Marine's Involvement In The Korean War

The Marine’s involvement in the Korean War had many successes including the Battle at Inchon, Freezing at the Chosin Reservoir, and the Battle for the Punchbowl. Starting on the 25th of June 1950, the Korean War lasted for 3 years and 2 days (Gruenberg XX-XXii). The Korean War was in constant change. The US, South Koreans, and UN forces would make a big push and the North Koreans, Chinese, and Soviets would push right back. Territory traded hands all over the war including Seoul, the nation’s capital, which was a major foothold for whoever was in control. But throughout the entire war there was one group that held their ground more than anyone. The Marines fought from the water to taken Inchon and eventually Seoul (Rice, “Seoul”). They scraped
D Day is scheduled for the 15th since that is when tides will be their highest and the LSTs (landing ship, tank) can get closest to land before becoming exposed. 5:08am is when they give the signal to land. Marines load into their LCVPs (landing craft, vehicles, personnel) and head towards shore. The Marines are able to fight through the few hundred North Koreans in a little over 47 minutes costing only 20 wounded men. Aboard the Mount McKinley, MacArthur, upon seeing the flag fluttering over Wolmi-do, put down his binoculars, rose from his swivel chair, and said, "That's it, let's get some coffee."(Alexander, Horan, and Stahl, 270)
12 hours later the marines are already onto red beach, the second step to Inchon. After scaling a sea wall with ladders, the marines come across a dozen or so North Koreans and two bunkers. Second Lieutenant Tom Gibson of Mortar Company, 5th Marines described the action:
Lopez began to attack it. Before he could throw the grenade he held in his hand he was hit. The grenade dropped to his side. To save the men of his platoon he rolled over on top of it. Punchy [Lopez] won the Medal of Honor [posthumously] right there on the beach. On the dock at Pusan, he couldn't wait to get at the bastards.(Knox
Owen of B Company described one daylight napalm attack as a spectacle of awesome and terrible beauty. “The [napalm] pods slid from the planes, tumbled across the ground, then exploded. Black smoke billowed and red flame leapt against the white snow.…Chinese soldiers were aflame, running about in frenzied circles. They threw themselves, flailing, into the snow””(Alexander, Horan, and Stahl, 286)
On the final day of fighting the Chinese unnoticably disappeared back into the woods. The Marines then did all they could and continued the march. Once reaching the Yalu river they proceeded through the Toktong Pass. General Sung Shih-lun of the 120,000 man chinese army was waiting for them. As the night grew cold the Chinese attacked in swarms. All dressed in quilts and armed with Burp-guns they attacked the Marines and that was the beginning of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir (Rice, “Chosin”). Periodically along the road the Marines held strong points armed with temporary machine gun placements. As the waves of Chinese soldiers pushed onto these strong points, the Marines simply held their ground and were able to hold off several thousands. The enemy got so close it almost called for hand to hand combat. At one point between waves, machine gunner Private James Gallagher of Easy Company called to his platoon leader, First Lieutenant John