Battle of Nam River

Battle of Nam River
Part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter
Troops of the US 35th Infantry display a North Korean flag captured along the Nam River
Date August 31 – September 19, 1950 Location Nam River, South Korea Result United Nations victory
Belligerents
United States  South Korea	North Korea
Commanders and leaders
William B. Kean	Pang Ho San Paek Nak Chil
Units involved
25th Infantry Division 27th Infantry Regiment 35th Infantry Regiment National Police	6th Division 13th Infantry Regiment 14th Infantry Regiment 15th Infantry Regiment 7th Division 30th Infantry Regiment 31st Infantry Regiment 32nd Infantry Regiment
Strength
~15,000	20,000
Casualties and losses
~275 killed ~625 wounded	~11,000 killed and deserted

The Battle of Nam River was an engagement between the United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces early in the Korean War from August 31 to September 19, 1950, in the vicinity of the Nam River and the Naktong River in South Korea. It was a part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter, and was one of several large engagements fought simultaneously. The battle ended in a victory for the United Nations after United States Army (US) troops repelled a Korean People's Army (KPA) attack across the river.

Positioned in defense of Masan during the Battle of Masan, the US 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division took up positions along the Nam River, one of the many tributaries of the Naktong River on the southern flank of the Pusan Perimeter. The KPA 7th Division crossed the river on August 31, and though the 35th Infantry stemmed the KPA advance, thousands of KPA troops exploited a hole in the line and surrounded the regiment. What followed was an intense battle in which the US and KPA units were heavily engaged all along and behind the Kum River line. Eventually, the KPA force was routed by the US troops.

During the battle, the US Army's 35th Infantry division was instrumental in forcing back the KPA division and preventing it from advancing to capture Pusan. The 35th Infantry's performance in the battle earned the regiment a Presidential Unit Citation.