He was assigned to the HQ 7th U.S. Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. [9]:71, While the battle was underway 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. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation (3BN/7IN/3dID Korea 1950-52) [9]:63 Again, the 57th Battalion's AA guns held the Chinese at bay,[1]:129–30 but the shell supplies were running desperately low. Leo and I were good friends at the 116th MI Group before he went to Vietnam. [9]:47–8 Under Mao's urgent orders, the 9th Army was rushed into North Korea on 10 November. [9]:52 Caught by complete surprise, the UN forces were cut off at Yudam-ni, Sinhung-ni, Hagaru-ri and Kot'o-ri by 28 November. We chided him that he simply wanted a third CIB and that he would probably come home with his toes pointed up. [70], Media related to Battle of Chosin Reservoir at Wikimedia Commons. Before the battle, RCT-31 was spread thin, with main elements separated on the hills north of Sinhung-ni, the Pyungnyuri Inlet west of Sinhung-ni, and the town of Hudong-ni (40°26′N 127°17′E / 40.43°N 127.28°E / 40.43; 127.28) south of Sinhung-ni. [9]:52 Working from the assumption that only a light UN presence would be at the reservoir, the Chinese 9th Army was first to destroy the UN garrisons at Yudami-ni and Sinhung-ni, then push towards Hagaru-ri. This number is calculated by inserting the 1st Marine Division's casualty data into the X Corps' total casualty report. Leo burst into my office in his Class-A uniform, boots, and, of course, his green beret, with his ribbons running from his right pocket up to his lapel. [1]:24,33 To support the offensive, MacArthur ordered the X Corps to attack west from the Chosin Reservoir and to cut the vital Manpojin—Kanggye—Huichon supply line. [1]:5 After the landing at Wonsan, the US 1st Marine Division of the X Corps engaged the defending PVA 124th Division on 2 November, and the ensuing battle caused heavy casualties among the Chinese. Distinguished Unit Citation (Presidential Unit Citation), 1945-1945, A Company, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry, 1943, United Services Automobile Association (USAA) [Verified], 1948, 24th Infantry Division Association [Verified], 1971, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) [Verified], 1986, Special Forces Association [Verified], 1987, 7th Infantry Regiment Association [Verified], 1937, Basic Training Waived (ARNG Pre WWII), A, 1943, USAAF Officer Candidate School (Miami Beach, FL), D, 1944, Basic Infantry Officer Course (Fort Benning, GA), 1937-1940, 1st Battalion, 102nd Engineer Regiment, 102nd Engineer Regiment, 1941-1941, HHC, 1st Battalion, 102nd Engineer Regiment, 1942-1943, HHC, 102nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 1943-1943, 2162, 26th College Training Detachment, Mt. The 31st Infantry Regiment ("Polar Bears") of the United States Army was formed on 13 August 1916, and was part of USAFFE's Philippine Division during World War II.The unit is rare in that it was formed and has spent most of its life on non-American soil. [1]:257–9 The Marine night fighters, however, returned to subdue the Chinese forces,[1]:257 and most of the blocking troops were eliminated. Historians have paid little attention to combat near the end of WWII after Leyte, Mindoro, and Luzon. The remains of 4,167 US soldiers were exchanged for 13,528 North Korean and Chinese dead. [10]:158–9[1]:324 Following his orders, the ROK I Corps, the ROK 1st Marine Regiment and the US 3rd and 7th Infantry Divisions had also set up defensive positions around the port. [1]:340 The PVA 27th Corps entered Hungnam on the morning of 25 December. Although both sides agreed that Maclean was shot numerous times while running towards the Chinese soldiers, Chinese sources claim that Maclean was shot dead on the spot, while UN POWs stated that Maclean later died from his wounds while being moved to a Chinese POW camp. Even cutting off clothing to deal with a wound risked gangrene and frostbite. [k] From 1990 to 1994, North Korea excavated and returned more than 208 sets of remains, which possibly include 200 to 400 US servicemen, but very few have been identified due to the co-mingling of remains. [43], During the battle, UN dead were buried at temporary grave sites along the road. [8]:364, With the path to Hungnam blocked at Funchilin Pass, eight C-119 Flying Boxcars flown by the US 314th Troop Carrier Wing were used to drop portable bridge sections by parachute. [1]:218 The breakout was carried out under the air cover of the 1st Marine Air Wing. In late December, I resolved to try and read more books than those I review for Western North Carolina’s Smoky Mountain News. See, "General MacArthur agreed that this was the decisive battle. of the Azores; onto the ice flows of the Bering Strait with the Yupik walrus hunters of Savoonga, St Lawrence Island, Alaska; and  safari in Kenya eastern Africa - always only with a camera. [64], The battle ended the UN force's expectation of total victory, including the capture of North Korea and the reunification of the peninsula. A monument at the museum is dedicated to all the men who are recipients of three Combat Infantryman Badges. Center for Military History, U.S. Army. Vietnam Civil Actions Medal 1st Class (5th SFG(A)Vietnam 1968-69), Meyer, Leo J  [1]:314, One of the last engagements during the withdrawal was an ambush at Sudong (40°10′12″N 127°19′26″E / 40.17°N 127.324°E / 40.17; 127.324) by the pursuing PVA 89th Division,[9]:108 which Task Force Dog of the 3rd Infantry Division repulsed with little difficulty. [5]:382[1]:260 In a last effort to stop the breakout,[5]:382 the customary Chinese night attack was launched, with the 76th and 77th Division striking the Hagaru-ri perimeter from all directions. A monument at the museum is dedicated to all the men who are recipients of three Combat Infantryman Badges. 22, was a member of Company M, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. The battle for the island of Mindanao during Operation VICTOR V in the Southern Philippines Campaign was some of the most horrific combat under the most insufferable weather and terrain conditions of the War in the Pacific. Page : ... We went over to the Fort McNair Officers Club and had "a few." While working as an instructor with 1242nd ASU, HQ New York District, Organized Reserve Corps he received his high school GED and applied for the Regular Army Warrant Officer Program and simultaneously, reinstatement of his Army of the United States officer's commission. In commenting on a study by the Marine Corps Board, he wrote: "The Marine Corps Board of Study rightfully points out that the campaign of the 1st Marine Division with attached Army elements in North Korea was 'largely responsible for preventing reinforcement of CCF forces on Eighth Army front by 12 divisions during a period when such reinforcement might have meant to Eighth Army the difference between maintaining a foothold in Korea or forced evacuation therefrom.'...""See. The most crucial battle was in the northeast, at Chosin." [9]:59–60[1]:107[h] In the aftermath of the fighting, the PVA 238th and the 239th Regiment together had fewer than 600 soldiers. [1]:126, On 30 November, Major General David G. Barr, the commander of the 7th Infantry Division, flew into Sinhung-ni and met with Faith, who by now had assumed command of RCT-31. [8] North Korea is divided through the center by the impassable Taebaek Mountains, which separated the UN forces into two groups. [5]:101–7 On 19 October 1950, large formations of Chinese troops, dubbed the People's Volunteer Army (PVA), secretly crossed the border and into North Korea. [5]:145–9 One of the first Chinese units to reach the Chosin Reservoir area was the PVA 42nd Corps, and it was tasked with stopping the eastern UN advances. Meritorious Unit Commendation (5th SFG(A) Vietnam 1968-69) [17]:435[1]:42 Furthermore, the strategically important Hagaru-ri, where a C-47-capable airfield was under construction and a supply dump,[1]:158–62 was not a priority for the Chinese despite being lightly defended by the 1st and 7th Marines. [1]:353 Eight divisions of the PVA 20th and 27th Corps served as the main attacking force. As for the UN forces, the 1st Marine Division had an effective strength of 25,473 men at the start of the battle,[1]:24, 37 and it was further reinforced by the British Royal Marines unit 41 (Independent) Commando and the equivalent of two regiments from the 3rd and 7th Army Infantry Divisions. [20] The food shortage forced the 9th Army to initially station a third of its strength away from the Chosin Reservoir in reserve,[21] and starvation and exposure broke out among the Chinese units, since foraging was not an option in the sparsely populated area. [9]:58 As morning came on 28 November, the 3/31st Infantry counterattacked the PVA 239th Regiment at the inlet, sending the surprised Chinese back in a complete rout. Date of Birth: 10/06/1917  [36][37][38] Fourteen Marines, two soldiers and one Navy pilot received the Medal of Honor, and all of the UN troops that served at Chosin were later honored with the nickname "The Chosin Few". In 1961 Major Meyer reached 20 years active federal service and mandatory retirement for reserve officers on the active duty list. Colonel US Army  （原始内容存档于2006-08-13）. In October 1940 the 102nd Engineer Regiment, 27th Division, New York National Guard, was called to active federal service by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. [1]:215–6 To start the breakout, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines (3/7) had to first attack south and capture Hills 1542 and 1419 in order to cover the road from Chinese attacks. [1]:150 Out of the original 2,500 soldiers, about 1,050 managed to reach Hagaru-ri, and only 385 survivors were deemed able-bodied. 2007-01-23 [2007-12-16].