IX Corps (United States)

IX Corps was a corps of the United States Army. For most of its operational history, IX Corps was headquartered in or around Japan and subordinate to US Army commands in the Far East. One of its battalions was the 424th Field Artillery Battalion (United States).

Created following World War I, the corps was not activated for use until just before World War II almost 20 years later. The corps spent most of World War II in charge of defenses on the West Coast of the United States, before moving to Hawaii and Leyte to plan and organize operations for US forces advancing across the Pacific. Following the end of the war, IX Corps participated in the occupation of mainland Japan.

The corps' only combat came in the Korean War. It is best known for its exploits as a senior command of the Eighth United States Army, commanding front line UN forces in numerous offensives and counteroffensives throughout the war. The corps served on the front lines for most of the conflict and took command of several combat divisions at a time. Following the end of the Korean War, IX Corps remained in Korea for several years until it was moved to Japan. The corps spent almost 40 years as an administrative command of the US Army forces there, overseeing administrative functions but no combat. It was finally inactivated and consolidated in 1994.

History

World War I

IX Corps was formed from 25 to 29 November 1918 in Ligny-en-Barrois, France. It was demobilized in France on 5 May 1919. IX Corps was subordinate to Second United States Army, and after moving its headquarters to Saint-Mihiel, and commanded forces along the armistice line between Jonville-en-Woëvre and Fresnes-en-Woëvre until its deactivation. Adelbert Cronkhite was the first corps commander, and William K. Naylor the first chief of staff. Subsequent World War I commanders included Joseph E. Kuhn.

Post-World War I

The IX Corps was demobilized on 5 May 1919 at Nogent-en-Bassigny, France, as Headquarters, IX Army Corps. It was reconstituted in the Organized Reserve on 29 July 1921 as the IX Corps (Headquarters Company concurrently constituted), allotted to the Ninth Corps Area, and assigned to the Third Army. An oddity was that only the VIII and IX Corps were considered direct lineal descendants of their World War I predecessors. Per General Order #29, Ninth Corps Area, the corps headquarters and headquarters company were activated on 7 October 1921 at the Presidio of San Francisco, California, with Regular Army and Organized Reserve personnel. It was assigned a shoulder sleeve insignia shortly thereafter. The corps headquarters was responsible for providing and planning administration, organization, supply, and training for army, corps, and other nondivisional Reserve units, less field and coast artillery, in the Ninth Corps Area. The headquarters was relieved from active duty on 9 May 1924 and all Regular Army personnel were relieved from assignment. Both the headquarters and the headquarters company remained active in the Reserve. Concurrently, the corps’ designated headquarters location for peacetime organization purposes was transferred from San Francisco to Seattle, Washington.

Reserve personnel assigned to the corps headquarters attended summer training at the Presidio of San Francisco. Also, individual staff officers attended active training from time to time with the Headquarters, 3rd Division at Fort Lewis, Washington. The headquarters conducted staff training with Headquarters, 30th Infantry, at the Presidio of San Francisco from 5-19 June 1927. The IX Corps headquarters and headquarters company were withdrawn from the Organized Reserve on 1 October 1933 and allotted to the Regular Army. Concurrently, the corps headquarters was partially activated with Regular Army personnel from Headquarters, Ninth Corps Area and Reserve personnel from the corps area at large. As part of the four army plan put into effect on 1 October 1933, the IX Corps was relieved from the Third Army and assigned to the Fourth Army. As "Regular Army Inactive" unit from 1933 to 1940, the corps headquarters was occasionally organized provisionally for short periods using its assigned Reserve officers and staff officers from Headquarters, Ninth Corps Area. These periods included several Fourth Army command post exercises in the 1930s and the Fourth Army maneuvers at Fort Lewis in August 1940.

World War II

The IX Corps headquarters was activated on 24 October 1940, less Reserve personnel, at Fort Lewis where it assumed command and control of the 3rd and 41st Divisions. The corps participated in the Fourth Army maneuvers during May–August 1941 at the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation, California. After the maneuvers, the corps headquarters returned to Fort Lewis where it was located on 7 December 1941. It immediately began training of combat units in preparation for deployment. One year later, IX Corps took command of the Camp Murray staging area in Washington, responsible for training Army National Guard forces in addition to its responsibilities training active duty and reserve units.

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in late 1941, IX Corps was assigned to defensive duties on the West Coast of the United States, specifically the central and northern regions of the coast. Before the assault could be launched, Japan surrendered in August 1945, following the use of nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Occupation

Following the surrender, IX Corps was assigned command of occupation forces on the northern island of Hokkaidō. IX Corps transferred its headquarters in October 1945 to Sapporo for occupation duties.

As the occupation duties were accomplished, the occupation force continued to downsize as more troops returned home and their units were inactivated. By 1950, the Sixth Army had left Japan, and the occupation force was reduced to the Eighth United States Army commanding two corps and four under-strength divisions; the I Corps, commanding the 24th Infantry Division and 25th Infantry Division, and the IX Corps, commanding the 1st Cavalry Division and the 7th Infantry Division. IX Corps had been moved to Sendai as the occupation forces shifted as a result of the downsizing. As part of further downsizing, IX Corps was inactivated on 28 March 1950, and its command responsibilities were consolidated with other units.

Korean War

Only a few months later, the Korean War began, and units from Japan began streaming into South Korea. The Eighth Army, taking charge of the conflict, requested the activation of three corps headquarters for its growing command of UN forces. IX Corps was activated on 10 August 1950 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.

Pusan Perimeter

thumb|defense of the Pusan Perimeter|alt=A map of a perimeter on the southeastern tip of a land mass

IX Corps arrived at the Pusan Perimeter in Korea on 22 September 1950, and became operational the next day when it took command of the 2nd Infantry Division and 25th Infantry Division. It took charge of the western flank of the perimeter, defending the Naktong River area against attacking North Korean Korean People's Army (KPA) units.

Amphibious landings at Inchon by X Corps hit KPA forces from behind, allowing I Corps to breakout from the Pusan perimeter starting on 16 September. Four days later I Corps troops began a general offensive northward against crumbling KPA opposition to establish contact with forces of the 7th Infantry Division driving southward from the beachhead. Major elements of the KPA were destroyed and cut off in this aggressive penetration; the link-up was effected south of Suwon on 26 September. The offensive was continued northwards, past Seoul, and across the 38th Parallel into North Korea on 1 October. The momentum of the attack was maintained, and the race to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, ended on 19 October when elements of the Republic of Korea Army (ROK) 1st Infantry Division and the US 1st Cavalry Division captured the city. The advance continued, but against unexpectedly stiffening resistance. The Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) entered the war on the side of North Korea, making their first attacks in late October. By the end of October the city of Chongju, from the Yalu River border of North Korea, had been captured. IX Corps advanced in the center of the Army, with I Corps along the west coast and X Corps operating independently further east. Commanders hoped the offensive would end the war "by Christmas."

Chinese intervention

The UN forces renewed their offensive on 24 November before being stopped by the PVA Second Phase Offensive starting on 25 November with PVA forces penetrating the corps' rear from its exposed east flank. The 2nd Infantry Division, at the front of IX Corp's advance in Kunuri, was overwhelmed from all sides by PVA forces of the 40th Army Corps and elements from the 38th Army Corps on 29 November in the Battle of Kunuri. By 1 December, the division was almost completely destroyed; it lost virtually all of its heavy equipment and vehicles, as well as suffering 4,940 men killed or missing. IX Corps retreated along the western coast to safety via Anju.

thumb|left|Soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division prepare for a Chinese attack

In the wake of the retreat, the disorganized Eighth Army regrouped and re-formed in late December. The 2nd and 25th Infantry Divisions had suffered so many losses that both divisions were designated combat ineffective and were relegated to the Eighth Army's reserve to rebuild. IX Corps was then assigned the 1st Cavalry Division, 24th Infantry Division, 1st Marine Division and ROK 6th Infantry Division, as well as the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team.

On 1 January 1951, 500,000 PVA troops attacked the Eighth Army's line at the Imjin River, forcing them back and allowing the PVA to capture Seoul.

thumb|1st Marine Division soldiers capture Chinese [[prisoners of war.]]

Following the establishment of defenses south of the capital city, General Matthew B. Ridgway ordered I, IX and X Corps to conduct a general counteroffensive against the PVA forces on 25 January, Operation Thunderbolt. The three corps advanced north with IX Corps at the center of the line, on both sides of the Han River. The corps were to advance steadily northward, protected by heavy artillery and close air support, until they captured Seoul. IX Corps was tasked with capturing Chipyong-ni, southeast of Seoul while providing support to the other two corps. However, it encountered stiff resistance from PVA forces dug into the hilly country around Chipyong-ni and was still bogged down in combat by 2 February. PVA forces had established machine gun nests in the hillside and mined roads to slow the corps' advance. In response, X Corps launched Operation Roundup, hoping to take pressure off of IX Corps and to force the PVA to abandon Seoul.

Between February and March, the corps participated in Operation Killer, pushing PVA forces north of the Han River. This operation was quickly followed up with Operation Ripper, which retook Seoul in March. After this, Operations Rugged and Operation Dauntless in April saw Eighth Army forces advance north of the 38th Parallel and reestablish themselves along the Kansas Line and Utah Line, respectively. 486,000 PVA troops assaulted I Corps and IX Corps' sector of the lines. Most of the UN forces were able to hold their ground, but the PVA broke through at Kapyong, where the ROK 6th Division was destroyed by the PVA 13th Army Corps, which penetrated the line and threatened to encircle the American divisions to the west. The 1st Marine Division and 27th British Commonwealth Brigade were able to drive the 13th Army Corps back while the 24th and 25th Divisions withdrew on 25 April. A second offensive the next month was similarly unsuccessful, as PVA and KPA forces suffered heavy casualties but were unable to push back the Eighth Army forces. In May-June the UN launched another counteroffensive erasing most of the PVA gains.

Stalemate

In September, the UN Forces launched another counteroffensive with the 24th Infantry Division at the center of the line, west of the Hwachon Reservoir. Subsequently, three of I Corps divisions advanced behind the 24th Infantry Division in Operation Commando. Flanked by the ROK 2nd and 6th Divisions, the 24th advanced past Kumwha, engaging the PVA20th and 27th Armies. In November, the PVA attempted to counter this attack, but were unsuccessful. It was at this point, after several successive counteroffensives that saw both sides fighting intensely over the same ground, that the two sides started serious peace negotiations. In January 1952, IX Corps was again reorganized, now containing the 7th Infantry Division and the newly arrived 45th Infantry Division. Two months later, it was reorganized with the 2nd Infantry Division, the 40th Infantry Division, and the ROK 2nd, 3rd and Capital Divisions. At the same time, PVA forces attacked Arrowhead Hill, which was held by the 2nd Infantry Division away. Both hills changed hands several times, but after two weeks and almost 10,000 casualties, the PVA were unsuccessful in capturing either objective and withdrew.

thumb|left|alt=A group of medics lift several wounded soldiers onto a tracked vehicle|Corpsmen assist wounded from the 31st Regiment during the [[Battle of Triangle Hill.]]

On 14 October 1952, IX Corps launched an offensive, Operation Showdown, intended to improve its defensive lines by capturing a complex of hills and force PVA lines back. This complex included Pike's Peak, Jane Russell Hill, Sandy Hill and Triangle Hill, northeast of Kumhwa. The 7th Infantry Division advanced, encountering resistance from the PVA 15th Field Army. In the ensuing Battle of Triangle Hill, the four hills were captured and recaptured by both sides several times in the heaviest fighting that year. Eventually, the UN forces withdrew having been unsuccessful in capturing their objectives. UN forces suffered 9,000 killed and the PVA suffered 19,000 killed or wounded during the fighting. The result of the battle had only been a slight improvement in IX Corps' positions, as PVA positions had been too well fortified for the UN forces to take and hold the ground. For the remainder of the year, UN and PVA forces both conducted a series of smaller raids on each other's lines, avoiding major conflicts, as armistice negotiations continued unsuccessfully. In November, the PVA launched another offensive to retake ground lost during these operations, which was again repulsed by UN forces.

In January 1953, IX Corps was reorganized for the last time and now consisted entirely of ROK forces. It retained command of the ROK 3rd Infantry Division and Capital Division, and gained command of the 9th Infantry Division. Though ROK II Corps saw a major attack against its lines in July 1953, IX Corps and its divisions only fought in limited engagements, usually with company-sized formations attacking or defending fortified positions against the PVA until the end of the war. No major attacks against the corps were conducted through 1953, until the armistice was signed in July, ending the war.

After Korea

Following the armistice, IX Corps remained on the front lines in Korea in case hostilities erupted again. On 1 January 1954, it was reassigned from the Eighth Army to United States Army Forces Far East and moved to Camp Zama in Japan. Camp Sendai was Headquarters XVI and then IX Corps during the 1950s.

On 2 February 1956, IX Corps moved from mainland Japan to Fort Buckner, Okinawa, where it merged with Headquarters Ryukyus Command, to form HQ RYCOM/IX Corps on 1 January 1957. The Army had previously in the late 1940s formed Ryukyu Command from the previous Okinawa Base Command. There, as a part of consolidation of US forces in the region, IX Corps merged with the US Army's Ryukyus Command to form a joint command element on 1 January 1957. The command oversaw administrative duties of US forces in the Ryukyu Islands area. This was again changed back to U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa in September 1979. In February 1986, the unit was re-designated as 10th Area Support Group and served as the Installation Command for all Army units located on Okinawa. It was then officially reflagged effective 18 February 1986 as 10th Area Support Group (Provisional). The provisional status was dropped on 16 October 1987. During this timeframe, the headquarters was transferred to Torii Station. The 10th Area Support Group served as the installation command for all Army organization on Okinawa and provides contingency support to forces in the Pacific Rim. U.S. Army Garrison Torii Station was activated on 11 July 2011 and was officially recognized as a battalion-level command. On 4 March 2014, U.S. Army Garrison Torii Station was redesignated U.S. Army Garrison Okinawa.

From 1972, IX Corps remained in the region conducting training and oversight to US Army forces in the area, and as such it was never deployed to support any other US Army contingencies. IX Corps remained a command component of United States Army Japan until 1994, when it was inactivated. At this point, the lineage of the corps was assumed by the 9th Theater Army Area Command, which was activated in its place.

U.S. Army Ryukyu Islands (USARYIS) was active at least until from 22 April 1969 – 21 October 1970.

Honors

thumb|right|Ryukyu Command headquarters circa 1955

The IX Corps was awarded one campaign streamer for service in World War II, and nine campaign streamers and two unit decorations during its service in the Korean War for a total of ten streamers and two unit decorations in its operational history.