Posted on 08/14/2016 2:05:00 PM PDT by Kozy
Don’t tell them theirs is the Forgotten War.
“I sure as hell haven’t forgotten it,” said Jean White, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel from Oceanside who fought in the Korean War 66 years ago and was at its most-storied battle, Chosin Reservoir, where outnumbered and surrounded U.S. troops fought their way out of a snowy death trap.
White’s feet froze. Now he has to wrap them in something warm at night to sleep, a constant reminder of “where we were and what we did.”
What they did is so revered it’s taught in the Marines’ officer candidates school, right alongside tales about Belleau Wood in World War I and Iwo Jima in World War II. It’s been used in Iraq and Afghanistan by platoon leaders trying to rally their units against difficult odds. The USS Chosin, a guided-missile cruiser home ported in San Diego, is named after the battle.
(Excerpt) Read more at sandiegouniontribune.com ...
The Frozen Chosin.
I had the honor of meeting one of the survivors. He was sent to the area within 10 days of arriving in Korea, it was his first deployment.
My recollection is they essentially had to fight their way down a 50 mile gravel road, surrounded by Chinese troops the entire way.
They left no one behind!
1. It wasn’t just American troops. The Brits were there, too.
2. Where do you get the notion they were untrained?
3. The UN forces at Chosin were also supported by one of the greatest concentrations of air power during the Korean War, per Wiki.
Bttt.
5.56mm
Wiki is wrong on this one
I and an older man were filling out forms in a doctors office years ago. I made some joke about lying about my age. He said “I lied about my age to join the Marines. I turned eighteen at Chosin Reservoir.” I said something like “Damn. What was that like?” He said “Well, there wasn’t any cake.” Then he changed the subject.
My father-in-law was there and carried shrapnel in his back until the day he died.
He told me more about what happened there than he ever told his daughter or his son.
My wife was astonished that he opened up to me as he had never wanted to talk about the war.
Unimaginable cold and millions of Chinese troops pouring across the border. Constant mortar and artillery fire.
It’s a war that’s been forgotten, but what these men did should never be forgotten.
Weather played a factor in how much air support was available. They were mighty glad to see the Corsairs when they did show up.
I read The Boys of Autumn 15 years ago. Fictionalized but otherwise accurate. Horrifying. Should be a mandatory read before being allowed to vote.
Well, I guess it was Marines of Autumn.
The UN then and now is a joke. Americans fight the fight and the UN drinks tea far away from the fighting.
Fourteen men were awards the CHM in that battle, half posthumous.
Col. Reginald Myers is one of those recipients who survived.
Here is his citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Executive Officer of the Third Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on November 29, 1950. Assuming command of a composite unit of Army and Marine service and headquarters elements totalling approximately 250 men, during a critical stage in the vital defense of the strategically important military base at Hagaru-ri, Major Myers immediately initiated a determined and aggressive counterattack against a well-entrenched and clearly concealed enemy force numbering an estimated 4,000. Severely handicapped by a lack of trained personnel and experienced leaders in his valiant efforts to regain maximum ground prior to daylight, he persisted in constantly exposing himself to intense, accurate and sustained hostile fire in order to direct and supervise the employment of his men and to encourage and spur them on in pressing the attack. Inexorably moving forward up the steep, snow-covered slope with his depleted group in the face of apparently insurmountable odds, he concurrently directed artillery and mortar fire with superb skill and, although losing 170 of his men during fourteen hours of raging combat in sub-zero temperatures, continued to reorganize his unit and spearhead the attack which resulted in 600 enemy killed and 500 wounded. By his exceptional and valorous leadership throughout, Major Myers contributed directly to the success of his unit in restoring the perimeter. His resolute spirit of self sacrifice and unfaltering devotion to duty enhance and sustain the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Chosin was not his first rodeo, he also fought at the Battle of Guadalcanal, Battle of Okinawa, Battle of Inchon.
By the way how many UN troops were awarded the country's highest honor at Chosin?
I recommend reading up on Chosin for those who haven’t.
It’s literally incredible. If I didn’t know better I’d say it was fiction. Some of the most incessant, savage and heroic fighting, under the most impossible and painful conditions, ever.
Ever.
My Isshin Ryu karate instructor back in the ‘60’s was one of the “Chosin Few”...His name was Harold Long...
He never said anything about it...I didn’t learn of it until I read his history at the time of his death...
Great man....
FIL was at Chosin. RIP
The Last Stand of Fox Company: A True Story of U.S. Marines in Combat
One Bugle, No Drums was an excellent book
Looks like it’s available unabridged on Audible. I know what I’ll be spending my remaining credit for this month on. Right now I’m finishing up the second installment on Harry Turtledove’s alternate history on the Korean War
Well said.
Good bless the survivors and those who have passed on.
the more i learn about korea,the less i like macarthur. his disregard for real intelligence, and his insistence in his own infallibility led to the deaths of far too many troops
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