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Everyone and their mother knows about the Battle of the Bulge through movies and annual celebrations but few (including myself until recently) knew of the the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir where the X Corps including the 1st Marine Division completely surrounded and faced with total annihilation was forced to breakout of their encirclement in the dead of a bone chilling Korean Winter. So why is this battle so under recognized?
When the offensive through the Bulge was contained, the western allies resumed their advance which led to ultimate victory. When the Marines broke out of the Chosin trap, they retreated along with the rest of the UN forces, leaving North Korea in enemy hands...which it was two years later when the truce was reached.
So, the movie about the Bulge has a theme of the good guys getting floored, but climbing off the canvas and counter punching the bad guys. The Chosin movie theme would be the good guys making an escape from the bad guys. Which of those is the more marketable?
There are some amazing stories that took place in that retreat. The task force holding the east side of the Resevoir fought an amazing fight. A Turkish Brigade fought to the death as did the British Marines. E Company 32nd Infantry suffered 80% casualties, when they were out of ammunition the Commander led a Bayonet Charge to secure ammuniton, the Chinese 10th Division facing them was equipped with M-1 Rifles left behind when the Nationalists fled China.
The part Americans don't want to hear is that the The Chinese, under threat of being nuked, allowed the Americans to escape.
My disappointment is World War I, where Units like the Lost Battalion seems to have faded into the past
So, the movie about the Bulge has a theme of the good guys getting floored, but climbing off the canvas and counter punching the bad guys. The Chosin movie theme would be the good guys making an escape from the bad guys. Which of those is the more marketable?
"We Were Soldiers Once...and Young." about the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley was a pretty damned fine movie about a battle that wasn't exactly a huge American victory. I raise this issue because I watched an incredible documentary about the battle and their was some incredible stories of valor; 176 Medals of Honor, 73 Navy Crosses and 23 Distinguished Service Crosses. Pretty amazing.
"We Were Soldiers Once...and Young." about the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley was a pretty damned fine movie about a battle that wasn't exactly a huge American victory. I raise this issue because I watched an incredible documentary about the battle and their was some incredible stories of valor; 176 Medals of Honor, 73 Navy Crosses and 23 Distinguished Service Crosses. Pretty amazing.
PS - Plenty of movies about Custer
The question before us is why the Chosin battle is under recognized. Despite the Mel Gibson movie, I'd argue that the battle of Ia Drang Valley is even less recognized.
There are some amazing stories that took place in that retreat. The task force holding the east side of the Resevoir fought an amazing fight. A Turkish Brigade fought to the death as did the British Marines. E Company 32nd Infantry suffered 80% casualties, when they were out of ammunition the Commander led a Bayonet Charge to secure ammuniton, the Chinese 10th Division facing them was equipped with M-1 Rifles left behind when the Nationalists fled China.
The part Americans don't want to hear is that the The Chinese, under threat of being nuked, allowed the Americans to escape.
My disappointment is World War I, where Units like the Lost Battalion seems to have faded into the past
I'm glad you mentioned the Army units at the Frozen Chosin. Generally, they're never mentioned, as if it were totally a Marine fight. Just as with so many Pacific Island invasions during WWII, the Marine's PR department has just about written the history totally and most people don't know about the Army's contributions.
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