Those Magnificent Bastards

Belleau Wood.

Iwo Jima.

Chosin Reservoir.

You may not recognize the names above, but ask any Marine and he will tell you all you want to know. Each is a great battle the United States Marine Corps engaged an overwhelming number of enemies. They were victorious in all but the last. At the bottom of this blog is a quick reminder for the first two battles.

South Korea has been indirectly in the news for the past several days. Rap singer Psy, a South Korean, was invited and performed at the annual White House Christmas party. Years ago, Psy spoke out against the US and our military. I enjoy watching all the girls dance “Gangnam” style and will continue to watch the videos. I have not purchased any of his music, and have no intention in the future. I really do not care what a South Korean rap singer says, but I do think that his choice of words should have kept him from performing for and taking pictures with the President and Vice-President along with their families of the United States of America. Regardless, this piece is not about Psy. Instead, it is about a battle that took place in The Forgotten War—The Korean War. If it had not been for the US military, Psy would be locked inside a peninsula called “Korea” and he would be singing for his “Dear Leader”. He would not have been allowed to become rich; not have been allowed to travel; not have been able to speak freely. I think Psy owes us more than a two-sentence apology that came 7 years after his comments and only 2 days before his performance. Perhaps, he needs to read this and see what the United States military and specifically, the United States Marine Corps did for his forefathers.

Area of Operations.

Since 1919, the Korean Peninsula has been ruled by the Empire of Japan. At the conclusion of WWII, American administrators divided the peninsula along the 38^th parallel. The US stationed some forces on the South of the parallel alongside the Republic of Korea forces. Soviet military forces stood alongside the forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on the North side. Things were “fine” until 25 JUN 1950, when the North invaded the South. Within days, the North had nearly conquered the entire country. The only maps the US and her allies had were old Japanese maps. The Japanese had incorrectly labeled the “Changjin” Reservoir as Chosin Reservoir. The latter has never appeared on a map.

After a successful landing at Inchon, US forces attacked and cut off the supplies to Communist forces in the South. General Douglas MacArthur, Commanding, USA, wanted another landing on the Eastern side at Wonsan. After the landing, MacArthur formulated and launched his “Home-by-Christmas” Offensive. His plan was to surround the Chosin Reservoir and cut off the Manpojin-Kanggye-Huichon supply line. To support this, Major General Edward M. Almond, commander of the US X Corps, ordered the US 1^st Marine Division to advance on the Yalu River near Yadami-ni. The US 7^th Infantry Division would provide the 31^st Regimental Combat Team to provide security on the right or eastern side of the reservoir.

Aerial view of Chosin Reservoir.

On 15 NOV 1950, the lead elements of 1stMarDiv reached the Chosin Reservoir. Commanding Officer Major General Oliver P. Smith, USMC, questioned the wisdom of his senior commander, MG Edward M. Almond. In his letter to General Clifton B. Oats, Commandant of the Marine Corps, he writes: “I do not like the prospect of stringing out a Marine division along a single mountain road for 120 miles from Hanhung to the Manchurian border….I have little confidence in the tactical judgment of X Corps or the realism of their planning.”

These words would prove prophetic in just 12 short days. The enemy they had encountered months earlier, members of the North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) had retreated to the hills of the northern perimeter. In their place were hardened troops of the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) that had slipped over the border and across the Yalu River.

On the evening of 27 NOV 1950, more than 60,000 CCF troops had infiltrated undetected from Manchuria and attacked the 1stMarDiv on the west bank and the 31^st RCT on the east bank. (During the 17-day battle, an estimated 60,000 additional CCF troops joined the original 60,000 troops.) Within two days, the entire 1stMarDiv and what was left of the 31^st RCT were completely surrounded. Colonel Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, USMC quipped “They are in front of us, behind us and we are flanked on both sides by an enemy that outnumbers us. They can’t get away from us now!” In addition to the enemy, the Marines and Soldiers were fighting the terrain and the weather. At night, the lows were between minus 20^o F and minus 40^o F. This was back before GoreTex and microfleece and they did not have much to keep them warm.

On day six, in order to save his Division, MajGen Smith ordered a 78-mile fighting withdrawal from the Chosin. Over 40,000 CCF stood in their way. For seventeen days, our forces fought against a determined enemy—an enemy that took no prisoners—that fought with every ounce of their being. When the Marines approached the outskirts of Hagaru-ri, they remembered they were Marines. They formed up and marched into the city. They had fought an enemy non-stop for 15 days. Tired, cold, hungry, wearing tattered blood-stained uniforms, many wounded, carrying their dead, wounded, and equipment they let the world know, they were United States Marines—the finest fighting force in the world. Lieutenant Junior Grade Robert Harvey, USN remarked with awe, “Look at those bastards, those magnificent bastards.”

Accompanying the Marines were 68,000 refugees fleeing the CCF. On their backs were their few belongings, perhaps a child or elderly parent. The CCF was not finished. Along their way, they killed every man, woman, and child that “could have” helped the US. They burned all buildings and when approaching Hagaru-ri, opened fire on the refugees. The same Marines that just fought for 15 days, fought an additional two days while the refugees were loaded on Navy transport ships. When the fighting was over five of the ten CCF Divisions—the 124^th, 79^th, 58^th, 59^th, and 60^th—were completely destroyed and never again appeared during the Korean War. Two of the ten Chinese Divisions never unfurled their banner again.

From a strictly military analysis, the “Home-by-Christmas” campaign was a failure. We were unable to stop or interrupt the supply line. From a historical analysis, it was an overwhelming success. We killed or wounded far more of their troops than they were ours. We learned that the CCF were not afraid to one enter the war, and two they were well trained and disciplined. The “they are only laundry men” mentality was proven false. We learned of their tactics and their willingness to engage in barbaric acts of killing innocents. To the Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers that fought, you would have a hard time convincing them, they lost the battle. I tend to agree with them.

The frozen dead.

I enjoy sitting and chatting with anyone. I especially enjoy speaking to people much older than myself. I love hearing their stories, sharing their memories, and hearing of past events from a first-person perspective. It is especially rewarding if the person served in the military. I’ve met several WWII vets and sat like a First Grader while the teacher read from my favorite book. While I know the ending, it is the untold story that I appreciate. In addition to the WWII vets, I have met four Korean War vets, of which two were Marines who fought at Chosin Reservoir. They are members of an elite group—the Chosin Few. Rarely do combat veterans share their stories, but when they do, take note. When they are recounting their stories, they rarely look at you. Instead, they look through you, as if watching a home movie filmed decades ago. You can almost sense they feel the concussion of the explosions, hear the rounds whizzing by or the sound of a friend calling out in pain, and see the carnage of battle. The thing I remember most was how one of them described the fallen. Because of the bitterly cold temperatures, the bodies froze. They froze in whatever position they had fallen. Arms outstretched; legs askew. When it was time to load them for transport, many times they had to break their arms and legs. He said, “I will never forget the sound of bone and frozen tissue breaking.”

Korean War Memorial.

To many in the US, the Korean War is the Forgotten War. It only lasted 3 years and it was sandwiched between WWII and Vietnam. It has the fewest number of participants, and most of those who fought in Korea also fought in either WWII or Vietnam. While many here might have forgotten the South Koreans have not. They established a foundation that pays 100% of the costs for Korean War vets and a family member to return to walk the battlefields. While there, they receive special recognition and are treated like heroes. Elementary students (classrooms) are assigned sections of national war cemeteries, where they keep them clean and free of trash and debris. They cut the grass with scissors as a means to offer thanks. Today, South Korea has a modern infrastructure with multi-lane highways, electrical grid, and telecommunications. Cities have skyscrapers, underground transportation, and an educated workforce. Those who fought in Korea accomplished a lot. In addition to stopping the spread of Communism, they preserved the integrity of the nation. They preserved the Freedom of the People. Let’s make sure they are not part of “The Forgotten War”.

Today, there are an estimated 1 million people alive who are descendants of the 68,000 refugees saved by the US Military. Perhaps, Psy is one of those individuals.

Semper Fi, do or Die!

Chosin Reservoir by the Numbers
Unit	Total Strength	KIA (EKIA for CCF)	WIA (EWIA for CCF)
1stMarDiv	15,000	836	1,600
31st Army RCT	3,000	1,000	1,400
CCF	120,000	25,000	17,000
Awards	17 Medal of Honor	73 Navy Cross	23 Distinguished Service Cross

  

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During JUNE 1918 in WWI, outside of Paris, France near a place called Chateau-Thierry, a place called Belleau Wood, the Marines of the 2^nd Marine Division were surrounded by German soldiers. The French continually urged the Marines to retreat prompting Marine Captain Lloyd W. William of the 2^nd Battalion 5^th Marines to retort, “Retreat? Hell, we just got here!” After the battle, the French renamed the wood “Bois de la Brigade de Marine” (“Wood of the Marine Brigade). Because of the tenacity of the Marines, the German soldiers called them “Teufel Hunden”—Devil Dogs.

During the months of FEB-MAR 1945, on a small atoll in the South Pacific called Iwo Jima, Marines of the 3^rd Marine Division fought hard in the island-hopping campaign to gain the airfield on Iwo. It was on Iwo where 5 Marines and 1 Navy Corpsman raised the flag on Mt. Suribachi.  To which Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz remarked, “Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue”.

For additional reading on the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, I recommend the article by Major Allan C. Bevilacqua, USMC, "Chosin 1950: When Hell Froze Over".