Battle of the Pusan Perimeter: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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=== Defensive position ===

[[File:Saddle Ridge near Taegu - Pusan Perimeter.jpg|thumb|Saddle Ridge near TaeguDaegu, one of the positions along Busan Perimeter defended by the UN.|alt=A mountain range in the distance, with one peak prominent]]

On August 1, the Eighth Army issued an operational directive to all UN ground forces in Korea for their planned withdrawal east of the Naktong River.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=250}} UN units would then establish a [[Main line of resistance]] behind what was to be called the Pusan Perimeter. The intent was to draw the line on retreating and hold off the KPA while the UN built up its forces and launched a counteroffensive.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=248}} The US 25th Infantry Division held the southernmost flank at [[Masan]],{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=248}} while the 24th Infantry Division withdrew from [[Geochang County]]{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=249}} to Changyeong. The 1st Cavalry Division withdrew to Waegwan.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=251}} US forces demolished all bridges over the Naktong River in the retreat.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=250}} At one bridge in the 1st Cavalry Division sector, the division commander attempted several times to clear refugees from the bridge but they continued to cross it despite warnings and several attempts to clear the bridge. Eventually the commander was forced to demolish the bridge, taking several hundred refugees with it.{{sfn|Appleman|1998|p=251}}