Hill 303 History

History Behind Hill 303

The Hill 303 massacre (Korean: 303 고지 학살 사건) was a massacre that took place during the opening days of the Korean War on August 17, 1950, on a hill above Waegwan, Republic of Korea. Forty-one United States Army (US) prisoners of war were murdered by troops of the North Korean People's Army (KPA) during one of the engagements of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter.

Operating near Taegu during the Battle of Taegu, elements of the US 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, were surrounded by KPA troops crossing the Nakdong River at Hill 303. Most of the US troops were able to escape, but one platoon of mortarmen misidentified KPA troops as Republic of Korea Army (ROK) reinforcements and was captured. KPA troops held the Americans on the hill and initially tried to move them across the river and out of the battle, but they were unable to do so because of a heavy counterattack. US forces eventually broke the KPA advance, routing the force. As the KPA began to retreat, one of their officers ordered the prisoners to be shot so they would not slow them down.

The massacre provoked a response from both sides in the conflict. US commanders broadcast radio messages and dropped leaflets demanding the senior North Korean commanders be held responsible for the atrocity. The KPA commanders, concerned about the way their soldiers were treating prisoners of war, laid out stricter guidelines for handling enemy captives. Memorials were later constructed on Hill 303 by troops at nearby Camp Carroll to honor the victims of the massacre.

Background and Strategic Importance

Location: Hill 303 is a 950-foot ridge located roughly 15 miles northwest of Daegu, overlooking the town of Waegwan and commanding key routes near the Nakdong River.

Context: Following the North Korean People's Army (KPA) invasion on June 25, 1950, UN and U.S. forces fought a desperate delaying action to prevent the total collapse of South Korea.

The Encirclement: Around August 14–15, 1950, KPA units crossed the Nakdong River and surrounded elements of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division's 5th Cavalry Regiment, including Company G and a platoon of mortarmen from Company H.

Capture: Misidentifying advancing KPA soldiers as Republic of Korea (ROK) reinforcements, a U.S. mortar platoon was captured on the hill.

The Massacre

The Executions: KPA forces held roughly 40+ U.S. prisoners of war bound with wire on the hill. As a heavy U.S. 1st Cavalry counterattack with massive artillery and air support pushed the KPA back on August 17, retreating North Korean guards received orders to execute the prisoners so they would not slow down the retreat.

Casualties and Survivors: 41 (or 42) American POWs were murdered in a ravine with automatic weapons, rifles, and pistols. 4 to 5 soldiers survived by feigning death or burrowing under the bodies of their fallen comrades.

Aftermath: General Douglas MacArthur issued a stern broadcast and leaflet warning to North Korean commanders that they would be held criminally accountable for the atrocities.