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I have no problem with that line ~ and good on the Marines.

Concerning Chosin Reservoir in Korea, the battle there was really, really bloody and the Marines got cut up bad, but they were still there and needed some help withdrawing from the scene ~ plenty of material on the net can give you an idea of what went on there.

Some really bright guy somewhere in Department of Defense decided that the unit to send to "hold the door open" and serve as a "rear guard" for that withdrawal was the 1/15 Infantry ~ Audy Murphy's unit ~ in terms of military awards and battle streamers quite arguably the BEST Army Infantry there's ever been.

Whether they were really up to the task at the Frozen Chosen was beside the point ~ the Marines deserved the best and they got the best and the 1/15 accepted the honor.

BTW, our top supply sergeant at Harvey Barracks had been in the 1/15 Infantry "way back when" that happened.

"Whether they were really up to the task at the Frozen Chosen was beside the point ~ the Marines deserved the best and they got the best and the 1/15 accepted the honor."

The problem was not whether the Marines were up to the task at the Frozen Chosen. The problem was the Army and Marines were kicking the North Korean's a$$ all the way up the peninsula, there were reports that the Chinese were massing at the border, that they were going to get into the fight. McArthur believed it was a bluff and assured Truman (when they met on Wake Island) that the Chinese would not get involved. He was wrong and the First Marine Division were surrounded by 6 divisions of the Chinese 9th Peoples Volunteer Army.

They retreated to the port of Hugnam for evacation. They inflicted heavy casualties on the Chinese. The only support they got to my knowledge was indirect fire support. No Army unit came in and linked up with them. They fought their way out. As General Julian Smith said: "Retreat Hell! We're just attacking in another direction."