[Illustration: _Fight for a Foothold--Above, Marines advancing in first battle of the Naktong pass casualties on way to the rear; and, below, Private First Class Eugene A. Obregon (left) of Los Angeles and Private First Class Ralph J. Summers, of Tehama, Calif., in a Marine machinegun position (Marine Corps Photo)._] [Illustration: _Graveyard of Enemy Tanks--Three dead T-34’s at the bend where the road skirts Hill 125, with Obong-ni Ridge looming up ahead. Bodies of three Marines show in the foreground (Marine Corps Photo)._] [Illustration: _Naktong Casualties--Above, wounded Marine, with right leg bandaged, passes M-26 tank on his way to the rear; and, below, a stretcher casualty being evacuated through rice paddy, with South Korean laborer bringing up the rear (Marine Corps Photo)._] [Illustration: _Burning Enemy Tank--Marines advancing past Hill 117 (background) along MSR west of Yongsan are giving a wide berth to the dying T-34 in anticipation of exploding ammunition (Marine Corps Photo)._] [Illustration: _Combat Leadership--Marine platoon leader calls for another rush on enemy hill position in second battle of the Naktong (Marine Corps Photo)._] [Illustration: _Interlude at the Bean Patch--Above, Marine truck column on way to Masan area after first battle of the Naktong; and, below, Brigade riflemen renew their acquaintance with hot food at the Bean Patch (Marine Corps Photo)._] [Illustration: _The Quick and the Dead--Marine tank, advancing along MSR at second Naktong, passes burning hull of enemy T-34 (Life Magazine Photo)._] [Illustration: _Readying for a Strike--Effectiveness of Marine air attacks depends not only on Corsair pilots but also on crewmen such as Staff Sergeant Carl W. Peters (left) and Sergeant Melvin R. Bataway, of VMF-214, shown while arming rockets on the flight deck of the U. S. S. _Sicily_ in preparation for a strike in Korea (U. S. Navy Photo)._] [Illustration: _Enemy Mortar Fire--Marines hit the deck as NKPA mortar fire reaches out for them while advancing in the second battle of the Naktong (Marine Corps Photo)._] [Illustration: _Between Attacks--Above, tired Marines take a short break during first battle of Naktong, with body of NKPA soldier in foreground; and, below, Marine walking wounded are helped back to the rear (Marine Corps Photo)._] [Illustration: _Supporting Arms--Above, headquarters officers keep careful tab on Marine advances in order to co-ordinate fires of supporting weapons; and, below, the 105-mm. howitzers of 1/11 cleaned up, packed and ready for embarkation at Pusan (Marine Corps Photo)._] [Illustration: _Objective Secured--Marine patrol moves out from Hill 311, overlooking the river Naktong, after Brigade troops take their final objective in the first battle of the Naktong (Marine Corps Photo)._] CHAPTER IX The Battle of the Naktong