battalions position when guarding was less secure while units were replaced. The Colombian Battalion soldiers fought hand to hand with the Chinese Communist that entered their position but had to retreat from the hill as they were outnumbered. The Regiment and Division sent reserve units later for a counterattack, but the loss was mounting and the plan to recapture this hill was abandoned. As a result of this battle, the Old Baldy Hill fell to North Koreas hand after the cease-fire agreement.
After the cease-fire agreement, the Colombian Battalion left in Oct. 1955.
