Chosin Reservoir

The Chosin Reservoir Also know as "Death Valley" or "Hell Fire Valley." It was given this nickname because of its temperature and how the Chinese Communist could ambush from all sides. As the Americans kept moving foward they ended up in what seems one of the worst battles of the Korean War.

The Chosin Reservoir was one of the worst wars in Korea. Its temperature was 30 degrees below zero and how the Americans were ill-equipped, understrength, and poorly trained. So the basic point was the Americans were not ready for war. Their budgets were slashed and there was no rescue and no relief (DiNicolo). As the Americans were advancing through Hagaru-ri they made it to the Chosin. As soon as they got there their were under heavy fire. The Chinese Communist launched a heavy offnsive attack that drove the Eighth Army back to Pyongyang but, they were able to surrond the 1st Marine Divison at the Reservoir. Hundreds of more Chinese came from Manchuria. Most of the Americans didnt think they existed there thats why the Chinese were called the Ghost Armies of Manchuria. Due to lack of intelligence the Americans were not good because they didnt know how to reload and didnt know the Manchurian language (Roe, Patrick C.). The Chinese had about 200,000 men and the United Nations had about 20,000 men. The Chinese were lead by General Song Shi-Lun who was communist. The Americans were lead by General MacAruthur. The veterans were evacuated from the Reservoir and the withdrawl from the Reservoir was certianly a high point in U.S. Marine Corp History (Hickman, Kennedy).

The Chosin Reservoir was one of the worst wars in Korea. The chinese were just too good for the Americans due to lack of intelligence and strength. Though the Americans retreated they were able to push back the Chinese Communist. Then they were able to eventually win the war. This war changed everyones life and still today people are still mentally ill because of it. So the moral of this story is a rock and a hard place.