Making Sure the Past Is Not Forgotten

(CBS)  This weekend marks the 59th anniversary of one of the most courageous battles in military history. It happened in the early stages of the Korean Conflict, often called the forgotten war. Thousands of marines fought against the North Koreans, the Chinese and another enemy - the weather, CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor reports.

Now 85 years old, Joseph Owen was a young first lieutenant in November 1950, when he and nearly 20,000 other American fighters, trying to gain ground against the surging North Koreans and Chinese Army, were outmaneuvered, trapped behind enemy lines at North Korea's treacherous Chosin Reservoir. The American's were out-gunned 10 to 1.

"We were there and they weren't going to take us out because it was cold outside," Owen said. "There were nights as cold as literally 30 below. And on top of this we're fighting in blizzards."

The Americans had to fight their way out, battling non-stop for 14 days, killing more than 30,000 Chinese as they trekked 70 miles to safety. Along the way, rescuing 100,000 refugees. But their courageous escape came at a severe cost.

More than 3,100 Americans, nearly a third of them marines, were killed and 13,000 wounded. Owen lost one of his closest friends.

"Right as we're talking, a bullet must have gone by. A dark spot appeared right underneath his helmet and Joe's eyes went empty," Owen said. "So I left Joe back there dead in the snow - my pal."

For their valor, the military awarded 17 Medals of Honor and 70 Navy Crosses. Still, few Americans know this heroic tale.

"You look at some textbooks, some have a sentence on Korea," said Anton Sattler. "If you are lucky, you might get half a page."

Anton Sattler and Brian Iglesias, both Marines and Iraq war veterans, are trying to change that, producing the first documentary on the battle, "Chosin."

They've spent nearly $20,000 of their own money, gathering emotional stories from 183 Korean War veterans.

"Would you say this experience has changed your life?" Glor asked.

"It's one of the most significant moments, I think so," Iglesias said.

"If I never made another film, I'd die happy," Sattler said.

Owen still carries around the medals he won with him, the Silver Star and Purple Heart among them.

He says his part in the film is about leaving a legacy.

"It means that my grandchildren will know that guys like me contributed something vital to the survival of this wonderful country," Owen said.

The legacy of a proud marine, who's part of a few - the Chosin few.

[USMC0351Grunt]

Many people are unaware that our government was considering leaving these men to die at the Chosin Reservoir, assuming that they were a lost cause. Also a little known fact is the hunility our "elected elites" experienced when they got word that these men, out-manned, out-gunned, without ammo in these subzeor temperatures fought and won.

- Col. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, commander of the 1st Marines;
The reporters also wanted time with the legendary Puller, who obliged with a highly quotable assessment of the situation: "We've been looking for the enemy for several days now. We finally found them. We're surrounded. That simplifies our problem of finding these people and killing them."

Never forget~

[LilDarlin1]

by LilDarlin1 January 24, 2010 11:24 AM EST
My Dad is "Niles B. McClain" (ARMY 1st lieutenant)... and was on the front lines in the Korean War. He lives right next door to me, and is still with us. He has told me things that this world we live in today has no clue about THE KOREAN WAR. The horror that our American soldiers had to go through against the Chinese and Koreans has never been published. I'm greatful that my dads name and all the other American Heros of that horror has come to light in this story. One story my dad did tell me was on NEW YEARS EVE OF 1951,...him and all his Army buddies with their mortors on the front line,..set off the MORTORS AT THE SAME TIME,..AND THAT DID KILL ALOT OF THE ENEMYS. (ORDERS FROM OUR MILITARY OF COURSE).
My dad is a good man, a wonderful father of three children, and was a very loving husband until we lost our mom and my dads beloved wife of Cancer September 25 2009 of Cancer. My Dad and Mom would have been married 57 years September the 27th,..2 days before she passed.
I told my dad about this story, and he is very interested and happy that they are not forgotton. So am I.

Wanda Wright
Moscow, Tennessee

[baudelia]

My brother Eleazar Belmarez served with the 1st Platoon of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and he just received his Purple Heart Medal on November 14, 2009. Part of his story is in the book titled "The Last Stand of Fox Company". He was 19 years old when he lost part of his right foot and left leg due to frostbite and shrapnel wounds and at that age he was considered 100 percent disabled but Thank God he is still with us at 79 years of age.

[worldatwar5]

wow that is so amazing! I just got done reading that book. Truly amazing men who kicked @$$ in that war. Is he still doing ok?

[MarcyOB]

Joseph Owen wrote a chilling memoir of his time in Korea entitled "Colder than Hell." It is published by the Naval Institute Proceedings and is a first-person look at a young man's plunge into the foreign world of combat and shattering loss all while trying to preserve his fellow Marines, his ideals and his memories of home. It's a worthwhile read that puts the reader directly into the snows of Chosin through the eyes and heart of a "best and brightest" type American.

[A_Son_of_A_Marine]

Semper Fi
My late father served and fought @ the Chosin Reservoir he was only 18 at time. Not a great place to be when your only 18 yrs old let alone at time. Although my father didn't receive any medals for his actions I believe all who were there deserved medals doesn't matter what branch of the services you were in... YOU WERE THERE!!!
My father didn't talk much about it other then it was freakin cold and was very lucky to make it out. He suffered from frostbite on he feet which he never complained about up til his death in 2008.
I am VERY PROUD OF MY FATHER AND HIS TIME IN THE MARINE CORP!! I'M A MARINE CORP BRAT OF 53 YRS AND DAMM PROUD OF!! SEMPER FI

[hologram5]

Too bad we didn't learn from the past and keep our noses out of other's business. Now we are stuck in the quagmire called Afghanistan.

[hijackie23]

You got the point! People always "forgot" the reason to start a war!

[fleabag75]

Sadly, the Korean war was the beginning of the politics of war. Tactics and strategy became part of the 'process'. Politically speaking, it was a lousy affair. Like Vietnam that followed, when it was ended, it was best ignored. Sad. Sad.

[exarmydoc]

Let us not forget the US Army's 31st Regimental combat tam. This unit set up on the East side of Chosin to cover the Marines' flank. Against 8 to 1 odds 31st RCT literally fought to the deah, taking out two Chinese Divisions. These divisions would have otherwise advancrd unopposed down the East side of Chosin and hit Hagaru-Ri before First Marine Division could have consolidated.

According to The gentle warrior: General Oliver Prince Smith, USMC By Clifton La Bree:

"The story of RCT 31, covering the right flank of First Marine Division, is a heroic saga of courage in the face of overwhelming odds. For four days and five nights, this understrength command stood its ground, slowing the Chinese advance long enough for Smith to bring the Fifth and Seventh Marines into the Hagaru-ri perimeter."

and:

"It should never be forgotten that in those critical days at the end of November and the first days of December, the encircled troops guarding the airfield and the CP of the First Marine Division did not have to contend with the Chibese Divisions that were busy attacking from the Eastern side of the Chosin Reservoir"

Both quotes come from Page 160 of Clifton La Bree's biographr of OP Smith.

Sadly, OP Smith did not remember the sacrifice of the soldiers. Immediately post Chosin he accused the soldiers of cowardice and blocked the award of a Presidential Unit Citation to 31st RCT. The award of a Naval Presidential Unit citation was finally made about 50 years after Chosin after a number of individuals, including a number of USMC officers, won for them the recognition they deserved.

[jromarine]

suggest you read col appleman, us army, "east of chosin."
this army historian attributes virtual anihilation of 31st
infantry to absent or failing leadership of higher echelons,
and failure of soldiers to take the high ground.
this marine lieutenant has high regard for compamny grade
officers of the 31st, most of them casualties of up-front
leadership.
further, any account of the 31st east of chosin must recognize
that the soldiers advabced north less proper cold weather gear,
and ammo that did not natch weapons (failure of higher-echelon
leadership)
further handicap imposed by higher echelon, american soldiers
we burdened by katusas, south korean conscripts who were not
combat-trained, but assinged to buddy up in the fight with our
solders. when the chinese approaqched, the katusas fled.
finally, all hands must recollect the words of corps commander,
major general almond, usa, to colonel faith (moh), who had advised
halt of advance to strengthn defensive positions.
"You going to let a bunch of chinese laundrymen stop you, colonel?
at which point the general flew away in his chopper. col faith later
went down, still trying to lead his soldiers out of a disaster created
by higher command, gen almomnd, most of all.
salutes from this marine to the soldiers of the 31st, who fought under handicaps we did not have to bear.
semper fi ...joe owen, usmc

[oceanwoman]

I just wanted the public to know, Mrs. Zona Murray has just published a book,"The Man, The Marine, The Legend," about her husband, General Raymond L Murray who led the Marines out of the Chosin Reservior, when he was a Lt. Col. He was called High Pockets by all who knew and respected him. There are a group of Chosin survivors who meet every month here in Oceanside, CA.

[Web4]

My uncle, Charles Minnick, was a Marine who fought in the Korean War. His best friend was blown up next to him, and he had a very hard time accepting that. He thought he should have died too. He was just 18. Towards the end of his military career, he volunteered to fight in Vietnam. He is gone now, yet will always be a hero to me. He did earn a purple heart and other awards. He taught me why we fight over there... he said "So I don't have to worry about you getting in the way while I'm fighting!" God bless all the Marines and military, and their families for their sacrifice so that we can continue to be free.