The Battle of Chosin Reservoir took place in the harsh and freezing winter of 1950, when the People’s Volunteer Army (PVA) of China entered the war to counter the presence of United Nations Command (UNC) troops in North Korea. The Chinese force, numbering around 120,000, launched a surprise attack on the US X Corps, an element of the larger UNC contingent, that was stationed near the Chosin Reservoir. The battle had become one of the toughest and most infamous battles for the U.S. Marine Corps since World War II. Fought over brutal mountain terrain and extreme cold weather in North Korea, tempertures had reached -36 degrees Fahrenheit causing frostbite casualties.

Controversy had come to shroud the fight at Chosin Reservoir, as most marines saw the drive to the Reservoir as a fatal error. Either a 'fighting retreat' or 'attack in another direciton', the First Marine Division fought gallantly, fighting through seven Chinese divisions and elements of three others. "General Song's Ninth Army Group had been rendered ineffective as a fighting force. Two of his divisions were entirely destroyed, never to be seen on a battlefield again. Song lost an estimated 30,000 killed in action and 12,500 wounded. The Marines lost 750 dead, 3,000 wounded and just under 200 missing. (Sides 2018, 326-327)

The US X Corps, under the command of Major General Edward Almond, was comprised mostly of the 1st Marine Division and the 7th Infantry Division of the US Army, and the 41 (Royal Marine) Commando of the British Royal Marines. The UNC troops were led by Major General Oliver P. Smith, who was in charge of the 1st Marine Division. The Chinese force, under the command of Song Shilun, was part of the 9th Army of the PVA. The Chinese troops were determined to destroy the UNC forces and push them out of North Korea.

The battle began on the night of 27 November when the Chinese 20th and 27th Corps of the 9th Army launched multiple surprise attacks against US and ROK troops along the road between the Reservoir and Kot'o-ri. The 5th, 7th, and 11th Marines of the 1st Marine Division were quickly surrounded by the PVA 79th and 89th Divisions with the 59th Division attacking the road between Yudam-ni and Hagaru-ri to block communication. Meanwhile, the PVA 58th Division targeted the 1st Marine Division HQ at Hagaru-ri, and the PVA 60th Division surrounded elements of the 1st Marines at Kot'o-ri from the north. The UN forces were caught off guard, and by 28 November, they were cut off at Yudam-ni, Sinhung-ni, Hagaru-ri, and Kot'o-ri.

Despite being outnumbered and surrounded by the enemy, the US and ROK troops fought valiantly. General Douglas MacArthur, who was the supreme commander of the UN forces in Korea, ordered the US X Corps to withdraw to the port of Hungnam. To execute the withdrawal, General Edward Almond, the commander of the US X Corps, ordered Major General Oliver P. Smith, the commander of the 1st Marine Division, to break out from Yudam-ni to Hagaru-ri on 30 November.

The Marines, acting on orders from Almond and Smith, launched an attack on Mupyong-ni on November 27th, which was soon stalled by the PVA 89th Division, forcing the Marines to dig in around Yudam-ni. As night fell, three Chinese regiments of the 79th Division attacked the ridges on the north and northwest of Yudam-ni, hoping to annihilate the garrison in one stroke, but the 5th and 7th Marines managed to hold the line, with close quarters fighting developing as the attackers infiltrated Marine positions. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the Chinese while the 5th and 7th Marines dug in on the ridges surrounding Yudam-ni.

While the battle raged on at Yudam-ni, the PVA 59th Division blocked the road between Yudam-ni and Hagaru-ri by attacking the defending Charlie and Fox Companies of the 7th Marines. The successful assault forced Charlie Company to retreat into Yudam-ni, leaving Fox Company, under the command of Captain William E. Barber, isolated on a hill overlooking the Toktong Pass, a key point that controlled the road. Several attempts were made by the 7th Marines to rescue Fox Company, but they failed to do so, despite inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese.

After suffering heavy losses at Yudam-ni, the PVA switched their main attacks towards Sinhung-ni and Hagaru-ri from November 28th to 30th, leaving Yudam-ni alone. Meanwhile, the US Eighth Army on the Korean western front was forced to retreat at the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River, and MacArthur ordered Almond to withdraw the US X Corps to the port of Hungnam. Acting on Almond and Smith's instructions, the 5th and 7th Marines issued a joint order to break out from Yudam-ni to Hagaru-ri on November 30th.

The Marines formed a convoy with a single M4A3 Sherman tank in the lead for the breakout, with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines as the vanguard and three battalions covering the rear, while 1st Battalion, 7th Marines would attack towards Fox Company to open the road at the Toktong Pass. The breakout was carried out under the air cover of the 1st Marine Air Wing. On December 1st, 3/7 Marines engaged the PVA 175th Regiment of the 59th Division at Hills 1542 and 1419, which forced the Marines to dig in on the slopes between the road and the peaks while the convoy passed.

Despite the road being opened between Yudam-ni and Hagaru-ri, the convoy still had to fight through the numerous Chinese positions on the hills along the road. On the first night of the retreat, the Chinese struck the convoy in force and inflicted heavy casualties on 3/5 Marines. However, with the aid of strong air cover that suppressed most of the Chinese forces, the Marines managed to reach Hagaru-ri in an orderly fashion on December 3rd, with the withdrawal completed on December 4th.

The breakout was led by the 5th Marines and covered by air support from the 1st Marine Air Wing. The Marines formed a convoy, with a single Sherman tank in the lead, and three battalions covering the rear. The plan was to have the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines as the vanguard, with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines attacking towards Fox Company to open up the road at Toktong Pass. The 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines attacked south and captured Hills 1542 and 1419 to cover the road from Chinese attacks during the breakout. The Marines engaged the PVA 175th Regiment at Hills 1542 and 1419, and the Chinese defenders soon forced the Marines to dig in on the slopes between the road and the peaks. The convoy passed by 3/7's position by the afternoon, and with Hagaru-ri still not captured, the PVA High Command scrambled the 79th Division to resume attacks on Yudam-ni, while the 89th Division rushed south towards Kot'o-ri.

The breakout was not without its challenges. The cold weather, harassing fire, raiding parties, and roadblocks slowed the retreat to a crawl, while inflicting numerous casualties. The Chinese launched multiple attacks on the convoy, including a significant assault on the first night, which inflicted heavy casualties on 3/5 Marines. Despite the difficulties, the convoy reached Hagaru-ri in an orderly fashion on the afternoon of 3 December, and the withdrawal was completed on 4 December. The Marines' breakout at the Chosin Reservoir was a grueling and harrowing journey, filled with obstacles and enemies at every turn. After a short rest, the retreat began on 6 December, with the 7th Marines leading the way and the 5th Marines covering the rear. The PVA 26th Corps finally arrived to relieve the 58th and 60th Divisions, but they were quickly pushed aside by the Marines.

As the Marines attempted to break through, the familiar Chinese night attack was launched, with the 76th and 77th Divisions striking the Hagaru-ri perimeter from all directions. The Marines fought hard and repulsed the attacks, inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese forces. Meanwhile, the 7th Marines opened the road between Hagaru-ri and Koto-ri by capturing the high ground surrounding the road. The retreat was not without its complications, as the 77th Division returned to the peaks and attacked the column as soon as the Marines pulled out. Chaotic fighting broke out and the retreat was slowed to a crawl. The Marines persevered, however, and returned to subdue the Chinese forces with their night fighters. Most of the blocking troops were eliminated, and the rest of the column managed to reach Kot'o-ri with little difficulty.

The PVA High Command was not deterred by the Marines' breakout and ordered the 26th and 27th Corps to chase the escaping UN force, with the 20th Corps assigned to block the escape route. With most of the 20th Corps destroyed at Yudam-ni and Hagaru-ri, the only forces left were the remnants of the 58th and 60th Divisions. They dug in at Funchilin Pass and blew up the vital bridge, hoping the terrain and obstacles would allow the 26th and 27th Corps to catch up with the retreating UN forces. But the Marines were not easily defeated. The 1st Battalion, 1st Marines attacked Hill 1081 from the south, and the hill was captured on 9 December, though the defenders fought to the last man. At the same time, the 7th Marines and RCT-31 attacked the bridge from the north, encountering frozen defenders who were quickly overwhelmed.

The situation seemed dire, with the path to Hungnam blocked at Funchilin Pass, but the Marines were not about to give up. Eight C-119 Flying Boxcars flown by the US 314th Troop Carrier Wing were used to drop portable bridge sections by parachute. The bridge was successfully reassembled by Marine Corps combat engineers and the US Army 58th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company on 9 December, enabling UN forces to proceed. Outmaneuvered, the PVA 58th and 60th Divisions still tried to slow the UN advance with ambushes and raids, but after weeks of non-stop fighting, the two Chinese divisions combined had only 200 soldiers left. The UN forces finally reached the Hungnam perimeter by 21:00 on 11 December, exhausted and battered, but ultimately victorious in their struggle for survival.

During the fighting, the Marines had suffered heavy losses, with over 4,500 casualties, including 784 dead and 1,066 wounded. The PVA had also suffered heavy casualties, with estimates ranging from 37,000 to 60,000 dead or wounded. Despite the high cost, the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir was a crucial turning point in the Korean War. The breakout from Yudam-ni marked a significant victory for the UN forces, who managed to evade a potential disaster and hold their ground in North Korea. The battle also showed the resolve and courage of the US and ROK troops, who fought valiantly despite being vastly outnumbered and surrounded by the enemy.

The UNC troops were encircled and attacked by the Chinese forces, who outnumbered them by a ratio of almost 4-to-1. The battle was fought in sub-zero temperatures, with snow and ice on the ground. The troops suffered from frostbite, hypothermia, exhaustion, and hunger. Despite the challenges, the UNC troops fought fiercely and tenaciously, inflicting heavy losses on the Chinese forces. The Chinese, too, suffered heavily, both in terms of battle casualties and non-battle casualties caused by the severe conditions. The UNC troops managed to break out of the Chinese encirclement and withdraw to the port of Hungnam, where they were evacuated by sea. The evacuation was a major logistical feat, involving the transport of over 100,000 troops, civilians, and vehicles, along with supplies and equipment. The UN forces managed to preserve much of their strength, and the withdrawal marked the complete withdrawal of UNC troops from North Korea.

The Korean War left a legacy that remains for both North Korea (DPRK) and South Korea or Republic of Korea (ROK). After the armistice was signed in July 1953, a boundary was created between the North and South where the hostilities began in 1950. A demilitarized zone--or DMZ-- was created near the 38th parallel. Hampton Sides, in On Desperate Ground: The Marines at the Reservoir, the Korean War's Greatest Battle, notes that "According to the Pentagon, 33,651 Americans had died fighting in the war, as did 180,000 Chinese. An estimated 2.5M Korean civilians lost their lives. Technically, the war is still not over. The armistice provided for 'no final peaceful settlement'. The two Korean nations have been poised on the brink of war ever since." (Sides 2018, 336)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Drury, Bob, and Tom Clavin. The Last Stand of Fox Company: A True Story of U.S. Marines in Combat. New York: Open Road + Grove/Atlantic, 2009.

Halberstam, David. The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War. New York: Hyperion, 2007.

Hammel, Eric. Chosin: Heroic Ordeal of the Korean War. Havertown: Casemate, 2019.

Sides, Hampton. On Desperate Ground: The Marines at The Reservoir, the Korean War's Greatest Battle. New York: Doubleday, 2018.