U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, 1950-1953, Volume 3 (of 5) / The Chosin Reservoir Campaign

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by LYNN MONTROSS and CAPTAIN NICHOLAS A. CANZONA, USMC
Based on Research by K. JACK BAUER, PhD.
Historical Branch, G-3 Headquarters U. S. Marine Corps Washington, D. C., 1957
Preceding Volumes of U. S. Marine Operations in Korea Volume I, “The Pusan Perimeter” Volume II, “The Inchon-Seoul Operation”
Library of Congress Catalogue Number: 57-60727
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D. C. Price $2.75 Official Price of this Publication $2.75
The breakout of the 1st Marine Division from the Chosin Reservoir area will long be remembered as one of the inspiring epics of our history. It is also worthy of consideration as a campaign in the best tradition of American military annals.
The ability of the Marines to fight their way through twelve Chinese divisions over a 78-mile mountain road in sub-zero weather cannot be explained by courage and endurance alone. It also owed to the high degree of professional forethought and skill as well as the “uncommon valor” expected of all Marines.
A great deal of initiative was required of unit commanders, and tactics had to be improvised at times on the spur of the moment to meet unusual circumstances. But in the main, the victory was gained by firm discipline and adherence to time-tested military principles. Allowing for differences in arms, indeed, the Marines of 1950 used much the same fundamental tactics as those employed on mountain roads by Xenophon and his immortal Ten Thousand when they cut their way through Asiatic hordes to the Black Sea in the year 401 B.C.