The "Chosin Few" (1 Viewer)

[Rutledge]

I just watched an incredible documentary on Netflix about the 14 day battle around Chosin Resorvoir during the Korean "conflict". It was hard not to get emotional. Such courage! It is the most decorated battle in the history of the USA. Fourteen Marines, two Soldiers and one Navy pilot received the Medal of Honor! They say the US Marines rank Chosin, Belleau Wood and Iwo Jima as their three greatest battles of all time.

The cold was as vicious an enemy as the Chinese. Thousands of our troops lost hands and/or feet from frostbite. Many of the veterans they interviewed for the program were missing fingers.

A shame its so poorly covered by the toy soldier community. Of course I understand that economics are likely the reason. It truly is the "forgotten war".

 

[mgw]

I agree that the Korean war is completely overlooked in the TS arena; some of the most compelling war books have been published on this conflict including the "Last Stand of Fox Company." It would be simple to convert current pacific and bulge ranges to US forces in Korea - would love to see an Marine's Pershing M26 or Patton M46 in 1/30 scale! Not to mention the iconic a like the F86, Mig15, Corsair F4U-4, Panther F9-2,....TSSD marines attacking NKPA position

ircraft

 

[lancer]

An excellent book on the subject is Eric Hammel's "Chosen: Heroic Ordeal of the Korean War". Published by Vanguard in 1981, it is readily available in soft or hard cover. It is a very good read. -- Al

 

[Leadmen]

Another good book is: Breakout-the Chosin Reservoir Campaign, Korea 1950 Martin Russ 1999. My platoon Sgt. and company CO were among many veterans of the Reservoir battle and suffered frostbite . I heard many stories from our company Marines who were there in 1950. This was 1960 when they still had to put special lotion on after showering from the skin effects of frostbite. Amazing that the 1st Marine Division was not annihilated at the reservoir.

 

[lancer]

When I worked in a Gulf Service station back in the 70's, one of the managers was a Chosin vet. He was a Sgt. at the time of the battle. He had a very commanding stature, as you might imagine, but the thing I remember most about him was that nothing rattled him. He was always cool under all the stress and, believe me, while not combat, fixing and caring for people's cars, is very stressful. LOTS of different personalities amongst the customers and employees. He would never talk about the battle except to state in a very cryptic manner that "It was cold". He did tell me that his training company in the USMC was one of the units "lent" to the movie company that made "Sands of Iwo Jima" that starred John Wayne. His unit was used in the mass landings and beach scenes. He said that as often as he had watched the movie, he had never been able to spot himself though he had seen men from his unit. He was an interesting individual who didn't put up with much crap. -- Al

 

[Terp152]

Another good book, read this past yr is "The Last Stand of Fox Company" by Bob Drury. Good battle history of company in the Chosin area. Chris