[jumpingcholla34]

I'm reading Max Hastings' book on the Korean War. Fascinating. He talks about the Marine Corps retreat ("advancing in a different direction") from Chosin. Contrary to the advice of the Army General on the scene, the Marines conducted an orderly withdrawal under fire, bringing their vehicles, equipment and -- most importantly-- their dead and wounded with them. They demonstrated that the Marine Corps was a fighting force.

The Army, on the other hand, caught "bug out fever" and mostly ran as fast as they could run when the Chinese poured into Korea. They showed what happens when you throw a bunch of occupation troops used to living high on the hog, and unprepared reservists plucked from stateside, into a war zone.

[AlmaKing]

I haven’t studied the Korean War much, so my perspective may be out there.

But, am I off base in concluding that our forces were dropped into the middle of enemy territory, over-whelmed due to poor intelligence of enemy strength, and had to fight their way out? It seems like a large strategic mistake.

[nicko]

Not every soldier ran, nor every unit...my old man was with the 7th Infantry Regiment- the Cottonbailers protected the flanks of the Marines as they moved down to the port of Hungnam. Awarded a Bronze Star with V Device on December 5th...was the very last to leave the beach before the pier was blown...

[oh8eleven]

I highly recommend ...

Probably the best book I've read about the Marines at the Chosin.