Capital Mechanized Infantry Division ( Republic of Korea ) The Capital Mechanized Infantry Division ( hangul : 수도기계화보병사단 ; hanja : 首都機械化步兵師團 ) , also known as Tiger Division ( hangul : 맹호사단 ; hanja : 猛虎師團 ) , is currently one of the five mechanized infantry divisions in the Republic of Korea Army . It is part of the VII Corps , 3rd ROK Army ( TROKA ) , tasked with covering approaches to Seoul from North Korea and counterattack operations . This division saw extensive combat both during the Korean War and the Vietnam War , where it was despatched in September 1965 , as a part of the Republic of Korea ' s contribution to the South Vietnamese war effort . The 1965 deployment became possible when in August of that year the Republic of Korea ' s National Assembly passed a bill authorizing the action . Recently , elements of this division were sent as Republic of Korea ' s contribution to the " coalition of the willing " in Iraq . History . Korean War . The Capital Division was a military formation of the Republic of Korea Army during the 20th Century . It was formed June 20 , 1948 from the Capital Security Command . Included in the new division was the 1st Cavalry Regiment which was equipped with twenty - four M8 and M20 armored cars plus twelve M3 halftracks . Became part of I Corps after the first fall of Seoul . Was part of the defensive line to slow the North Korean advance from Seoul to Taejon . Fought in the Battle of Pusan Perimeter . On September 16 , 1950 , in the I Corps sector , elements of the Capital Division fought their way through the streets of Angang - ni . The next day , advancing from the west in the II Corps sector , a battalion of the 7th Division linked up with elements of the Capital Division , closing a two - week - old gap between the ROK I and II Corps . The NKPA ’ s 12th Division waged a series of stubborn delaying actions against the Capital Division in the vicinity of Kigye as the North Koreans retreated northward into the mountains . Kigye fell back under South Korean control on September 22 , 1950 . On September 29 , a message , dropped from a light plane by an officer with the Military Advisory Group to the Republic of Korea , was delivered to the U . S . adviser to the ROK 3rd Division , Lt . Col . Rollins S . Emmerich . According to the message , the ROK 3rd Division was to cross the 38th Parallel and proceed to Wonsan as soon as possible . The next day the division crossed the parallel and advanced up the east coast . The Capital Division followed . After establishing command posts at Yangyang , eight miles ( 13 km ) north of the parallel , on October 2 , both divisions proceeded to Wonsan and captured the town on the tenth , well before the X Corps had landed . On October 17 , 1950 , the Capital Division captures Hamhung and its port , Hungnam . On October 28 , 1950 , in far northeast Korea , a " flying column " from the Capital Division captures Songjin , northeast of Hungnam . Meanwhile the Capital Division ' s 1st Regiment approached Pungsan , a town inland approximately halfway between the coast and Korea - China border on Iwon - Cinch ' ong - ni - Hyesanjin road . Vietnam War . The Capital Division arrived in South Vietnam on September 22 , 1965 . The Division was deployed just outside of Qui Nhon in Binh Dinh province , from where it could protect vital arteries such as Route 1 and Route 19 , as well as rice - growing areas and foothills to the north and west . The 1st Brigade , 101st Airborne Division was stationed in the Qui Nhon area prior to the arrival of the Capital Division and gradually turned over responsibility for the area during October 1965 . By June 1966 the Capital Division controlled all the area north of Qui Nhon to the east of Route 1 and up to the base of Phu Cat Mountain . It extended its control also to the north and south of Route 19 up to the pass leading into An Khe . Working south along Highway 1 down toward Tuy Hoa and within the Binh Dinh Province , the Division sent out reconnaissance parties and carried out small operations as far south as the border between Binh Dinh Province and Phu Yen Province . Korean soldiers that volunteered for service in Vietnam were given bonuses : they would “ receive credit for three years of military duty for each year served in Vietnam as well as additional monetary entitlements ; further , combat duty would enhance their future Army careers . ” All the ROKA units sent to Vietnam ( the Tiger Division , White Horse Division and ( Blue Dragon ) Brigade ) were chosen because they were considered to have the longest and best records from the Korean War . The Tigers were considered uncanny for their ability to search territory and smoke out enemy soldiers and weapons . They would plan operations meticulously and sometimes even rehearse it beforehand . The soldiers would seal off a relatively small area , no more than 9 or 10 square kilometers . Troops would be brought in by air and land , but would arrive at the same time to maximize the chokehold . Slowly but surely the cordon would be tightened , and everyone and everything would be searched . Civilians were separated and interrogated , routinely offered rewards if they cooperated . It was not unusual for an area to be searched three or four times by different platoons . To prevent enemy breakouts , the Koreans had special reaction forces that could plug holes in the perimeter . General William R . Peers considered the Koreans the best at these so - called " cordon and search operations . " The Division returned home March 11 , 1973 . Significant operations and actions involving the Division include : Current Status . The Tiger Division was reorganized in 1980s to parallel the reorganization taking place in United States Army at the same time . The " regiments " of the older organization were replaced by " brigades , " consisting of both armor and mechanized infantry components . The 1st and Cavalry regiments were reorganized to include two mechanized infantry battalions and an armored battalion each , while the 26th regiment became an armored brigade with two armored battalions and a mechanized infantry battalion .