Chinese Invasion
As the US and South Korean forces advanced closer to the Yalu River, the border between the Korean Peninsula and China, China sent warnings to the US forces not to draw near to the Yalu. The Chinese claimed that the closer the US forces got, the more of a threat they became to China. These warnings were overlooked by MacArthur as he sent more troops into the northernmost parts of Korea, right up to the Yalu river. These decision were made in haste as General MacArthur wanted his men to be “home by Christmas.” US and South Korean troops were soon to face the power of the fresh Chinese soldiers.
Early in October of 1950, four months into the war, Chinese Communist Party forces began crossing the Yalu river to support the North. By November 300,000 Chinese soldiers had crossed undetected into North Korea. Their presences was felt immediately. US lead forces were overwhelmed by the Chinese army, which was full of hardened soldiers from years of Chinese civil war, and their own fight against Japan. The Battle of Chosin Reservoir is one of the most notable battles between the Chinese and US lead troops. The campaign that the Chinese were fulfilling, to remove US and South Korean forces from the North, had been funneled into a 15 day battle against US army divisions. For 12 freezing days from November 25, 1950, through December 13, 1950, the First Marines division, made up of WWII veterans and new recruits, who had been the driving force through the North, found themselves ambushed in the mountains of the Chosin reservoir. They were outnumbered 10-1. Their historic fighting abilities however, even through freezing temperatures, allowed them to fight off 8 Chinese divisions and reach the sea where they were evacuated along with supporting regiments. |
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