At the end of World War II, America established the 38th Parallel as a dividing line between North Korea and South Korea. On June 25, 1950, North Korea crossed this line and initiated an unprovoked invasion of South Korea. Soon after this event, U.S. President Harry Truman, with the support of the United Nations Security Council, committed American troops to the Korean battle zone to support the weakened South Korean Army. This conflict was officially called a police action.
In November 1950, although considerable intelligence placed large numbers of Chinese Communist forces across the Yalu River, the 1st Marine Division was ordered to continue its drive towards the Changjin Reservoir, best known as its Japanese name, the Chosin. The Chosin Reservoir, the site of an important hydroelectric plant, was located northwest of the 38th Parallel.
While deep into North Korea, the 1st Marine Division was surrounded and outnumbered in a surprise attack by Chinese troops. The ensuing battle, known as the Chosin Reservoir Campaign, changed a police action into a all-out war.
Steve Jordan, a Navy Corpsman, was with the 1st Marine Division during their gallant breakout from this seemingly impossible enemy trap. Steve’s artistic depictions are derived from some situation that arose during the campaign and reflect what it was like to be on the ground with the Marines during one of the most critical events of the Korean War. Some of the sketches demonstrate the fellowship of shared danger, hardship and suffering. In other scenes, personal pride, honor and courage are obvious. Humor, also displayed, is often used as a way to help cope with stress and the brutality of war.
The visual format, accompanied by background information, is intended to encourage history novices to learn more about the epic battle that almost annihilated an entire Marine Division. This informative glimpse into the everyday reality of those who fight and die in the service of their country is a thought-provoking reminder of America’s “forgotten war”.
Although this book focuses on one of the most memorable challenges in Marine Corps history, the significant contribution and suffering of all who served, fought, and died in this foreign land far from home is acknowledged. Veterans of every branch of the military, living or deceased, are entitled to the highest level of respect and gratitude for their sacrifices and devotion to duty.
Many amazing feats of accomplishment and endurance took place during the Marines’ strategic withdrawal. More Medals of Honor, America’s highest military award, were awarded for valor shown during the Chosin Reservoir Campaign than for any other single battle in our Nation’s history.
Inevitably whenever a veteran speaks of his Chosin Campaign experiences, he begins by mentioning the unbearable suffering caused by sub-zero temperatures. Everything froze in the Siberian climate…weapons, food, vehicles, and men.
It seemed as if nothing could keep out the extreme cold. The troops layered with oppressive winter gear and weapons felt that they were moving in slow motion at times. Their ineffective footwear, the infamous shoepac, caused many men to suffer severe frostbite, resulting in amputation.
Food rations, like the equipment, were World War II vintage. All the men carried water in canteens and C-rations tins but these were frozen solid. With no way to thaw them, the men couldn’t eat. Severe thirst forced the men to eat snow, which resulted in frozen tongues and severe stomach problems.
Exhausted, corpsmen worked round the clock to accomplish their mission of mercy of tending the wounded. With a shortage of tents, blankets, stretchers, and medical supplies, the number of casualties overwhelmed the medical system, unprepared for such chaos,
Whenever possible, makeshift operating tents were hastily set up along the side of the road. When conditions did not permit tents to be set up for protection against the razor-sharp winds, the Marines would rig any kind of shelter. Sometimes only scooped out depressions in the frozen snow covered ground protected the men against icy blasts of snow as they hunkered down for the long frigid night.
As bad as the days were, the nights were worse. In their shallow foxholes, the men took turns sleeping. They knew the Chinese were sure to conduct their terrorizing night raids. In pitch-black darkness the bugle calls and screaming would signal seemingly endless waves of invading enemy forces. The Chinese would charge forward with reckless disregard for the casualties of their own troops. Often forced to go to bayonets to defend themselves, the Marines found these surprise attacks and hand-to-hand combat to be a real test of their physical and mental strength.
Navy, Marine and Air Force fighter-bombers flew hundreds of sorties a day to provide close air support for the troops on the ground. Despite appalling flying conditions, intrepid pilots would make daily runs to evacuate the sick and wounded, and to drop supplies. Without this air support, it is generally agreed that the outcome at the Chosin would have been different.
Despite being completely surrounded, the isolated 1st Marine Division eventually broke through the encircling Chinese armies and fought its way to the sea, destroying 10 Chinese infantry divisions in the process. Refusing to be defeated, the resolute Marines brought to freedom with them almost 100,000 North Korean civilians who did not want to be left to the mercy of the Chinese army. The United States Government formally described this feat as “the greatest rescue operation in the history of mankind.”
After more intense fighting, the Korean War ended on July 27, 1953 with a tenuous Armistice signed at Panmunjom. This Armistice kept the pre-war dividing line at the 38th Parallel and, as there was never a peace agreement, technically the war never ended.
Thousands of brave American troops are still stationed along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the 38th Parallel that divides South Korea’s Democratic Society from North Korea’s Communist regime. Perhaps one day there will be a United Korea and freedom for citizens on both sides of the 38th Parallel.
|