By Here is an interesting looking documentary about the Chosin Reservoir Campaign during the Korean War that will be released just in time for the 60th anniversary of the Korean War:
In the winter of 1950, at the height of America’s “forgotten war,” fifteen thousand US Soldiers and Marines found themselves surrounded by an overwhelming force of communist Chinese soldiers in the frozen mountains of North Korea. After sixty years of silence, the men who survived finally tell their story.
The veterans of Chosin take us back to towering mountains stained with blackened, blood-covered snow. Most of them are just kids — 18 or 19 years old — and they are outnumbered and cut off behind enemy lines. As the sun goes down each night, bugles and war-cries echo through the mountains, followed by massive human wave attacks lasting until dawn. Sub-zero temperatures render weapons inoperable and fighting devolves into terrifying nights of savage hand-to-hand combat. Unable to dig into the frozen ground, the Marines build parapets out of dead bodies in order to withstand each night’s onslaught. Despite overwhelming odds, the men never lose faith in each other. They refuse to surrender and instead fight their way to freedom through 78 miles of unforgiving, mountainous terrain.
The 1st Marine Division suffered over 4,000 killed and wounded but saved the lives of 98,000 refugees fleeing communist rule in North Korea. Seventeen Medals of Honor and 70 Navy Crosses were awarded to the heroes of this campaign, making it one of the most decorated battles in American history. Chosin will be the first documentary film to tell their incredible story. [Frozen Chosin]
You can watch a Fox News interview with the filmmakers here.
A documentary like this is always nice, but what I would like to see is a feature film about the Korean War much like the World War II generation had Saving Private Ryan. The Korean War is long over due to be explored by Hollywood filmmakers.
10:09 am on February 20th, 2010 1
This is as good a place as any to ask this.
I'm interested in volunteering to help take returning Korean War vets around Seoul and the rest of the country to act as translator and show them places where they might have fought during the war. Long ago I did that on informal basis for the family member of a friend of a friend, and I found it quite rewarding and a good way to show my gratitude.
Would anybody know a good place to contact to get involved in such a way?
12:30 pm on February 20th, 2010 2
I remain curious over what happened to the 4000 dead, most who were buried in North Korea. There were markers where they were buried, (Koto Ri, Wonson) but I have never read where their remains have been returned.
2:09 pm on February 20th, 2010 3
Yes, and 4000 was an awful lot of casualties, especially for the UN.
6:49 pm on February 20th, 2010 4
The Marines suffered around 4,200 deaths to hostile action in the whole war, not just the Chosin battle. US Korean War casualty information at :http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf
Overall, the number of Americans killed at Chosin was above 1,000, still a huge amount, though Chinese losses were far more punishing to them. Besides campaign casualty figures, the wikipedia page on the battle has an interesting footnote on Operation Glory, exchange of remains in 1954. But I am sure there are still Chosin casualties in North Korea, hope they can be receove4red someday.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chosin_Res…
As for Korean War and American film, the Chosin battle would be an excellent subject, as would the battle of Chipyong-ni. Not sure how the Chinese would take a new film showing victorious combat against their troops, and I don't really care myself. Have to remember the when of it, and that they entered the war of their own accord. I don't recall they were invited by the U.N.
6:50 pm on February 20th, 2010 5
Feel free to email me at kushibo-at-gmail-dot-com
7:20 pm on February 20th, 2010 6
About 2 – 3 years ago there were reports in Entertainment Sections of Korean newspapers about plans by S Korean film makers to make a movie about the evacuation of Korean refugees from the port of Hungnam.
It was an epic event in which about 100,000 Korean civilians were evacuated out of North Korea.
I wonder what happened to it?
Here's someone who's invested own time/money to publish book/DVD about a story related to the Chosin Reservoir story.
http://www.shipofmiracles.com/1.html It's about an American merchant ship named 'Meredith Victory'.
11:29 pm on February 20th, 2010 7
I can think of a number of Korean War movies. With the exception of "Pork Chop Hill" and "Taeguki" the war was really just a backdrop used to tell another story.
9:27 am on February 21st, 2010 8
9:34 am on February 21st, 2010 9
Only problem to me would be Hollywood showing victorious US troops engaged in battle. How they would cram the stupid officers, several genius PVTs, a war protester, and a woman into Chipyong ni, is beyond me. But its the only way Hollywood could make the movie.
12:11 am on February 22nd, 2010 10
What's so funny about that? Weren't American soldiers fighting as members of the United Nations Forces?
10:53 am on February 22nd, 2010 11
11:31 am on February 22nd, 2010 12
Another one I liked was "Field of Honor" from the mid 80s. But again, it told the story of one person, set in the American war in Korea.
5:51 pm on March 2nd, 2010 13
An interesting, well researched account of Chi Pyong ni
and other major events is David Halberstam's book, The Coldest Winter.
It includes the political situation on each side, which provides the context and the feel of the times.
The top Chinese general wisely demurred when asked to lead the invasion, claiming sickness due to age…
11:06 am on March 3rd, 2010 14
I think Halberstam has written the definitive history of the Korean war in his book, "The Coldest Winter".
You might want to also read "East of Chosen", for the 'rest of the story'.
12:47 pm on March 3rd, 2010 15
The Coldest Winter is a pretty good book, also I recommend reading these prior posting I did on the battle at Chipyong-ni that you should find of interest:
http://rokdrop.com/2007/02/12/heroes-of-the-korea…
http://rokdrop.com/2006/12/21/heroes-of-the-korea…
1:08 pm on March 5th, 2010 16
Thank you, read both, and enjoyed.
1:59 am on April 17th, 2011 17
My Dad Donald Roy Chesterfield 1st Devision Marine said he didnt hurt when he was hit there Said he was to damn cold. But you know the pain still shows in his eyes