I had knowledge of the Chosin Reservoir battle, where the Ist Marines did the undo-able-walking out of what should have been a massacre. They were a tough bunch and deserve all the tributes that can be heaped on them.
There was another group at Chosin Reservoir, the 31st Regimental Combat Team, composed of 2,500 troops (or 3,000-information is garbled) marched to the Reservoir to guard the Marines East Flank, then on to the Yale..
They had some knowledge of the Chinese Troops massing; there had been an encounter several days before. the 28th of November.
The first night the Chinese Troops struck the 31st Regiments and the Marines, they were repelled
After the first night of battle, General Almond, Commander of All American Troops flew in, Korea told the 31st Regiment and the Marines , “…the Chinese troops were the remnants of Chinese Divisions fleeing North… don’t let a bunch of Chinese Laundry-men stop you. Were still attacking and were going all the way to the Yale.”
MacLean, Lt. Col was the commanding officer of 31st RCT, had sent out a platoon size reconnaissance probe, the recon platoon disappeared. –No total alert was called; the 31st still ignored the scattered reports of Chinese Troops massing.
The 31st survived the first night with heavy casualties, especially in the officer corp.
After the third night, the 31st Regimental Combat team disintegrated.
Of the 2500 troops, how many survived?:
The Marines on the Western Flank of the Reservoir counted 675 soldiers walking across the ice to the Marine Lines.
Wikipedia says 1500 survived
Other sources say 1000 survived
All information available is garbled.
Information regarding the 31st Regimental Combat Team is lacking.
This was an unpopular war; the army was not anxious to publicize the events regarding the destruction of any combat group.
The Army had their hands full trying to explain the 8th Army’s retreat from North Korea.
There was another group at Chosin Reservoir, the 31st Regimental Combat Team, composed of 2,500 troops (or 3,000-information is garbled) marched to the Reservoir to guard the Marines East Flank, then on to the Yale..
They had some knowledge of the Chinese Troops massing; there had been an encounter several days before. the 28th of November.
The first night the Chinese Troops struck the 31st Regiments and the Marines, they were repelled
After the first night of battle, General Almond, Commander of All American Troops flew in, Korea told the 31st Regiment and the Marines , “…the Chinese troops were the remnants of Chinese Divisions fleeing North… don’t let a bunch of Chinese Laundry-men stop you. Were still attacking and were going all the way to the Yale.”
MacLean, Lt. Col was the commanding officer of 31st RCT, had sent out a platoon size reconnaissance probe, the recon platoon disappeared. –No total alert was called; the 31st still ignored the scattered reports of Chinese Troops massing.
The 31st survived the first night with heavy casualties, especially in the officer corp.
After the third night, the 31st Regimental Combat team disintegrated.
Of the 2500 troops, how many survived?:
The Marines on the Western Flank of the Reservoir counted 675 soldiers walking across the ice to the Marine Lines.
Wikipedia says 1500 survived
Other sources say 1000 survived
All information available is garbled.
Information regarding the 31st Regimental Combat Team is lacking.
This was an unpopular war; the army was not anxious to publicize the events regarding the destruction of any combat group.
The Army had their hands full trying to explain the 8th Army’s retreat from North Korea.