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 BATTLE CASUALTIES 7th Infantry Division: Killed in action.....2,657 Wounded in action.....347 1st Marine Division: Killed in action.....718 Missing in action.....192 Wounded in action.....3,508 NOTE: The marines also suffered 7,313 losses due to frostbite and indigestion ailments. Stats taken from "Chosin Reservoir: 'Saga of Epic Heroism'" by B. Gordon Wheeler, VFW, December 2000. |
On November 27, 1950, a Chinese army of some 60,000 men poured over Korea's border intent on wiping out a force of 12,000 U.S. Marines marching north to the Yalu river on General Douglas MacArthur's orders. Three Marine regiments were strung out along 80 miles of a narrow mountain road that snaked its way up sweeping slopes to the high plateau of the Chosin Reservoir. Winter had arrived, a merciless wind driving temperatures down to a bone-chilling 30 below. Soon the Marines were completely surrounded by eight Chinese divisions who suddenly emerged from hiding to pounce on the unsuspecting Americans. In five days and nights of below-zero winds they fought back the waves of attacking Chinese before they reorganized for the epic escape down frozen mountain trails. Running a bloody gauntlet all the way to the sea, they managed to bring their wounded and equipment with them, giving birth to the ringing battle cry ever after associated with the Marines: "Retreat, hell, no! We're attacking in another direction." Breakout by Martin Ross Map from: The March to Glory by Robert Leckie 
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