By 
Korea, May, 1953: Two American soldiers cross the battered terrain surrounding Outpost Harry, where enemy troops regularly mounted attacks from three sides. One sergeant recalled a battle during which “the first Red I met came along the trench yelling ‘Comrade, comrade’ holding a grenade in one hand and firing a burp gun with the other.” In mid-June, the Americans weathered an eight-day assault by more than 13,000 Chinese troops. [Stars & Stripes]
Make sure read my prior posting on Hero of the Korean War Lieutenant Colonel George Koumanakos of the Greek Sparta Battalion that fought on Outpost Harry.
5:17 pm on December 15th, 2008 1
Too clean, hell, their uniforms
are starched and creased!
1:34 pm on December 16th, 2008 2
I believe the majority of the battle happened within a week, with five different UN companies rotating each day, including a greek contingent.
The Chinese outnumbered the defenders hugely and there was much hand to hand fighting. Really a desperate battle each night, fought bravely by both sides.
However the Chinese could not match the firepower of the west and suffered tremendous casualties, and eventually lost.
I can only try to imagine what it must have been like.
3:10 am on December 17th, 2008 3
Gerry you will probably like my posting on LTC George Koumanakos of the Greek Sparta battalion. Make sure to give it a read because the battle of Outpost Harry is one of the little known but really great battles of the Korean War.
4:22 pm on December 17th, 2008 4
In 1999 I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon talking with COL(R) Lee Mize who won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on Outpost Harry in 1953.
Here is his Medal of Honor award citation:
MIZE, OLA L.
Rank and organization: Master Sergeant (then Sgt.), U.S. Army, Company K, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Surang-ni, Korea, 10 to 11 June 1953. Entered service at: Gadsden, Ala. Born: 28 August 1931, Marshall County, Ala. G.O. No.: 70, 24 September 1954. Citation: M/Sgt. Mize, a member of Company K, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Company K was committed to the defense of "Outpost Harry", a strategically valuable position, when the enemy launched a heavy attack. Learning that a comrade on a friendly listening post had been wounded he moved through the intense barrage, accompanied by a medical aid man, and rescued the wounded soldier. On returning to the main position he established an effective defense system and inflicted heavy casualties against attacks from determined enemy assault forces which had penetrated into trenches within the outpost area. During his fearless actions he was blown down by artillery and grenade blasts 3 times but each time he dauntlessly returned to his position, tenaciously fighting and successfully repelling hostile attacks. When enemy onslaughts ceased he took his few men and moved from bunker to bunker, firing through apertures and throwing grenades at the foe, neutralizing their positions. When an enemy soldier stepped out behind a comrade, prepared to fire, M/Sgt. Mize killed him, saving the life of his fellow soldier. After rejoining the platoon, moving from man to man, distributing ammunition, and shouting words of encouragement he observed a friendly machine gun position overrun. He immediately fought his way to the position, killing 10 of the enemy and dispersing the remainder. Fighting back to the command post, and finding several friendly wounded there, he took a position to protect them. Later, securing a radio, he directed friendly artillery fire upon the attacking enemy's routes of approach. At dawn he helped regroup for a counterattack which successfully drove the enemy from the outpost. M/Sgt. Mize's valorous conduct and unflinching courage reflect lasting glory upon himself and uphold the noble traditions of the military service.