Assault Landings
At 06:30 on September 15, 1950, the first Marines, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, went ashore on "Green Beach" on the northwestern face of Wolmi-Do Island. By noon, the island was secured and became the command location for the other landing beaches. Due to low-tide, the next landings had to wait until the afternoon for the tide to return. During this time, air bombing and naval gunfire support continued the attack on the North Koreans. Late in the afternoon, Regimental Combat Team 5, which included Republic of Korea Marines, used ladders to climb sea walls to land on "Red" Beach. Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez, USMC, posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions just 15 minutes after the Marines landing. For "Blue" Beach, the First Marine Regiment landed a few miles south of the Red and Green Beaches. The North Koreans were not prepared to defend Inchon, and the objective was secured on September 16. Two days later, two North Korean aircraft attacked and bombed USS Rochester (CA-124) and Royal Navy cruiser HMS Jamaica. Rochester received minimal damage. Jamaica was also damaged along with the loss of life to a few Royal Navy Sailors.
U.S. Navy dock landing and transport ships included: USS Fort Marion (LPD-22), USS Horace A. Bass (APD-124), USS Diachenko (APD-123), and USS Wantuck (APD-135). General of the Army Douglas A. MacArthur directed the Inchon landing onboard the amphibious force flagship, USS Mount McKinley (AGC-7).
Other Resources:
70th Anniversary of the Inchon Landing
Image: NH 96876: Inchon Landing, September 1950. First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez, UMSC, leads 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines over the seawall on the northern side of Red Beach. NHHC Photograph Collection.
