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 38th 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 1st Marine
Division to advance on the Yalu River near Yadami-ni. The US 7th
Infantry Division would provide the 31st 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 31st 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 31st
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 20o F and minus 40o 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 124th, 79th,
58th, 59th, and 60th—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
|
--------------------------
During JUNE 1918 in WWI, outside of Paris, France near a
place called Chateau-Thierry, a place called Belleau Wood, the Marines of
the 2nd Marine Division were surrounded by German soldiers. The French
continually urged the Marines to retreat prompting Marine Captain Lloyd W.
William of the 2nd Battalion 5th 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 3rd 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”.
