Any Marine will tell you that it takes only one small glitch in plans to foul up a first-rate opportunity. Taedabok Pass was just such a case. Surrounded on both sides by high ground that provided an excellent place to make a stand, the road that cut through Taedabok Pass extended upward about two and a half miles below Paedunni. The North Korean rear guard also realized the area’s potential and planned to confront the main elements of the retreating 6th Division. At 1500 the lead components of the column came under heavy mortar and machine-gun fire. One anti-tank gun sounded off its deadly response, blowing one of the Marine reconnaissance jeeps into a fireball. Marines piled out of their vehicles and hit the ditches as gun-fire raked the area. Master Sergeant Harold Reeves was shot through both legs. “The sons of bitches finally got me,” he yelled as he went down screaming in pain.