What is the Chosin Few?

[Hawkeye-X]

And why are they considered heroes? Just need history background.

THanks!

Hawkeye-X

[Maine-i-acs]

1. Korean war vets

Named for the Chosin Reservoir, where they stemmed a Communist advance I believe. Heroes, yes - check Wiki for details, I am no authority.

[Howardx]

2. here

http://home.hawaii.rr.com/chosin/

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. better

In the mountainous terrain of North Korea during sub-zero winter conditions, along and in the hills surrounding a primitive road barely wide enough for a single modern vehicle to pass, the battle of Chosin Reservoir (Jang Jin Ho) took place. It has been termed by historians as the most savage battle in modern warfare, and was cited by President Reagan in his first inaugural address as one of the epics of military history.

Chosin Reservoir (Jang Jin Ho) campaign began about November 26 at Yudam-ni with Chinese Communist action against the 5th and 7th Marine Regiments on the west side of the reservoir. On the 28th, the battle commenced throughout the 1st Marine Division sector.

Approximately 20,000 U.N. troops (about 17,000 of them men of the 1st Marine Division) together with elements of the 7th Infantry Division and the 41 Independent Commando from the U.K. were attacked by 120,000 CCF whose orders were to annihilatethe allies "to the last man." This fierce, bloody battle, unparalleled in modern history, resulted in 15,000 allied casualties. 2,500 were killed in action, 5,000 were wounded in action, and 7,500 suffered severe frostbite and cold injuries. The enemy forces endured crippling losses. 40,000 were dead, and thousands more were down with wounds and frostbite.

The 1st Marine Division and attached units fought their way back into action a month later, while seven of the ten CCF divisions never entered combat again during the Korean War.

http://www.meredithvictory.com/en/chosin_reservoir.html

[OzarkDem]

5. Very cold and bloody battle

OzarkDad was on an aircraft carrier off the coast during the battle backing them up. It was pretty cold there, too. Though nothing like what the Marines had to face.

[BOSSHOG]

3. Heroes from Korea

In the Movie "Heartbreak Ridge," Clint Eastwood refers to the hell the Marines and Soldier went through.

[Greyhound]

6. When I was a kid I knew one of the veterans of that battle.

It was incredible, he was manning one of the old .30 air-cooled MG's the Marines still used at that time, and his descriptions of having to change out the barrels as they over-heated and re-deploying further up the hill because the bodies of Chinese soldiers were pilled up so high that they could no longer see downrange, all under intense fire, was just horrifying.

The Chinese used wave after wave of troops, apparently thinking that the US forces would run out of ammunition and be over-run. He also said that most of the Chinese weren't even issued weapons, they just picked up those that the dead before them dropped.

[LeftofU]

7. My Grandfather was one of the Chosin

He was a cook in the Marines. He's passed unfortunately.

[tom22]

8. The reputation came less from the initial battle

than the harrowing retreat. The Marines had been overextended on MacCarthur's orders. They were forced into an unsupported retreat down a single mountain road where the North Koreans and the Chinese held the high ground. James Brady wrote a good novel about the battle. the lead character is based on Brady's commanding officer in Korea: the late John Chafee. Rhode Island Senator and father of Lincloln Chafee.