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00:00:30,067 --> 00:00:33,267
In the last days of November 1950,
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00:00:33,333 --> 00:00:36,167
12 thousand men of the First Division
of the Marines,
3
00:00:36,233 --> 00:00:38,400
with a few thousand soldiers
from the army,
4
00:00:38,900 --> 00:00:41,967
found themselves trapped at the top
from the mountains of North Korea
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00:00:42,300 --> 00:00:44,467
near a reservation called Chosin.
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00:00:46,733 --> 00:00:48,367
Their leaders were
caught off guard
7
00:00:48,433 --> 00:00:51,333
by sudden entry
of the People's Republic of China
8
00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,133
in the Korean War
which had been going on for five months.
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00:00:59,667 --> 00:01:02,633
The Americans were surrounded,
outnumbered
10
00:01:02,700 --> 00:01:04,733
and at risk of total annihilation.
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00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,233
The two-week battle that followed
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00:01:16,300 --> 00:01:19,000
is among the best
from US history.
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00:01:21,033 --> 00:01:23,667
He helped pave the way
US foreign policy
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00:01:23,733 --> 00:01:25,833
in the Cold War and after
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00:01:26,300 --> 00:01:28,633
and remains one of the most memorable
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00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:30,800
in the annals of the Fuzileiros.
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00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,167
I think all battles are terrible,
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00:01:37,133 --> 00:01:39,967
but this may have been
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00:01:40,033 --> 00:01:42,667
the worst in American history.
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00:01:45,433 --> 00:01:47,333
They were perhaps the worst conditions
winter
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00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,767
that American forces have already fought.
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00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:56,000
You weren't just physically cold,
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00:01:56,900 --> 00:01:58,867
you were frozen emotionally,
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00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:04,300
not knowing how much more you could give
25
00:02:04,900 --> 00:02:08,033
and yet you wanted to survive.
26
00:02:10,367 --> 00:02:15,033
The hardest thing I've ever done in my life
went to pick up frozen bodies
27
00:02:15,300 --> 00:02:17,800
of the Marines who had been killed
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00:02:18,367 --> 00:02:22,333
and your legs and arms
stay in position
29
00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:23,933
from the time of his death.
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00:02:26,567 --> 00:02:27,833
I wrote a letter home.
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00:02:27,900 --> 00:02:30,433
"Dear Mom and Dad,
when you receive this letter,
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00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:33,467
they will know that the marines were
annihilated, or...
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00:02:35,833 --> 00:02:38,233
Or we will leave here with great honors."
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00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,300
The marines marched
to the top of these mountains
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00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:50,300
and when they did,
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00:02:52,233 --> 00:02:54,467
they were different,
the war was different,
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00:02:54,733 --> 00:02:56,333
America was different,
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00:02:58,033 --> 00:03:00,900
and, in truth, the world was different.
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00:03:21,933 --> 00:03:24,667
On Thanksgiving Day in 1950,
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00:03:24,733 --> 00:03:26,867
America led the troops
United Nations
41
00:03:26,933 --> 00:03:29,067
who were marching in North Korea.
42
00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,800
The forces of democracy
according tothe New York Times,
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00:03:32,867 --> 00:03:34,900
they were cleaning everything without resistance.
44
00:03:38,633 --> 00:03:41,167
What was left of the army
communist North Korea
45
00:03:41,233 --> 00:03:43,800
apparently they had deserted.
46
00:03:44,933 --> 00:03:48,233
The Marines and the US Air Force
ruled the heavens
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00:03:48,300 --> 00:03:51,333
and they proved it by distributing
a holiday basket
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00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:53,000
all over the peninsula...
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00:03:54,733 --> 00:03:57,167
To the men on the front lines,
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00:03:57,233 --> 00:04:00,900
near the North Korean border,
overlooking China.
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00:04:07,433 --> 00:04:10,967
They made a monumental effort
to distribute that meal
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00:04:11,033 --> 00:04:12,100
under those conditions...
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00:04:12,167 --> 00:04:13,100
BILL MILLS
US MARINES
54
00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:14,967
...and it was wonderful.
55
00:04:15,967 --> 00:04:19,267
Turkey, pies,
56
00:04:19,567 --> 00:04:22,033
strawberries, everything.
57
00:04:24,900 --> 00:04:27,433
It was cold turkey, let me tell you.
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00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:29,833
The cooks did their best.
59
00:04:29,967 --> 00:04:31,700
But it was Thanksgiving
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00:04:31,767 --> 00:04:34,200
and we were optimistic
that the war could end...
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00:04:34,267 --> 00:04:35,200
JOHN EDWARD GRAY
ARMY
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00:04:35,267 --> 00:04:37,467
...and that was himself
a thank you.
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00:04:40,733 --> 00:04:42,633
The commander of the UN forces,
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00:04:42,700 --> 00:04:46,433
General Douglas MacArthur flew
to North Korea the next day
65
00:04:46,500 --> 00:04:48,633
to launch the last offensive
66
00:04:48,700 --> 00:04:52,400
in what would be a victory
in a short war.
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00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:57,500
MacArthur told the troops
and their commanders
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00:04:57,567 --> 00:04:59,233
that the main objective
of the Korean War...
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00:04:59,300 --> 00:05:00,267
BRUCE CUMINGS
HISTORIAN
70
00:05:00,333 --> 00:05:01,233
... to unify the peninsula
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00:05:01,300 --> 00:05:03,333
about government control
from South Korea,
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00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,400
would soon come to fruition
and said to the soldiers,
73
00:05:06,467 --> 00:05:08,367
"I hope you're home for Christmas."
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00:05:10,367 --> 00:05:14,433
The limits of North Korea
� the Yalu River
75
00:05:14,500 --> 00:05:16,133
and then his goal
76
00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:20,300
go to Yalu
and conquer all of North Korea.
77
00:05:20,367 --> 00:05:21,967
They were going to climb the mountain,
78
00:05:22,033 --> 00:05:23,433
like cutting butter...
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00:05:23,500 --> 00:05:24,500
GAIL SHISLER
AUTHOR
80
00:05:24,567 --> 00:05:26,967
...and they would go to Yalu
and it would be big.
81
00:05:28,100 --> 00:05:30,100
I was excited about it.
82
00:05:30,500 --> 00:05:32,633
I thought, "Holy shit,"
This is what we have to do."
83
00:05:33,333 --> 00:05:35,933
And I thought, that was in the conversation.
84
00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,367
I thought we would make it.
85
00:05:40,833 --> 00:05:43,333
Everything was very clear,
86
00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:46,333
"Let's do this", it was routine at that time.
87
00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:47,833
We had won the war.
88
00:05:47,900 --> 00:05:48,933
He finished.
89
00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:49,867
SAM FOLSOM
US MARINES
90
00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:51,867
It was clear as water.
91
00:05:56,100 --> 00:05:58,167
Five months of war in Korea,
92
00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:02,433
the Americans and the commanders
they had reasons to be confident.
93
00:06:09,833 --> 00:06:11,500
MONGLIA - CHINA - USSR - JAPAN
NORTH KOREA - SOUTH KOREA
94
00:06:11,567 --> 00:06:12,733
PACIFIC OCEAN
95
00:06:12,833 --> 00:06:15,533
Middle of the 38th parallel
96
00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,067
in the political agreement that followed
after the Second World War
97
00:06:19,133 --> 00:06:21,200
the Korean peninsula had solidified
98
00:06:21,267 --> 00:06:23,667
into two separate states in 1950.
99
00:06:23,733 --> 00:06:25,000
PYONGYANG - SEOUL
PARALLEL 38
100
00:06:25,100 --> 00:06:28,167
North Korea had support
Soviet Union
101
00:06:28,233 --> 00:06:31,133
and Mao Zedong
of the new communist China.
102
00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,233
The USA and other Western democracies
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00:06:34,300 --> 00:06:35,633
supported the south.
104
00:06:36,233 --> 00:06:41,200
This fragile imbalance
remained until June 25, 1950.
105
00:06:44,933 --> 00:06:46,933
The North Korean army entered
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00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:48,967
across the 38th parallel that day
107
00:06:49,033 --> 00:06:50,933
destroying South Korean defenses.
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00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,367
They captured Seoul, the southern capital,
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00:06:57,433 --> 00:07:00,967
in less than 72 hours and continued,
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00:07:01,667 --> 00:07:04,767
making your plan clear
to conquer the entire peninsula.
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00:07:07,900 --> 00:07:10,067
When the North Koreans invaded,
112
00:07:10,133 --> 00:07:12,400
they had Soviet equipment,
Soviet tanks...
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00:07:12,467 --> 00:07:13,367
STANLEY WEINTRAUB
AUTHOR
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00:07:13,433 --> 00:07:15,700
... and Soviet advisors.
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00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:16,700
THE SOVIETS SUPPORTED
TROOPS ON THE BORDER
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00:07:16,767 --> 00:07:17,600
THE RADIO ANNOUNCES WAR
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00:07:17,667 --> 00:07:20,133
The American people believed
that what was happening was that
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00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,933
It was Stalin waging war against the USA.
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00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:26,367
Upon hearing this news,
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00:07:26,433 --> 00:07:27,833
President Truman flew to Washington
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00:07:27,900 --> 00:07:28,967
from his home in Missouri.
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00:07:29,667 --> 00:07:30,933
The president described this invasion
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00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,433
as a threat to peace
which could not be tolerated.
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00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:39,767
This is an affront
to the efforts of free nations
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00:07:40,133 --> 00:07:41,967
to build the type of world
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00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:46,033
in which man can live
in peace and freedom.
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00:07:46,100 --> 00:07:48,767
This affront was very clear.
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00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:52,000
And we have to be clear.
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00:07:56,067 --> 00:07:58,100
After days of the invasion,
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00:07:58,167 --> 00:08:00,100
the US Security Council
131
00:08:00,167 --> 00:08:03,300
decided to expel the North Koreans from the South
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00:08:03,367 --> 00:08:06,400
and restore peace and security in the area.
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00:08:10,033 --> 00:08:10,967
LUCK 13
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00:08:11,067 --> 00:08:13,700
The US was going to lead a multinational force
135
00:08:13,767 --> 00:08:16,833
committed to putting into practice
the United Nations resolution.
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00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:20,100
I was 20 years old when the war started.
137
00:08:22,500 --> 00:08:24,433
I knew very little about Korea,
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00:08:24,500 --> 00:08:25,333
JAPAN - GORDON
139
00:08:25,433 --> 00:08:29,433
but I knew we were
in direct conflict with the Soviet Union
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00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,800
and what the Soviets wanted
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00:08:34,033 --> 00:08:37,933
spread communism around the world.
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00:08:38,033 --> 00:08:39,367
MANERT KENNEDY
US MARINES
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00:08:39,733 --> 00:08:40,900
That much I knew.
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00:08:45,633 --> 00:08:50,333
They activated all reservations
of the marines at that time
145
00:08:50,433 --> 00:08:52,833
because they needed troops now.
146
00:08:52,900 --> 00:08:53,867
WERNER REININGER
US MARINES
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00:08:53,933 --> 00:08:54,967
Like, now.
148
00:08:57,633 --> 00:09:01,133
I just wanted to be a marine
in the worst way.
149
00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,500
It was very young
to the Second World War.
150
00:09:04,900 --> 00:09:08,333
We were about two thousand,
everyone in the same situation.
151
00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,867
we were kids who had just left
secondary school
152
00:09:11,133 --> 00:09:12,567
and we all wanted to be marines,
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00:09:12,633 --> 00:09:13,633
CARS
NOT ALLOWED
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00:09:13,767 --> 00:09:14,833
a serious fuza.
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00:09:14,900 --> 00:09:15,900
JACK HAFFEMAN
US MARINES
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00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:17,500
Carry a gun, kill someone.
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00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:28,033
I remember getting on the train
and leave.
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00:09:30,067 --> 00:09:31,700
I remember my mother saying goodbye to us.
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00:09:33,100 --> 00:09:34,267
JUAN BALLEZA
US MARINES
160
00:09:34,333 --> 00:09:37,800
But then I realized
that he wasn't saying goodbye.
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00:09:37,967 --> 00:09:41,533
She was giving us the blessing.
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00:09:49,533 --> 00:09:52,600
At the time of the first shipment
of soldiers arrived,
163
00:09:52,667 --> 00:09:55,367
the North Korean army
I had almost expelled the Americans
164
00:09:55,433 --> 00:09:56,700
from the peninsula.
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00:09:58,067 --> 00:10:00,433
But Douglas MacArthur
remained confident
166
00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:02,233
which could reverse the losses.
167
00:10:03,500 --> 00:10:07,333
He commanded the forces
attack hard on enemy territory,
168
00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,033
in the port of Inchon.
169
00:10:15,033 --> 00:10:17,000
MacArthur took a risk
170
00:10:17,067 --> 00:10:20,167
and tried to dock there, with high tide,
171
00:10:21,500 --> 00:10:23,833
which only had a few hours
172
00:10:23,900 --> 00:10:25,433
to land troops there.
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And it wasn't a good beach at all.
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There was a wall there.
175
00:10:31,533 --> 00:10:34,933
But the enemy did not wait
that we disembark there,
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00:10:35,533 --> 00:10:38,833
so it was a big surprise
to the enemy.
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00:10:41,333 --> 00:10:43,567
And it was not well defended.
178
00:10:48,367 --> 00:10:53,067
Success in Inchon
It was a stroke of genius.
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00:10:57,667 --> 00:10:59,400
September 16th
180
00:10:59,467 --> 00:11:01,633
the First Marine Division
went to Inchon.
181
00:11:02,233 --> 00:11:05,700
The city was recaptured
against little resistance.
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00:11:05,767 --> 00:11:07,867
Allied fatalities were few.
183
00:11:08,233 --> 00:11:09,833
These men march through Inchon,
184
00:11:09,900 --> 00:11:11,633
towards Seoul, your goal.
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00:11:14,633 --> 00:11:17,467
Success at Inchon changed everything.
186
00:11:19,300 --> 00:11:21,933
North Korea's helpline
was cut.
187
00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:24,467
There was a direct route
from Inchon to Seoul,
188
00:11:24,533 --> 00:11:27,067
which was the capital
and staying with her wasn't just
189
00:11:27,133 --> 00:11:30,267
a military victory,
but also psychological
190
00:11:30,333 --> 00:11:31,933
and politics.
191
00:11:33,833 --> 00:11:35,600
The objective starts to change now,
192
00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:38,833
because the first thought
MacArthur's era,
193
00:11:38,900 --> 00:11:42,000
"We will disintegrate the army
North Korean
194
00:11:42,067 --> 00:11:44,433
and reestablish borders."
195
00:11:45,467 --> 00:11:46,700
And then he started to realize,
196
00:11:46,767 --> 00:11:48,633
"Maybe I can chase
the North Koreans...
197
00:11:48,700 --> 00:11:49,700
HAMPTON SIDES
AUTHOR
198
00:11:49,767 --> 00:11:51,700
... to their country, North Korea
199
00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:56,033
and destroy what remains of the army."
200
00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,200
It became the idea of staying
with the whole country.
201
00:12:04,067 --> 00:12:05,667
And it wasn't just MacArthur,
202
00:12:05,733 --> 00:12:08,167
all the leaders in Washington.
203
00:12:08,233 --> 00:12:11,167
There was a smell of total victory.
204
00:12:13,433 --> 00:12:17,100
President Harry Truman
had a big reserve.
205
00:12:17,167 --> 00:12:19,033
I was worried that communist China
206
00:12:19,100 --> 00:12:22,400
could enter the war
to defend the North Korean regime.
207
00:12:22,733 --> 00:12:24,933
Your general ruled that out.
208
00:12:26,100 --> 00:12:29,000
MacArthur didn't believe
209
00:12:29,067 --> 00:12:31,467
that the Chinese were fighters.
210
00:12:31,900 --> 00:12:34,367
Who were an army of farmers,
they were not well armed,
211
00:12:34,433 --> 00:12:37,500
and had no significant air force.
212
00:12:37,833 --> 00:12:41,267
He didn't believe it at all
213
00:12:41,333 --> 00:12:43,267
that the Chinese were a threat.
214
00:12:43,367 --> 00:12:45,167
YOU ARE CROSSING THE 38TH PARALLEL
COURTESY OF THE 3rd DIV. ROK
215
00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,500
The instructions given to MacArthur
in meetings
216
00:12:49,833 --> 00:12:52,667
to proceed with caution
in North Korea.
217
00:12:53,300 --> 00:12:56,533
Only South Korean soldiers
could fight
218
00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:58,133
up to the Chinese border.
219
00:12:58,200 --> 00:12:59,300
THEY ARE CROSSING THE 38TH PARALLEL
COURTESY OF THE 7TH U.S. CAVALRY
220
00:12:59,367 --> 00:13:01,967
But MacArthur believed he knew better.
221
00:13:06,933 --> 00:13:11,500
Three days after your men
have been captured in Pyongyang,
222
00:13:11,567 --> 00:13:14,167
the general ordered his commanders
to speed up,
223
00:13:15,033 --> 00:13:16,867
using available forces.
224
00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:24,900
The troops became even more excited
225
00:13:24,967 --> 00:13:28,700
because we don't expel people here
just an enemy
226
00:13:28,767 --> 00:13:32,200
who was aggressive,
but we taught him a lesson.
227
00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:35,067
Now we are gaining territory.
228
00:13:36,033 --> 00:13:39,167
The word of optimism circulated among us.
229
00:13:39,567 --> 00:13:42,533
"Let's destroy these North Koreans
completely
230
00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:45,300
and we will go to Yalu."
231
00:13:52,900 --> 00:13:55,000
HANGED
SEA OF JAPAN
232
00:13:55,067 --> 00:13:56,733
In the last week of November,
233
00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,100
MAcArthur had already spotted Yalu
234
00:13:59,233 --> 00:14:00,600
and he had a plan to get there.
235
00:14:00,700 --> 00:14:01,767
YALU RIVER
236
00:14:01,833 --> 00:14:04,367
His armies on both sides
from T'aebaek mountain
237
00:14:04,433 --> 00:14:06,500
they would be protective tongs.
238
00:14:07,100 --> 00:14:09,233
They would close the divide between them,
239
00:14:09,300 --> 00:14:12,100
with a solid front
and then go north
240
00:14:12,167 --> 00:14:15,267
before the brutal Korean winter arrives.
241
00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:19,233
"This should, however, end the war."
242
00:14:19,300 --> 00:14:20,900
MacArthur told the press,
243
00:14:20,967 --> 00:14:24,167
"and restore peace and unity in Korea."
244
00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,167
I didn't know what the orders were.
245
00:14:33,033 --> 00:14:35,700
All I knew was that we were going to walk.
246
00:14:36,100 --> 00:14:37,533
It was about 15 kilometers uphill...
247
00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:38,600
BOB EZELL
US MARINES
248
00:14:38,667 --> 00:14:39,833
... where we were going.
249
00:14:43,933 --> 00:14:46,767
We move forward slowly
250
00:14:46,833 --> 00:14:50,633
because it was the only way to go up.
251
00:14:50,700 --> 00:14:54,667
You had two directions
to go to North Korea
252
00:14:54,833 --> 00:14:57,733
and it was either going up or going down,
253
00:14:57,800 --> 00:14:59,867
because it was very mountainous,
254
00:14:59,933 --> 00:15:02,100
very difficult terrain.
255
00:15:05,567 --> 00:15:07,500
It was very dangerous for us
256
00:15:07,567 --> 00:15:11,000
because the supply line
it was a cow path.
257
00:15:11,067 --> 00:15:12,467
It was nothing more than that.
258
00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:16,000
Often, there was only one track
259
00:15:16,067 --> 00:15:18,300
along a slope
260
00:15:18,833 --> 00:15:20,600
with a mountain on one side
261
00:15:20,667 --> 00:15:22,833
and one precipice of the other.
262
00:15:29,433 --> 00:15:33,200
We finally arrived at the village of Yudam-ni
263
00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:37,633
and it was the most desolate country
that I had already seen.
264
00:15:38,033 --> 00:15:42,967
A pile of stones and boulders
and of course wind and snow.
265
00:15:43,867 --> 00:15:46,300
They were all grumbling
and to despise,
266
00:15:46,867 --> 00:15:47,867
but that's the marines.
267
00:15:47,933 --> 00:15:49,633
If you don't despise, you're not a marine.
268
00:15:49,733 --> 00:15:50,767
JOHN PARKINSON
US MARINES
269
00:15:52,633 --> 00:15:56,067
Night temperatures dropped
270
00:15:56,533 --> 00:15:59,433
up to minus 25 degrees
271
00:15:59,500 --> 00:16:01,833
and the northwest wind blew
272
00:16:01,900 --> 00:16:05,100
at 30 km/h coming from Manchuria.
273
00:16:05,167 --> 00:16:10,267
But we were still excited,
with optimism,
274
00:16:11,300 --> 00:16:13,700
"We won't have to put up with this
for much longer.
275
00:16:14,133 --> 00:16:17,033
Maybe they're right,
maybe the war will end."
276
00:16:21,833 --> 00:16:25,067
MacArthur was willing
exchanging caution for speed
277
00:16:25,133 --> 00:16:26,567
and that had consequences.
278
00:16:27,100 --> 00:16:29,100
On the eve of his last offensive,
279
00:16:29,167 --> 00:16:31,233
the First Marine Division
it was stretched
280
00:16:31,300 --> 00:16:34,867
along the supply line
for almost 130 kilometers,
281
00:16:34,933 --> 00:16:37,200
towards the Chosin reservation.
282
00:16:38,633 --> 00:16:40,733
Three thousand and six hundred men camped...
283
00:16:40,833 --> 00:16:42,133
CHOSIN RESERVATION
HAGARU-RI
284
00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,167
... at the foot of the reserve in Hagaru-ri,
285
00:16:44,233 --> 00:16:47,467
where is the division headquarters
and an aerodrome that was needed
286
00:16:47,533 --> 00:16:48,967
it was taking shape.
287
00:16:49,700 --> 00:16:52,733
Eight kilometers, on the west side
from the reserve,
288
00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:55,633
there was a small contingent
400 marines
289
00:16:55,700 --> 00:16:58,433
defending the road.
290
00:16:59,167 --> 00:17:02,033
The bulk of the forces, eight thousand marines,
291
00:17:02,267 --> 00:17:04,933
they were getting close
from a village in Yudam-ni...
292
00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,200
...preparing the next day's offensive.
293
00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,133
To the east there were around 2500
American soldiers
294
00:17:12,333 --> 00:17:14,800
and many hundreds of South Koreans
295
00:17:15,233 --> 00:17:19,000
placed there to protect
the right flank of the marines.
296
00:17:26,533 --> 00:17:29,200
At dusk on November 27th
297
00:17:29,567 --> 00:17:31,567
the men on both sides
from reservation
298
00:17:31,967 --> 00:17:34,567
they were establishing themselves
for the last night's sleep
299
00:17:34,633 --> 00:17:37,167
before the big attack on Yalu.
300
00:17:41,667 --> 00:17:44,100
There was a tree at the top of the hill,
301
00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,100
an adult tree with pine cones.
302
00:17:47,233 --> 00:17:49,033
And I took my tool
303
00:17:49,233 --> 00:17:51,300
and I cut some of those branches.
304
00:17:51,367 --> 00:17:54,067
And I threw them down,
I put my sleeping bag on top
305
00:17:54,133 --> 00:17:56,433
and I was going to have a beautiful night's rest.
306
00:17:58,233 --> 00:18:02,700
And I heard, "Bang!"
307
00:18:11,900 --> 00:18:14,400
Rumblings, like inbowling,
308
00:18:14,467 --> 00:18:16,833
whistles, screams.
309
00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:22,100
And avery-light was lit.
310
00:18:25,133 --> 00:18:26,267
And what could you see ahead
311
00:18:26,333 --> 00:18:29,733
it was the Chinese coming against us,
lots of them.
312
00:18:33,433 --> 00:18:36,100
We set up our firing line
313
00:18:36,167 --> 00:18:39,767
to defend positions,
prepared for the attack.
314
00:18:42,767 --> 00:18:45,733
The first sergeant was shouting
so we could all leave.
315
00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:47,900
"Leave the tents and go to the ground,
316
00:18:47,967 --> 00:18:50,333
and take the shotguns
because they come there."
317
00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:51,433
GRANT MCMILLIN
ARMY
318
00:19:00,167 --> 00:19:03,667
And suddenly a bunch of Chinese arrive.
319
00:19:04,100 --> 00:19:06,567
They had padded uniforms,
320
00:19:06,967 --> 00:19:12,900
were entering our perimeter
towards us.
321
00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,733
I killed what was close to me
and he staggered.
322
00:19:22,367 --> 00:19:25,367
I had to shoot twice
before he died.
323
00:19:27,300 --> 00:19:31,833
Some Chinese appeared
about nine meters in front of us
324
00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,333
and someone shouted,
"Take shelter! He has a grenade!"
325
00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:39,433
It was horrible.
326
00:19:39,500 --> 00:19:40,833
You know you're going to die
327
00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:42,767
and you think about how it will be.
328
00:19:46,633 --> 00:19:48,033
We used everything we had.
329
00:19:48,100 --> 00:19:53,333
Our M1, the rifles,
if we could get it to work,
330
00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:54,933
we had machine guns
331
00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:58,733
and it was a solid shooting range
as they descended.
332
00:20:00,367 --> 00:20:01,967
I didn't need to see where they came from.
333
00:20:02,267 --> 00:20:04,367
They were at the rear, at the front
and it's around you
334
00:20:05,133 --> 00:20:06,333
and in your midst.
335
00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:10,967
You would be shooting, stabbing,
336
00:20:11,633 --> 00:20:14,133
and using the gun as a stick.
337
00:20:15,267 --> 00:20:18,967
Sometimes there were two of them
three meters from you
338
00:20:19,033 --> 00:20:21,333
before you realize it.
339
00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:22,667
BOB BOULDEN
US MARINES
340
00:20:22,733 --> 00:20:27,367
And that was when you used the gun and the bayonet
like a stick.
341
00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:37,433
When things got ugly,
my good friend, Sergeant Bob Debbins
342
00:20:37,500 --> 00:20:40,933
took a blow to the head.
343
00:20:43,300 --> 00:20:46,267
We tried to save him,
but we couldn't.
344
00:20:46,333 --> 00:20:48,800
I took my t-shirt out of my backpack,
345
00:20:48,867 --> 00:20:52,133
there was an extra
and tried to stop the blood with this,
346
00:20:53,633 --> 00:20:56,033
but he bled to death.
347
00:21:02,467 --> 00:21:04,833
We were hanging on by a thread.
348
00:21:19,467 --> 00:21:22,033
When the attack subsided
the next morning,
349
00:21:22,100 --> 00:21:24,767
one of the subordinates
trusted by MacArthur
350
00:21:24,833 --> 00:21:28,100
General Ned Almond,
went by helicopter to the command post
351
00:21:28,167 --> 00:21:32,733
on the east side of the reserve
to see the army that was attacked.
352
00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:35,267
MARINES
353
00:21:35,333 --> 00:21:37,800
One of the highest ranks in the field,
354
00:21:38,267 --> 00:21:41,767
Lieutenant Colonel Donald Faith
I was counting
355
00:21:41,833 --> 00:21:44,067
what happened the night before.
356
00:21:45,167 --> 00:21:48,133
Faith told him
and it must have been very convincing,
357
00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:50,300
"General, we are in trouble.
358
00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:55,367
We captured Chinese soldiers
from two different divisions.
359
00:21:55,433 --> 00:21:59,800
This indicates that they have two divisions
right here in our proximity.
360
00:22:00,067 --> 00:22:01,667
What are we going to do, general?
361
00:22:02,033 --> 00:22:04,800
We almost all died.
362
00:22:05,233 --> 00:22:09,733
We drove them away, but we need help."
363
00:22:11,433 --> 00:22:13,667
And General Almond said,
"What do you mean?
364
00:22:13,733 --> 00:22:16,800
You're going to let some Chinese cleaners
stop you?
365
00:22:17,167 --> 00:22:19,167
Let's continue the attack."
366
00:22:31,333 --> 00:22:35,000
The leader of the People's Republic of China,
Mao Zedong,
367
00:22:35,067 --> 00:22:38,667
had won a great civil war
one year before
368
00:22:38,733 --> 00:22:42,167
and united the country under the banner of communism.
369
00:22:42,867 --> 00:22:46,467
But he was an attentive man
from a life of battles.
370
00:22:46,900 --> 00:22:50,633
Chairman Mao was attentive
what was happening inside China.
371
00:22:50,700 --> 00:22:54,833
I was attentive to the Soviet empire
near its northern border.
372
00:22:54,900 --> 00:22:57,533
And he was attentive to the Americans,
373
00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:00,067
who had supported their enemies
in the civil war
374
00:23:00,133 --> 00:23:04,167
and whose army was threatening
the border in the autumn of 1950.
375
00:23:05,233 --> 00:23:06,633
What Mao had in his hands
376
00:23:06,700 --> 00:23:09,100
and this was the opposite
what people thought in the USA,
377
00:23:09,167 --> 00:23:12,233
people thought Mao was diabolical,
a crazy communist and dictator
378
00:23:12,300 --> 00:23:16,200
and MacArthur was a great hero,
but from Mao's point of view,
379
00:23:16,267 --> 00:23:18,033
MacArthur was the irrational one.
380
00:23:18,567 --> 00:23:20,500
He just wanted to attack.
381
00:23:21,767 --> 00:23:22,933
"What would the US do
382
00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,967
if the Chinese communist army
were marching in Mexico,
383
00:23:26,033 --> 00:23:30,700
and talking about tearing it down
American capitalism in the Southwest?"
384
00:23:32,367 --> 00:23:34,133
Mao began preparations
385
00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,300
to enter the North Korean war
in October
386
00:23:37,367 --> 00:23:41,767
when MacArthur's troops
passed the 38th parallel.
387
00:23:43,467 --> 00:23:45,833
When MacArthur's army continued
marching north,
388
00:23:45,900 --> 00:23:47,700
near the Chinese border,
389
00:23:47,767 --> 00:23:50,100
Mao put his plan into action.
390
00:23:51,900 --> 00:23:55,033
US information
they knew there were troops
391
00:23:55,100 --> 00:23:57,767
which were being gathered in Manchuria.
392
00:23:57,833 --> 00:24:00,133
We just didn't know what they were doing there.
393
00:24:00,233 --> 00:24:01,500
SHEILA MIYOSHI JAGER
HISTORIAN
394
00:24:01,567 --> 00:24:03,200
And of course, what they were doing there
395
00:24:03,267 --> 00:24:06,533
It was calm and silent
infiltration into North Korea.
396
00:24:11,333 --> 00:24:15,733
The Chinese used the dark of night
to camouflage your movements
397
00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:19,200
and stayed away from the roads,
398
00:24:19,267 --> 00:24:21,800
hiding in the night
from our surveillance planes
399
00:24:22,567 --> 00:24:24,067
and by day
400
00:24:24,133 --> 00:24:27,533
when staying in the forests
under the trees.
401
00:24:31,100 --> 00:24:34,033
They walked at night
and they stood on the cliffs.
402
00:24:34,100 --> 00:24:38,033
American forces, in general,
stayed on the roads
403
00:24:38,100 --> 00:24:40,733
and went to the border.
404
00:24:41,300 --> 00:24:44,167
But meanwhile, among the forces,
405
00:24:44,233 --> 00:24:47,267
the Chinese came slowly on foot.
406
00:24:53,567 --> 00:24:56,200
Mao knew that his army
it was very inferior
407
00:24:56,267 --> 00:25:00,200
to Americans in tanks,
artillery and air force.
408
00:25:01,333 --> 00:25:05,500
But he measured the MacArthur and saw a weakness.
409
00:25:06,233 --> 00:25:09,900
At the beginning of November,
sent small teams of troops
410
00:25:09,967 --> 00:25:12,800
to attack the American front.
411
00:25:13,333 --> 00:25:17,567
These men retreated as if
a complete withdrawal.
412
00:25:18,633 --> 00:25:21,400
The Chinese hit hard.
413
00:25:22,233 --> 00:25:23,900
And then they disappeared.
414
00:25:23,967 --> 00:25:26,300
There was nothing there anymore.
415
00:25:27,733 --> 00:25:30,833
MacArthur said,
"Full strength" again.
416
00:25:31,733 --> 00:25:33,800
This became part of the strategy,
417
00:25:33,867 --> 00:25:37,633
which was to attract Americans
further into North Korea
418
00:25:37,700 --> 00:25:39,300
let them penetrate deeper
419
00:25:39,367 --> 00:25:41,600
and then rotate them.
420
00:25:43,333 --> 00:25:45,400
There is a certain cunning in Mao.
421
00:25:45,833 --> 00:25:47,733
He knows what he's dealing with.
422
00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:50,233
He knows MacArthur is arrogant.
423
00:25:50,567 --> 00:25:53,400
This is a strategy
who plays with this arrogance.
424
00:25:58,733 --> 00:26:02,200
We interrogate North Korean prisoners,
425
00:26:02,267 --> 00:26:05,667
civilians and even some Chinese
426
00:26:05,733 --> 00:26:08,933
and what we learned from these interrogations
427
00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:12,933
� there were many Chinese
428
00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:14,900
on the other side of the Yalu River,
429
00:26:14,967 --> 00:26:18,167
which was the border
between North Korea and Manchuria.
430
00:26:18,667 --> 00:26:20,100
And we contain this to the Division...
431
00:26:20,167 --> 00:26:21,233
MARTIN OVERHOLT
US MARINES
432
00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:22,733
... and they passed it on to the officers,
433
00:26:22,900 --> 00:26:27,833
who went into the army,
which was MacArthur,
434
00:26:29,300 --> 00:26:30,533
and he didn't believe it.
435
00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:33,200
He said, "No,
they won't enter Korea"
436
00:26:34,533 --> 00:26:37,133
They couldn't accept that,
437
00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:39,200
yes, the Chinese were coming.
438
00:26:39,267 --> 00:26:44,333
Even after the attack,
they didn't accept that.
439
00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:46,200
"This doesn't mean anything."
440
00:26:46,300 --> 00:26:48,500
That's what was happening at headquarters.
441
00:26:54,067 --> 00:26:57,600
Mao attracted the Americans
to Yalu
442
00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:00,167
and they were surrounded on all sides.
443
00:27:09,067 --> 00:27:13,333
200 THOUSAND CHINESE ENTER KOREA
444
00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:15,100
USA ATTACKS CHINA WITH STRENGTH
445
00:27:15,167 --> 00:27:16,267
ALASKA STATE STATUS
THERE MAY BE OBSTRUCTION
446
00:27:16,333 --> 00:27:18,833
United Nations troops
are forced to leave
447
00:27:18,900 --> 00:27:22,400
from all fronts
in the face of Chinese attacks.
448
00:27:23,133 --> 00:27:25,767
This is the bitter fate
of the armies of the allies,
449
00:27:25,833 --> 00:27:27,900
who almost had independence
Korea is a tidy affair.
450
00:27:27,967 --> 00:27:28,800
"WE FACE A NEW WAR"
MACARTHUR
451
00:27:28,867 --> 00:27:29,967
200 THOUSAND CHINESE THREATEN
CORNER THE TROOPS - YOU MUST ACT
452
00:27:30,633 --> 00:27:33,967
Northeast of Korea
the situation is even more serious.
453
00:27:34,033 --> 00:27:36,833
Here, thousands of marines
and other UN forces
454
00:27:36,900 --> 00:27:38,100
they are trapped.
455
00:27:38,167 --> 00:27:39,700
NUDE FORCES IN ENDANGER
456
00:27:39,833 --> 00:27:41,667
THOUSANDS OF CHINESE COMMUNISTS
PUSH ALLIES IN RETREAT
457
00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:52,400
The worst of the Chinese has landed upon
the First Marine Division,
458
00:27:52,667 --> 00:27:56,000
which was under control
from General Oliver P. Smith.
459
00:27:56,967 --> 00:28:00,433
Cautious and few words,
Smith doubted wisdom
460
00:28:00,500 --> 00:28:04,033
MacArthur's march toward
� Chinese border.
461
00:28:04,900 --> 00:28:08,467
And now the consequences
MacArthur's boldness
462
00:28:08,533 --> 00:28:11,267
were falling on Smith
and his men.
463
00:28:11,933 --> 00:28:14,733
He realizes that now
It's a different war.
464
00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:20,033
The advance to Yalu,
as far as you're concerned, it's over.
465
00:28:20,867 --> 00:28:22,067
He was genuinely afraid
466
00:28:22,133 --> 00:28:26,067
that the entire fleet of the First Division
of the Marines was in danger,
467
00:28:26,133 --> 00:28:27,333
that could be annihilated.
468
00:28:30,367 --> 00:28:34,067
Your job now was to find out
a way out of this.
469
00:28:35,100 --> 00:28:39,300
At least six Chinese divisions,
around 60 thousand troops,
470
00:28:39,367 --> 00:28:40,567
were on attack
471
00:28:40,633 --> 00:28:43,967
to Smith's approximately 15 thousand.
472
00:28:44,667 --> 00:28:47,333
Smith realized that his own headquarters
473
00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:51,067
in the village of Hagaru
was in critical territory.
474
00:28:51,500 --> 00:28:53,567
Hagaru had not yet been attacked,
475
00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:56,367
but Smith knew
that the Chinese would arrive.
476
00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,067
The city's intersections
had to be controlled
477
00:28:59,133 --> 00:29:03,233
if you wanted to save and extract
your men in danger.
478
00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:08,300
Hagaru was lightly guarded.
479
00:29:08,367 --> 00:29:11,133
There weren't many combat troops there.
480
00:29:12,067 --> 00:29:15,100
General Smith had men,
confectioners and army employees
481
00:29:15,167 --> 00:29:17,633
and there were engineers
who were building the field.
482
00:29:18,667 --> 00:29:20,833
It was a varied team.
483
00:29:23,133 --> 00:29:26,700
While American planes
kept the Chinese calm,
484
00:29:26,767 --> 00:29:28,267
Smith put pressure on his engineers
485
00:29:28,333 --> 00:29:30,467
to finish the aerodrome
486
00:29:30,533 --> 00:29:32,933
so the pilots could
bring reinforcements.
487
00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:37,667
And he sent almost all the men
It is at your disposal
488
00:29:37,733 --> 00:29:40,167
to defend the perimeter in Hagaru.
489
00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:42,433
many in the place called him
the East Hill,
490
00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:46,000
the high point above the ammunition landfill.
491
00:29:51,500 --> 00:29:53,200
Ammunition is arriving.
492
00:29:53,533 --> 00:29:54,600
They dropped them.
493
00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:55,733
JOHN Y. LEE
REPUBLIC OF KOREA ARMY
494
00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:57,400
Every hour, they sent.
495
00:30:00,033 --> 00:30:05,400
It was my job to go get it
what they sent.
496
00:30:08,100 --> 00:30:10,400
The Chinese started to shoot at us
497
00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:13,800
when we went to get the ammunition.
498
00:30:29,867 --> 00:30:34,533
Shipping ends
as soon as it got dark in Hagaru
499
00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:37,400
just before five
November 28th.
500
00:30:39,133 --> 00:30:41,300
The men dug
to hold East Hill
501
00:30:41,367 --> 00:30:44,467
you could see the engineers
working with the spotlight,
502
00:30:44,767 --> 00:30:47,533
accelerating to complete the airfield.
503
00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:54,967
A little snow started to fall
around eight in the evening
504
00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:58,300
and for the next few hours, everything was calm,
505
00:30:58,367 --> 00:31:00,833
minus the excavators.
506
00:31:05,533 --> 00:31:08,800
After 22:30 the calm ended.
507
00:31:17,867 --> 00:31:19,867
The Chinese realized that
508
00:31:20,500 --> 00:31:23,200
This Hill was the key...
509
00:31:23,300 --> 00:31:24,567
RICHARD CAREY
US MARINES
510
00:31:24,667 --> 00:31:26,967
... and so they focused on her
all night.
511
00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:32,800
We were halfway up the hill
512
00:31:32,867 --> 00:31:34,567
and without infantry.
513
00:31:35,700 --> 00:31:38,600
We had engineers,
artillery men,
514
00:31:39,233 --> 00:31:41,733
cooks, confectioners,
all we could get.
515
00:31:42,633 --> 00:31:43,933
We had to do it.
516
00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:45,400
We had to follow her.
517
00:31:53,633 --> 00:31:55,700
We heard the sound of a mortar coming.
518
00:31:58,100 --> 00:31:59,000
What's up, boom!
519
00:31:59,067 --> 00:32:00,067
DR. STANLEY WOLF
US NAVY
520
00:32:00,133 --> 00:32:01,733
And then you heard screams.
521
00:32:02,267 --> 00:32:03,800
Someone had been hit.
522
00:32:05,733 --> 00:32:09,933
The Chinese kept coming
523
00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:11,467
and we were scared.
524
00:32:12,867 --> 00:32:16,600
It wasn't a normal war,
what we were used to
525
00:32:16,667 --> 00:32:19,467
during training
at the Marine Academy.
526
00:32:20,133 --> 00:32:24,833
That there would be enemies to come in these numbers
527
00:32:24,900 --> 00:32:28,833
with little care
for your own safety.
528
00:32:33,567 --> 00:32:35,567
They could only beat us
529
00:32:35,633 --> 00:32:38,133
with the strength of numbers.
530
00:32:39,667 --> 00:32:42,000
In the first wave, we all had guns.
531
00:32:42,900 --> 00:32:45,633
In the second wave, not everyone had guns.
532
00:32:46,733 --> 00:32:50,200
They took up weapons
of the first wave.
533
00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:56,933
And in the third wave they would be commissioners
with automatic weapons.
534
00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:58,467
Nobody left.
535
00:33:03,133 --> 00:33:06,267
Smith's Men
they were outnumbered.
536
00:33:06,333 --> 00:33:09,600
Chinese divisions
they came from all sides.
537
00:33:11,633 --> 00:33:13,733
Smith had doubts
538
00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:16,233
if I could hold Hagaru.
539
00:33:23,900 --> 00:33:27,100
While the patch unit
struggled to keep Hagaru,
540
00:33:27,167 --> 00:33:29,900
your fellow Marines
on the west side of the reserve
541
00:33:29,967 --> 00:33:32,633
they were getting ready
for a second night of attacks.
542
00:33:34,100 --> 00:33:36,500
I had no idea what was coming.
543
00:33:37,867 --> 00:33:39,600
He knew it was bad and hoped...
544
00:33:39,667 --> 00:33:43,233
"I expected to do what I could
545
00:33:43,300 --> 00:33:44,967
and not disappoint anyone."
546
00:33:48,867 --> 00:33:51,367
You learn to control your emotions.
547
00:33:52,300 --> 00:33:56,067
You commit to fight
for your friend
548
00:33:56,133 --> 00:33:58,833
and he will do the same for me.
549
00:33:59,967 --> 00:34:03,233
He won't leave me there and neither will I.
550
00:34:06,233 --> 00:34:08,733
There you will find out what you're made of.
551
00:34:10,033 --> 00:34:12,267
It's not being a hero, nothing like that,
552
00:34:13,167 --> 00:34:16,600
but you are there with a function
and if you don't fulfill it,
553
00:34:17,267 --> 00:34:18,900
It's not just you who's going to die...
554
00:34:18,967 --> 00:34:19,933
THOMAS CORK, MR.
US MARINES
555
00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:22,500
... the whole platoon will die.
556
00:34:31,133 --> 00:34:33,133
They really attacked.
557
00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:34,800
They destroyed our position.
558
00:34:36,033 --> 00:34:38,400
Our machine guns
they were so hot
559
00:34:38,467 --> 00:34:40,700
that even melted the pipes.
560
00:34:41,667 --> 00:34:43,333
There were a few times
561
00:34:43,900 --> 00:34:47,600
that I had to get the machine gun
562
00:34:47,667 --> 00:34:49,600
and it will come the other way around
563
00:34:49,667 --> 00:34:54,733
and shoot over their heads
of our men behind
564
00:34:55,033 --> 00:34:57,600
because they were passing by.
565
00:35:00,367 --> 00:35:02,800
They now begin to climb the hill
566
00:35:02,867 --> 00:35:04,533
and we're shooting at them.
567
00:35:05,033 --> 00:35:07,200
And now I'm shooting
568
00:35:08,467 --> 00:35:10,267
and people began to cross
569
00:35:10,333 --> 00:35:13,333
on the side of the rocks, that of us,
570
00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:16,200
maybe ten meters.
571
00:35:18,767 --> 00:35:21,500
And my gun jams.
572
00:35:22,433 --> 00:35:25,133
And the guy throws a grenade.
573
00:35:25,733 --> 00:35:28,133
I took a step and the grenade exploded.
574
00:35:31,233 --> 00:35:33,567
I started flying through the air,
575
00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:36,667
but I didn't feel anything when I fell.
576
00:35:42,733 --> 00:35:46,500
I think it was a mortar
that hit the hole
577
00:35:46,567 --> 00:35:51,367
and I flew and landed on the ground.
578
00:35:51,433 --> 00:35:54,533
And I looked around and thought,
579
00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:57,867
"One guy lost his leg."
580
00:36:00,733 --> 00:36:04,600
And I got up, I fell on my face
581
00:36:04,967 --> 00:36:07,500
and I looked down
582
00:36:07,933 --> 00:36:10,533
and there was a leg
583
00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:12,700
and the poor guy was me.
584
00:36:12,767 --> 00:36:15,800
It was my right leg
which is gone from the knee down.
585
00:36:28,167 --> 00:36:31,933
For the first time in my life I prayed,
tonight.
586
00:36:32,700 --> 00:36:35,400
"God, don't let me die.
587
00:36:35,467 --> 00:36:37,100
No...
588
00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:44,067
Not here, not so far from home.
589
00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:48,300
I just want to see the sunrise
once again.
590
00:36:48,367 --> 00:36:50,133
Give me another day."
591
00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:18,433
When the first light of day appeared,
592
00:37:18,733 --> 00:37:22,233
the Chinese collected
to the hiding places of the day.
593
00:37:23,467 --> 00:37:26,333
The marines still had
hold on Hagaru,
594
00:37:26,733 --> 00:37:29,833
just like the hills
crucial facts about Yudam-ni.
595
00:37:31,667 --> 00:37:33,700
But at great cost.
596
00:37:39,333 --> 00:37:40,900
I found a marine.
597
00:37:40,967 --> 00:37:42,367
He was at the top of the mountain.
598
00:37:42,433 --> 00:37:45,633
I was in a hole that...
I thought he was dead.
599
00:37:47,533 --> 00:37:51,167
He didn't move at all,
but you saw his eyes moving.
600
00:37:55,233 --> 00:38:00,133
He had a face full of gray
and we got him
601
00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:05,000
and we took him down the hill
602
00:38:05,067 --> 00:38:07,100
to the infirmary.
603
00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:15,067
They had comrades on the ground
604
00:38:15,133 --> 00:38:17,833
on straw mattresses,
under blankets
605
00:38:17,900 --> 00:38:19,867
and doing the best they knew how for them.
606
00:38:21,167 --> 00:38:23,400
The odds weren't good
in saving a type,
607
00:38:23,933 --> 00:38:27,200
but still, comrades
who had gunshot wounds,
608
00:38:27,267 --> 00:38:29,600
I mean, bad,
609
00:38:29,767 --> 00:38:32,000
It was so cold, that the blood froze
610
00:38:32,500 --> 00:38:34,733
and they survived.
611
00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:37,933
Legless guys from here on down.
612
00:38:38,433 --> 00:38:43,000
It was so cold, everything was freezing
and they survived.
613
00:38:43,067 --> 00:38:45,633
They lost their leg, but they were still alive.
614
00:38:50,567 --> 00:38:55,200
It was all complicated
when exposed to extreme cold.
615
00:38:56,800 --> 00:38:59,800
They stopped bleeding
because that area was freezing
616
00:38:59,867 --> 00:39:02,833
and when we got close to them,
we looked at them
617
00:39:02,900 --> 00:39:05,900
and when they thawed,
they started to bleed
618
00:39:06,167 --> 00:39:09,200
and we discovered four more
or five bullet holes.
619
00:39:12,133 --> 00:39:17,167
You did your best
and when you finished,
620
00:39:17,233 --> 00:39:19,633
go to the next patient.
621
00:39:28,700 --> 00:39:31,500
I tried to cover them with blankets
or tents
622
00:39:31,567 --> 00:39:34,433
or with anything that could resist the cold,
623
00:39:34,500 --> 00:39:37,767
but they froze to death.
624
00:39:56,267 --> 00:39:59,333
This morning after the fighting
the reports were serious.
625
00:39:59,733 --> 00:40:02,600
General O.P. Smith
I didn't know how much longer
626
00:40:02,667 --> 00:40:05,100
men would defend Yudam-ni.
627
00:40:05,533 --> 00:40:08,267
Little was known about the scarce number
army units
628
00:40:08,333 --> 00:40:10,400
on the east side of the reserve.
629
00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:15,500
Even worse, the Chinese had arrived
south of Hagaru,
630
00:40:15,933 --> 00:40:18,433
cutting the supply line
behind Smith
631
00:40:18,500 --> 00:40:20,700
and attacked the First garrison
of the Marines in Koto-ri...
632
00:40:20,767 --> 00:40:21,733
YUDAM-NI - CHOSIN RESERVE
HAGARU-RI - KOT'O-RI
633
00:40:21,800 --> 00:40:23,433
... just 17 kilometers away.
634
00:40:24,133 --> 00:40:27,200
Hagaru was now threatened
on three sides.
635
00:40:29,467 --> 00:40:33,000
Smith was worried
that Hagaru was going to fall
636
00:40:33,633 --> 00:40:38,567
and that the battle of East Hill
it would reach a critical point.
637
00:40:39,533 --> 00:40:42,133
He desperately needed it
of reinforcements.
638
00:40:43,167 --> 00:40:45,133
We needed more tanks,
639
00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:49,467
more infantry, we needed reinforcements.
640
00:40:51,833 --> 00:40:54,800
Just before ten o'clock
the third morning of fighting,
641
00:40:54,867 --> 00:41:00,633
with Smith's order, 922 men left
Koto-ri and went to Hagaru.
642
00:41:02,833 --> 00:41:06,600
Under the command of the British lieutenant
Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas Drysdale,
643
00:41:06,667 --> 00:41:10,167
his strength was 235 commands
644
00:41:10,500 --> 00:41:13,067
with some American units,
645
00:41:13,133 --> 00:41:17,133
141 supply vehicles and 29 tanks.
646
00:41:18,500 --> 00:41:20,900
Smith thought if Drysdale
couldn't,
647
00:41:21,667 --> 00:41:24,367
Hagaru wouldn't hold back and this would result
648
00:41:24,433 --> 00:41:26,633
in the destruction of the entire division.
649
00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:33,400
The Chinese knew
what was going on
650
00:41:33,467 --> 00:41:36,133
and they didn't want to leave
those guys pass.
651
00:41:41,867 --> 00:41:44,933
It started well, but it took time.
652
00:41:46,967 --> 00:41:48,767
And we come across many
653
00:41:48,833 --> 00:41:50,633
machine guns, mortars,
lots of mortar fire...
654
00:41:50,700 --> 00:41:51,600
BOB HARBULA
MARINES
655
00:41:51,667 --> 00:41:52,767
...and we were caught.
656
00:42:00,500 --> 00:42:03,500
We had wounded and dead marines
which we put in the trucks.
657
00:42:04,600 --> 00:42:07,367
Trucks going through the air,
to be shot at.
658
00:42:10,767 --> 00:42:12,900
When a truck stopped,
659
00:42:12,967 --> 00:42:17,033
the men in the truck
they had to protect him.
660
00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:18,967
It was their war.
661
00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:21,967
You didn't know what was happening
662
00:42:22,033 --> 00:42:24,300
two trucks in front or behind you.
663
00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:30,933
The Chinese cut and destroyed
the middle
664
00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:32,767
from the Drysdale train.
665
00:42:33,367 --> 00:42:34,567
The men at the rear turned around
666
00:42:34,633 --> 00:42:36,900
and went back to Koto-ri.
667
00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:42,033
Drysdale spoke to Smith on the radio
against the disaster.
668
00:42:42,267 --> 00:42:45,833
When Drysdale calls General Smith,
669
00:42:47,767 --> 00:42:49,700
he wanted to know if we should
turn around
670
00:42:49,767 --> 00:42:51,100
and return to Koto-ri.
671
00:42:53,733 --> 00:42:57,767
General Smith knew he had
to have these reinforcements.
672
00:42:59,300 --> 00:43:02,400
He said to proceed at all costs.
673
00:43:04,767 --> 00:43:08,500
I told my gun assistant,
"This isn't good, Joe."
674
00:43:22,333 --> 00:43:24,467
They were ten hours late
675
00:43:24,700 --> 00:43:27,533
and just over half
of the men remained.
676
00:43:28,467 --> 00:43:33,367
But the Strength of Drysdale
including 16 of the 29 tanks,
677
00:43:33,433 --> 00:43:36,433
they managed to reach Hagaru.
678
00:43:37,700 --> 00:43:39,800
"To the infantry garrison
679
00:43:39,867 --> 00:43:43,900
a tank has been added
and 300 men",
680
00:43:44,067 --> 00:43:46,700
a more relieved O. P. Smith reported.
681
00:43:48,533 --> 00:43:50,100
He now had the strength
682
00:43:50,167 --> 00:43:53,500
to hold back the criticism on Colina Este.
683
00:43:56,900 --> 00:43:59,500
They said,
"Put your men here in this field
684
00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:02,267
and go rest."
685
00:44:04,400 --> 00:44:07,367
We couldn't build fires or ditches.
686
00:44:10,200 --> 00:44:12,500
Everything was frozen like a rock.
687
00:44:13,967 --> 00:44:16,633
There were some Chinese bodies on the floor,
688
00:44:17,000 --> 00:44:20,100
that's why we pile them up
to protect us from the wind.
689
00:44:32,267 --> 00:44:35,600
Army conditions
in the mountains east of the reserve
690
00:44:35,667 --> 00:44:37,733
were still unknown.
691
00:44:39,400 --> 00:44:42,133
General Smith's headquarters
lost contact
692
00:44:42,200 --> 00:44:43,967
with the commander in charge,
693
00:44:44,033 --> 00:44:46,300
Lieutenant Colonel Donald Faith.
694
00:44:47,933 --> 00:44:50,967
The men on the ground were
getting excited.
695
00:44:52,400 --> 00:44:55,767
Chinese forces
they were always increasing.
696
00:44:56,400 --> 00:44:58,900
We had a crowd surrounding us.
697
00:44:59,333 --> 00:45:00,767
It seemed like an entire division...
698
00:45:00,867 --> 00:45:01,767
JOHN EDWARD GARY
US ARMY
699
00:45:01,833 --> 00:45:03,067
...or one and a half divisions.
700
00:45:09,633 --> 00:45:11,933
We were running out of ammunition,
701
00:45:12,000 --> 00:45:14,767
no gasoline for vehicles,
702
00:45:15,833 --> 00:45:19,467
we barely had food the last few days.
703
00:45:21,467 --> 00:45:25,133
The planes came and left
the wrong supplies for us.
704
00:45:27,100 --> 00:45:30,633
40 mm ammunition for weapons
50 caliber.
705
00:45:31,400 --> 00:45:35,633
We were running out of nothing,
706
00:45:35,700 --> 00:45:39,300
including people, and we knew it.
707
00:45:43,067 --> 00:45:44,900
Someone told us,
708
00:45:44,967 --> 00:45:48,133
"The tanks are trying to get here."
709
00:45:48,767 --> 00:45:50,600
And after a few days, we said,
710
00:45:50,667 --> 00:45:52,767
"Yes, we've heard that one."
711
00:45:52,933 --> 00:45:53,933
Because if we're going...
712
00:45:54,000 --> 00:45:54,867
RAY VALLOWE
US ARMY
713
00:45:54,933 --> 00:45:56,767
... let's hear them before we see them,
714
00:45:56,833 --> 00:45:59,733
because they make a lot of noise
and we heard nothing.
715
00:46:03,500 --> 00:46:06,367
Faith's men have begun
losing hope
716
00:46:06,433 --> 00:46:09,467
when a helicopter was brought
the army division commander
717
00:46:09,933 --> 00:46:12,233
came to their small perimeter.
718
00:46:17,433 --> 00:46:19,000
For a moment we were excited
719
00:46:19,067 --> 00:46:21,800
because we thought it helped
was on the way.
720
00:46:22,067 --> 00:46:24,067
He was our division commander.
721
00:46:24,300 --> 00:46:26,133
He's worried.
722
00:46:26,533 --> 00:46:27,633
And here he was.
723
00:46:27,700 --> 00:46:31,033
This means that help is on the way.
724
00:46:32,133 --> 00:46:33,800
But that wasn't the message.
725
00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:40,133
The general said,
"You will not receive help."
726
00:46:40,967 --> 00:46:43,033
We have to get out of here.
727
00:46:52,667 --> 00:46:54,567
When General Douglas MacArthur
728
00:46:54,633 --> 00:46:57,967
left headquarters in Tokyo
to recognize the damage,
729
00:46:58,500 --> 00:47:02,133
he seems to have lost
your confident characteristic.
730
00:47:04,600 --> 00:47:06,867
It must have really shaken him
731
00:47:06,933 --> 00:47:08,767
this event.
732
00:47:09,567 --> 00:47:12,133
It wasn't in his plans.
733
00:47:12,200 --> 00:47:14,367
I don't think he understood him.
734
00:47:20,100 --> 00:47:23,867
The Chinese redesigned the shape
to fight in less than 72 hours.
735
00:47:25,000 --> 00:47:28,733
MacArthur's army west of Korea
was in a hasty retreat,
736
00:47:28,900 --> 00:47:32,800
abandoning groceries
and weapons for Mao's army.
737
00:47:33,233 --> 00:47:36,033
Your First Marine Division
on the Chosin Reservation,
738
00:47:36,767 --> 00:47:39,933
they were inferior to the ratio of one to ten,
739
00:47:40,133 --> 00:47:42,400
they were threatened with extinction.
740
00:47:50,033 --> 00:47:52,167
MacArthur came here.
741
00:47:52,233 --> 00:47:53,567
I was there.
742
00:47:53,633 --> 00:47:55,700
I saw him getting off the plane.
743
00:47:56,267 --> 00:47:59,800
He was a troubled man
at that time.
744
00:48:02,200 --> 00:48:04,667
He was winning the war.
745
00:48:04,733 --> 00:48:06,333
It was over.
746
00:48:06,400 --> 00:48:09,000
And suddenly, I was losing her.
747
00:48:11,367 --> 00:48:13,933
He was for me, at that time,
748
00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:17,267
a troubled and haggard old man.
749
00:48:30,000 --> 00:48:35,033
FATE OF THE MARINES
EVER WORSE FOR THE ARMY
750
00:48:35,100 --> 00:48:38,400
All newspapers and magazines
751
00:48:38,467 --> 00:48:40,333
they were full of news.
752
00:48:40,400 --> 00:48:42,000
NO END IN SIGHT
FOR CORNERED TROOPS
753
00:48:42,133 --> 00:48:43,833
ATTLEE TALKS ABOUT A BAD SCENARIO
IN KOREA
754
00:48:43,900 --> 00:48:47,367
My wife didn't know
the details of this,
755
00:48:47,600 --> 00:48:51,033
but the headings were large.
756
00:48:51,733 --> 00:48:53,867
"31.� Infantry Annihilated."
757
00:48:53,933 --> 00:48:55,767
ALLIED ARMY IN FIGHT FOR LIFE
758
00:48:55,833 --> 00:48:57,667
THE CRISIS IN KOREA
DOMINATES THE CONGRESS
759
00:48:57,733 --> 00:48:59,433
THE REDS ENTER
AND THEY THREATEN TO CORNER THE US ARMY
760
00:48:59,500 --> 00:49:01,200
THE CHINESE FLANK
50 KILOMETERS FROM PYONGYANG
761
00:49:01,267 --> 00:49:04,100
My father saved a collection
from newspaper clippings
762
00:49:04,167 --> 00:49:06,300
and there are Marine stories
763
00:49:06,367 --> 00:49:09,100
who were annihilated, an entire legion.
764
00:49:10,100 --> 00:49:14,100
The Marines were trapped,
they were isolated.
765
00:49:14,333 --> 00:49:16,800
The newspapers had given up on us.
766
00:49:16,967 --> 00:49:21,000
A CARNAGE OF SURE
767
00:49:21,067 --> 00:49:25,467
My wife lost a brother
on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor,
768
00:49:25,867 --> 00:49:27,833
and I was thinking that...
769
00:49:27,900 --> 00:49:29,067
WATSON CRUMBIE
US MARINES
770
00:49:29,133 --> 00:49:31,367
... I had lost myself too.
771
00:49:31,933 --> 00:49:34,500
CORNERED UNIT
FROM THE CHOSIN RESERVATION
772
00:49:34,600 --> 00:49:36,933
WILLIAMS WINS ON THE TABLE
773
00:49:37,033 --> 00:49:39,833
THE EIGHTH ARMY FLYES SOUTH
774
00:49:40,533 --> 00:49:44,233
My grandmother listened to the radio
775
00:49:44,300 --> 00:49:46,467
when one of the famous announcers
from the height said...
776
00:49:46,533 --> 00:49:47,667
GAIL SHISLER
GRANDDAUGHTER OF O.P. SMITH
777
00:49:47,733 --> 00:49:51,233
... "If anyone has a son
or a husband
778
00:49:51,300 --> 00:49:53,300
in the First Marine Division,
pray for them.
779
00:49:53,367 --> 00:49:54,633
They may not have salvation."
780
00:49:59,200 --> 00:50:03,567
THE SITUATION IN NORTH KOREA
IT GETS WORSE AND WORSE
781
00:50:03,633 --> 00:50:06,000
THE ENEMY MOVES TO PYONGYANG
782
00:50:19,200 --> 00:50:22,367
President Harry Truman's advisors
783
00:50:22,433 --> 00:50:25,500
have been having difficulties
to adjust to the new reality
784
00:50:25,567 --> 00:50:28,600
after the spectacular
Mao's attack.
785
00:50:32,000 --> 00:50:33,733
They admitted it between themselves
786
00:50:33,800 --> 00:50:36,067
that the US had no resources
787
00:50:36,133 --> 00:50:39,200
to defeat the Chinese
in the Korean War.
788
00:50:40,067 --> 00:50:41,533
The best they could aspire to
789
00:50:41,600 --> 00:50:45,433
it was drawing
a line on the peninsula, close it,
790
00:50:45,500 --> 00:50:47,133
and hand it over to the South Koreans
791
00:50:47,200 --> 00:50:50,333
and leave there with some honor.
792
00:50:52,000 --> 00:50:53,867
But top Pentagon officials
793
00:50:53,933 --> 00:50:56,833
they didn't know if they had the strength
necessary to hold this line.
794
00:51:00,333 --> 00:51:03,633
The reports spoke
of a Third World War
795
00:51:03,700 --> 00:51:06,633
and the Soviet Union
enter western Europe
796
00:51:06,700 --> 00:51:09,367
while the US was
distracted in Asia.
797
00:51:10,133 --> 00:51:12,200
Truman even said it
who was willing to let go
798
00:51:12,267 --> 00:51:15,267
an atomic bomb
to defend South Korea.
799
00:51:17,400 --> 00:51:19,533
If the attack is successful in Korea,
800
00:51:19,600 --> 00:51:22,700
We can predict that it will spread
across Asia and Europe
801
00:51:22,767 --> 00:51:24,367
and for this hemisphere.
802
00:51:25,633 --> 00:51:30,067
We are fighting in Korea
for our safety and survival.
803
00:51:33,400 --> 00:51:36,300
No one seemed to have the answer,
804
00:51:38,067 --> 00:51:41,933
but Truman was very clear
who would not give up on Korea.
805
00:51:42,933 --> 00:51:44,800
It was a tremendous height,
806
00:51:45,533 --> 00:51:47,233
a significant moment
807
00:51:47,300 --> 00:51:50,033
in American history.
808
00:51:50,100 --> 00:51:52,967
US CONSIDER USING
THE ATOMIC BOMB!
809
00:51:53,033 --> 00:51:57,367
The talk was that our civilization
was at risk.
810
00:52:10,667 --> 00:52:15,200
American commanders in Korea
had few directions from Washington.
811
00:52:15,900 --> 00:52:19,133
The Pentagon gave them authorization
to leave northeast Korea
812
00:52:19,200 --> 00:52:21,500
and remove the marines safely,
813
00:52:22,633 --> 00:52:24,500
but it wasn't a simple mission.
814
00:52:27,467 --> 00:52:29,667
General Smith's men
had to pass
815
00:52:29,733 --> 00:52:34,267
from the top of the Chosin reserve
to Hagaru, Koto-ri
816
00:52:34,333 --> 00:52:37,000
and as far as the Sea of Japan,
817
00:52:37,067 --> 00:52:40,333
128 km through the harsh Arctic winter,
818
00:52:40,400 --> 00:52:42,900
through thousands of Chinese soldiers
819
00:52:42,967 --> 00:52:46,267
wait on high ground
by the only road.
820
00:52:46,333 --> 00:52:47,433
SEA OF JAPAN
HANGED
821
00:52:47,500 --> 00:52:49,267
Military historians have always said
822
00:52:49,467 --> 00:52:53,200
to fight for withdrawal
It's the most difficult maneuver
823
00:52:53,267 --> 00:52:55,133
to be successful.
824
00:52:56,600 --> 00:53:00,533
Everything has to be perfect
with air support, with artillery,
825
00:53:00,600 --> 00:53:04,300
with fatalities at the right time.
826
00:53:04,367 --> 00:53:07,033
It is a very complex operation.
827
00:53:09,100 --> 00:53:11,033
The division was preparing.
828
00:53:12,000 --> 00:53:14,100
They were burning a lot of things,
829
00:53:15,500 --> 00:53:17,667
they were getting rid of a lot of weapons,
830
00:53:18,167 --> 00:53:20,267
things that were not used
831
00:53:20,667 --> 00:53:23,567
and they were going to start heading south.
832
00:53:23,633 --> 00:53:24,700
JACK HAFFEMAN
US MARINES
833
00:53:26,867 --> 00:53:28,333
On December 1st,
834
00:53:28,400 --> 00:53:31,133
after four long nights
fighting enemy attacks
835
00:53:32,233 --> 00:53:34,733
the Marines on the west side of the reserve
836
00:53:34,800 --> 00:53:37,033
they began their dangerous journey.
837
00:53:40,600 --> 00:53:42,167
There was only one road,
838
00:53:42,233 --> 00:53:46,433
a single point of entry and exit
on each side of the reserve
839
00:53:46,500 --> 00:53:48,800
and to the top of the reserve.
840
00:53:48,867 --> 00:53:50,133
Dirt road
841
00:53:50,767 --> 00:53:53,333
flanked by hills on both sides.
842
00:53:54,333 --> 00:53:57,233
A complete nightmare.
843
00:53:59,133 --> 00:54:00,733
Mao thought that
844
00:54:00,800 --> 00:54:02,900
if he destroyed
the First Marine Division,
845
00:54:02,967 --> 00:54:08,133
this would create a lot of fear and doubt
in Washington
846
00:54:08,200 --> 00:54:10,667
and would bring about the end of the war.
847
00:54:11,367 --> 00:54:16,233
His objective was not only to punish
the First Marine Division,
848
00:54:16,300 --> 00:54:17,733
or hurt them,
849
00:54:17,800 --> 00:54:20,000
but annihilate them completely.
850
00:54:24,133 --> 00:54:25,900
The regiment's convoy was on the road
851
00:54:25,967 --> 00:54:29,667
and the sniper companies
they were in the hills fighting
852
00:54:30,400 --> 00:54:31,900
and we headed south.
853
00:54:31,967 --> 00:54:34,833
There was shooting in the hills all the time.
854
00:54:42,800 --> 00:54:45,633
We went up and down the hills
855
00:54:45,700 --> 00:54:47,267
because the enemy surrounded us
856
00:54:47,333 --> 00:54:49,967
and you could hear the fights
that were happening everywhere.
857
00:54:53,867 --> 00:54:55,900
we went to the high part
858
00:54:55,967 --> 00:54:58,633
to try to protect the road
wherever possible.
859
00:54:58,700 --> 00:55:00,967
And we were climbing a hill
860
00:55:01,033 --> 00:55:04,400
and the guy next to me was from Alabama.
861
00:55:05,667 --> 00:55:08,067
There was an explosion between him and me
862
00:55:09,167 --> 00:55:11,300
he laid me down on the floor and turned around,
863
00:55:11,367 --> 00:55:13,967
but as soon as it rolled, he was falling.
864
00:55:14,100 --> 00:55:16,833
He had his hand like this
and spurted blood.
865
00:55:16,900 --> 00:55:19,067
It looks like his face was ripped off.
866
00:55:32,633 --> 00:55:35,133
First Marine Division
they only had a clear advantage
867
00:55:35,200 --> 00:55:36,467
in your fight to the south.
868
00:55:36,900 --> 00:55:39,267
The US still controlled the skies.
869
00:55:40,600 --> 00:55:43,967
The Air Force and pilots
from the airfield near Yonpo
870
00:55:44,033 --> 00:55:47,400
and Navy pilots on aircraft carriers
in the Sea of Japan
871
00:55:47,467 --> 00:55:50,600
they were quick to respond to calls
made from the ground.
872
00:55:51,633 --> 00:55:54,600
Our job was to try
keep numbers low
873
00:55:54,667 --> 00:55:55,933
so that the Chinese
874
00:55:56,367 --> 00:55:59,033
do not sweep the marines by the bunches.
875
00:55:59,100 --> 00:56:00,100
LYLE BRADLEY
US MARINES
876
00:56:04,367 --> 00:56:08,300
We had multiple missions per day.
877
00:56:11,433 --> 00:56:13,300
We had to be very concentrated.
878
00:56:13,367 --> 00:56:15,567
The mountain peaks
they were everywhere,
879
00:56:17,500 --> 00:56:20,467
plus the fact that we had bad weather.
880
00:56:26,200 --> 00:56:29,000
If the sun came out, it would bring the planes.
881
00:56:29,067 --> 00:56:30,933
No sun, no planes.
882
00:56:31,300 --> 00:56:33,833
And when there are no planes,
the Chinese are all over us.
883
00:56:40,700 --> 00:56:44,300
is the big question of the operation
from the Chosin reservation.
884
00:56:44,367 --> 00:56:46,733
We gave a lot of support and closely
885
00:56:48,133 --> 00:56:51,533
and when I say close, it was.
886
00:56:55,633 --> 00:56:57,233
Sometimes it was so low
887
00:56:57,300 --> 00:57:00,633
you could see the pilot's face
888
00:57:00,700 --> 00:57:05,267
through the plane window.
889
00:57:05,333 --> 00:57:06,800
It was fantastic,
890
00:57:06,867 --> 00:57:09,967
the courage of those guys to go down like that.
891
00:57:20,333 --> 00:57:23,800
The things we saw were napalm.
892
00:57:24,000 --> 00:57:26,067
� gelled gasoline.
893
00:57:41,633 --> 00:57:44,633
Napalm was a new thing.
894
00:57:44,900 --> 00:57:47,633
It was a very powerful thing.
895
00:57:48,567 --> 00:57:52,133
When it exploded,
covered a large area
896
00:57:52,200 --> 00:57:54,533
and could cause a lot of damage.
897
00:57:57,000 --> 00:57:59,667
You walked through an area
898
00:57:59,733 --> 00:58:02,267
where the napalm had hit the enemy
899
00:58:02,333 --> 00:58:04,200
and the bodies were burned.
900
00:58:07,567 --> 00:58:09,400
The skin fell apart
901
00:58:09,467 --> 00:58:11,500
and you could see the yellow suit.
902
00:58:14,467 --> 00:58:19,300
And there were smells
which I still don't forget.
903
00:58:29,300 --> 00:58:32,067
Army units
east of the Chosin reservation
904
00:58:32,133 --> 00:58:34,067
they still felt forgotten.
905
00:58:38,300 --> 00:58:41,167
They were holding on
against a Chinese force
906
00:58:41,233 --> 00:58:43,900
which was more numerous
It's a ratio of ten to one.
907
00:58:47,067 --> 00:58:49,800
The dead and injured
increased every day.
908
00:58:50,367 --> 00:58:52,033
Supplies decreased.
909
00:58:55,133 --> 00:58:58,500
And we didn't know anything
from General Smith in Hagaru.
910
00:59:01,000 --> 00:59:04,500
Lieutenant-Colonel Faith, he said,
"I have all these injured
911
00:59:04,567 --> 00:59:07,100
and I have no orders to withdraw."
912
00:59:08,733 --> 00:59:10,333
Then he makes up his mind.
913
00:59:10,400 --> 00:59:12,233
"Let's get out of here.
914
00:59:12,300 --> 00:59:15,100
Let's try to get back to Hagaru."
915
00:59:17,800 --> 00:59:22,533
We know that our tank company
had been to Hudong-ni.
916
00:59:22,600 --> 00:59:23,567
CHOSIN RESERVATION
HUDONG-NI
917
00:59:23,633 --> 00:59:26,500
And we hoped maybe
we could join the tanks
918
00:59:26,567 --> 00:59:28,033
with their firepower,
919
00:59:28,567 --> 00:59:32,267
then there, we would be escorted to safety
920
00:59:32,333 --> 00:59:34,267
to the Marines in Hagaru-ri.
921
00:59:35,933 --> 00:59:39,000
Once we had the tanks,
we had done it.
922
00:59:39,067 --> 00:59:40,633
We went home in freedom.
923
00:59:40,700 --> 00:59:43,600
We had supplies there.
924
00:59:45,500 --> 00:59:51,933
We had 400 to 450 injured
who had to go by truck
925
00:59:54,467 --> 00:59:58,933
and the only way to charge them
it was putting them on top of each other.
926
00:59:59,800 --> 01:00:03,967
We had layers of injured people in the trucks.
927
01:00:06,833 --> 01:00:08,667
The dead had to stay.
928
01:00:09,667 --> 01:00:13,633
We had to put them in a pile
and leave them there.
929
01:00:15,000 --> 01:00:19,433
We had to undress them
930
01:00:19,900 --> 01:00:24,600
to give to the injured in the trucks.
931
01:00:27,333 --> 01:00:31,200
And we were also looking for ammunition,
932
01:00:31,633 --> 01:00:33,800
we had few.
933
01:00:35,500 --> 01:00:38,400
It was grotesque, it really was.
934
01:00:38,933 --> 01:00:40,400
Horrible.
935
01:00:40,467 --> 01:00:42,100
A nightmare.
936
01:00:55,333 --> 01:00:58,433
at 1pm
the first of December
937
01:00:58,500 --> 01:01:01,433
Faith's soldiers
they started heading south.
938
01:01:01,833 --> 01:01:03,000
At first they were acclaimed
939
01:01:03,333 --> 01:01:06,500
hearing the sound of planes overhead.
940
01:01:08,433 --> 01:01:13,100
The Marine planes
they threw napalm at the Chinese on the road
941
01:01:13,167 --> 01:01:15,867
in front of our column.
942
01:01:17,367 --> 01:01:21,733
But one of them worked badly
and fired the napalm earlier.
943
01:01:25,867 --> 01:01:29,067
And it fell among our troops.
944
01:01:32,867 --> 01:01:35,567
There was a fire explosion
945
01:01:35,633 --> 01:01:38,667
and many of those who were in front
946
01:01:38,733 --> 01:01:40,100
they didn't come back.
947
01:01:46,100 --> 01:01:47,567
Our troops have separated
948
01:01:47,633 --> 01:01:51,533
while trying to put out the burning soldiers.
949
01:01:54,333 --> 01:01:57,000
It was disconcerting, to say the least.
950
01:02:01,667 --> 01:02:04,233
We walked about a kilometer
on the road and there was the bridge.
951
01:02:04,300 --> 01:02:05,600
The bridge was destroyed.
952
01:02:07,000 --> 01:02:09,133
We were wasting time.
953
01:02:10,167 --> 01:02:13,033
We only walked about three kilometers.
954
01:02:13,733 --> 01:02:15,633
My instinct was
955
01:02:15,700 --> 01:02:17,400
that there was no way to get out of there.
956
01:02:17,467 --> 01:02:18,600
There were no chances.
957
01:02:23,000 --> 01:02:26,133
We were doomed to follow the road
958
01:02:26,200 --> 01:02:29,300
because it was the only one
way to save the injured.
959
01:02:31,000 --> 01:02:34,367
We could save ourselves
when leaving the train,
960
01:02:34,700 --> 01:02:37,367
but for me that would be cowardice.
961
01:02:38,200 --> 01:02:39,867
We were morally united.
962
01:02:44,533 --> 01:02:46,700
We went to hill 1221
963
01:02:46,767 --> 01:02:49,433
and another truck had fallen into the ditch
964
01:02:50,467 --> 01:02:53,633
and our driver stopped behind him,
turned off the truck,
965
01:02:54,000 --> 01:02:56,433
left and disappeared.
966
01:02:58,633 --> 01:03:03,067
I don't know if the truck worked
or why you did it,
967
01:03:04,133 --> 01:03:08,700
but those trucks stayed there
full of wounded.
968
01:03:11,967 --> 01:03:13,967
That's where I was captured.
969
01:03:17,233 --> 01:03:20,967
All the soldiers there
who were still alive
970
01:03:21,033 --> 01:03:23,333
they became prisoners of war.
971
01:03:24,100 --> 01:03:27,233
But the rest of the train passed.
972
01:03:28,567 --> 01:03:33,467
We went as far as we expected
see the tanks,
973
01:03:33,533 --> 01:03:35,000
but just to see that they
they weren't there.
974
01:03:39,200 --> 01:03:41,167
Our hopes were low.
975
01:03:44,067 --> 01:03:46,467
We thought we were almost there.
976
01:03:46,800 --> 01:03:48,400
Like, "Almost."
977
01:03:48,667 --> 01:03:51,700
They said, "Sorry,
but there is still a long way to go.
978
01:03:51,767 --> 01:03:53,300
There's still about ten kilometers left
to do."
979
01:03:57,000 --> 01:04:00,400
We were on our own
and that was when everything fell apart.
980
01:04:11,500 --> 01:04:15,600
I flew through the east side reservation.
981
01:04:16,367 --> 01:04:19,400
I managed every maneuver on the ground.
982
01:04:20,433 --> 01:04:24,233
The Chinese were coming down the cliffs
983
01:04:25,967 --> 01:04:30,200
and attacking the army on the road.
984
01:04:32,833 --> 01:04:36,733
And I saw them being dominated.
985
01:04:41,700 --> 01:04:45,067
I was in World War II,
I saw all kinds of battles,
986
01:04:45,133 --> 01:04:50,167
but I never saw American forces
to be destroyed like this.
987
01:04:54,333 --> 01:04:56,500
We saw a truck on fire
988
01:04:56,567 --> 01:04:59,800
where the wounded, with burning clothes,
989
01:05:00,100 --> 01:05:02,000
screaming in agony.
990
01:05:03,867 --> 01:05:06,833
I've never felt so desperate
in my life
991
01:05:07,033 --> 01:05:10,233
and I couldn't do anything.
992
01:05:13,433 --> 01:05:17,033
Many of us already had
calculated the situation,
993
01:05:18,700 --> 01:05:21,567
they said, "We did everything we could."
994
01:05:21,633 --> 01:05:24,233
It was almost every man for himself
at some point.
995
01:05:28,833 --> 01:05:31,467
Or we will be captured
996
01:05:31,533 --> 01:05:35,000
or we tried to save
the men who were with us
997
01:05:35,267 --> 01:05:38,033
and leave the reserve.
998
01:05:40,200 --> 01:05:43,100
We had quite an adventure on the ice.
999
01:05:44,000 --> 01:05:46,300
I lost my helmet in the panic.
1000
01:05:46,433 --> 01:05:51,300
I lost my compass from my belt
1001
01:05:51,367 --> 01:05:53,700
and falls several times.
1002
01:05:55,200 --> 01:05:58,500
My injured thigh was killing me.
1003
01:06:00,633 --> 01:06:03,800
He said to one of the comrades,
"Leave me here."
1004
01:06:03,867 --> 01:06:05,233
I can't do it anymore.
1005
01:06:05,300 --> 01:06:06,633
I'm on my knees."
1006
01:06:26,100 --> 01:06:29,300
We received a call,
"Doctor, clear the deck.
1007
01:06:29,367 --> 01:06:32,433
We have a lot of casualties coming up."
1008
01:06:34,600 --> 01:06:39,933
And they arrived, within a period of three days,
1009
01:06:40,033 --> 01:06:43,833
many injured from the army.
1010
01:06:46,400 --> 01:06:49,533
And many of them were on the ice
1011
01:06:49,600 --> 01:06:52,100
for two or three days.
1012
01:06:52,167 --> 01:06:57,100
When these men arrived
they were freezing, literally.
1013
01:07:04,800 --> 01:07:08,400
Of the 2500 soldiers, what we had,
1014
01:07:10,433 --> 01:07:15,000
I think 358 came back
1015
01:07:15,067 --> 01:07:16,767
and they were ready to fight.
1016
01:07:18,667 --> 01:07:21,067
It's a huge percentage of casualties.
1017
01:07:29,000 --> 01:07:32,767
When we finally arrived at Hagaru-ri,
1018
01:07:35,367 --> 01:07:37,467
we looked like the walking dead
1019
01:07:38,333 --> 01:07:41,900
because we have been neglected
for five days.
1020
01:07:55,900 --> 01:07:59,233
As soon as the army arrived at Hagaru,
1021
01:07:59,667 --> 01:08:03,333
the Marine retreat convoy
west of the reserve stopped
1022
01:08:03,400 --> 01:08:05,067
about ten kilometers away.
1023
01:08:06,267 --> 01:08:09,100
They rescued what was left
of the single infantry company
1024
01:08:09,167 --> 01:08:11,933
who were holding the passage
on the road
1025
01:08:12,000 --> 01:08:14,167
in the last five days.
1026
01:08:17,300 --> 01:08:20,400
Less than half of men
in this passage they were ready to fight.
1027
01:08:21,400 --> 01:08:24,967
Almost everyone suffered from burns
from ice and corrosive hunger.
1028
01:08:27,567 --> 01:08:30,700
The dead bodies of the marines
they were stacked, frozen,
1029
01:08:30,900 --> 01:08:32,333
among the infirmary tents.
1030
01:08:34,467 --> 01:08:37,500
And to bring all the wounded
and dead as we could,
1031
01:08:38,400 --> 01:08:40,633
that was just a tradition
from the marines.
1032
01:08:41,100 --> 01:08:44,200
Whenever we could
we tried to bring them.
1033
01:09:00,767 --> 01:09:02,767
Many of the injured were able to walk
1034
01:09:02,833 --> 01:09:05,767
and those who couldn't came in vehicles.
1035
01:09:06,767 --> 01:09:10,567
They were piled on trucks
and on the back of the tanks
1036
01:09:10,633 --> 01:09:13,333
and artillery pieces.
1037
01:09:16,500 --> 01:09:18,167
There was sniper fire
1038
01:09:18,667 --> 01:09:22,833
and walk next to this train
they were soldiers.
1039
01:09:25,367 --> 01:09:27,967
And when there were no shots,
1040
01:09:28,600 --> 01:09:32,200
they surrounded the jeeps, trying to warm them
1041
01:09:33,500 --> 01:09:37,533
and if the train continued,
we had to tell them,
1042
01:09:37,600 --> 01:09:39,500
"You'll have to walk again."
1043
01:09:40,567 --> 01:09:43,300
And these poor things
they had slept for ten or 15 minutes
1044
01:09:43,367 --> 01:09:44,800
and they were on their feet again.
1045
01:09:50,933 --> 01:09:54,867
We hadn't slept at all,
so you fell asleep while walking.
1046
01:09:56,000 --> 01:09:58,800
And there was no food or water.
1047
01:10:03,367 --> 01:10:07,100
We were stunned
because we were worn out.
1048
01:10:08,133 --> 01:10:09,933
Completely exhausted.
1049
01:10:18,500 --> 01:10:21,567
The Chinese were constantly
putting up roadblocks.
1050
01:10:22,333 --> 01:10:24,800
Logs and stones.
1051
01:10:25,033 --> 01:10:28,167
Everything to slow down the train
to be able to attack.
1052
01:10:31,733 --> 01:10:35,167
Every twist and turn
on the way south,
1053
01:10:35,233 --> 01:10:36,967
they found something.
1054
01:10:40,533 --> 01:10:42,333
We were on the road there
1055
01:10:42,400 --> 01:10:45,100
and an entire column stopped.
1056
01:10:46,767 --> 01:10:49,700
I said, "Why did we stop?"
1057
01:10:49,767 --> 01:10:52,500
He said,
"We have prisoners, all along the road."
1058
01:10:53,633 --> 01:10:58,333
So, I moved forward and right there, I freaked out.
1059
01:10:58,833 --> 01:11:00,667
I see these prisoners.
1060
01:11:01,733 --> 01:11:03,300
They were doomed. Done.
1061
01:11:03,367 --> 01:11:05,467
They were killed and I didn't notice.
1062
01:11:05,533 --> 01:11:07,667
I took my M1, and the bayonet
1063
01:11:07,733 --> 01:11:09,900
and I started hitting them.
1064
01:11:09,967 --> 01:11:11,967
"Get off the road,
1065
01:11:12,033 --> 01:11:14,467
get out of the way!”
1066
01:11:14,533 --> 01:11:16,033
And they rolled
1067
01:11:16,100 --> 01:11:19,333
and they had no legs, no arms,
1068
01:11:19,400 --> 01:11:21,333
the shattered bodies,
1069
01:11:21,400 --> 01:11:24,100
the black dust of ice.
1070
01:11:24,167 --> 01:11:26,567
And said to me,
"What are you doing?
1071
01:11:26,633 --> 01:11:27,800
You're crazy."
1072
01:11:34,067 --> 01:11:35,967
You're not the same person.
1073
01:11:37,433 --> 01:11:39,233
You're a different person.
1074
01:11:41,033 --> 01:11:44,200
It's something you never thought would be.
1075
01:11:54,867 --> 01:11:58,700
The men inside the garrison
from Hagaru they heard the trucks
1076
01:11:58,767 --> 01:12:02,300
before seven in the morning
on the third of December,
1077
01:12:02,367 --> 01:12:05,233
the end of the first week of the battle.
1078
01:12:05,833 --> 01:12:06,833
And then they saw the lights
1079
01:12:06,900 --> 01:12:09,633
of the marine convoy
from Yudam-ni
1080
01:12:10,000 --> 01:12:12,933
coming from the most northeastern point
the perimeter.
1081
01:12:17,167 --> 01:12:18,533
As soon as we reached the lines,
1082
01:12:18,600 --> 01:12:21,533
we knew we were
entering Hagaru-ri.
1083
01:12:22,500 --> 01:12:26,300
Someone said, "One, two, left!"
1084
01:12:26,367 --> 01:12:28,467
And we began to march.
1085
01:12:28,533 --> 01:12:30,267
You could hear the stamping of boots,
1086
01:12:30,333 --> 01:12:31,900
the beat of the march was random
1087
01:12:31,967 --> 01:12:33,867
and then it was a unique sound."
1088
01:12:33,933 --> 01:12:35,067
They were hitting their stride.
1089
01:12:35,133 --> 01:12:36,033
We were marching.
1090
01:12:43,567 --> 01:12:45,733
We marched to Hagaru,
1091
01:12:45,800 --> 01:12:49,633
the sound of feet hitting the ice.
1092
01:12:51,900 --> 01:12:53,600
Someone who saw us said,
1093
01:12:53,833 --> 01:12:57,500
"Look at these bastards,
those damn magnificent ones."
1094
01:13:10,033 --> 01:13:11,533
Someone started singing
1095
01:13:11,800 --> 01:13:13,233
the anthem of the Marines.
1096
01:13:13,300 --> 01:13:14,767
I couldn't believe it.
1097
01:13:14,833 --> 01:13:17,433
They were singing the anthem
and we were passing the lines
1098
01:13:17,500 --> 01:13:22,433
and someone gave me
a flask full of hot coffee
1099
01:13:23,800 --> 01:13:27,767
and a packet of cookies
and I sat in the snow
1100
01:13:28,233 --> 01:13:31,300
and maybe it was the best meal
of my life.
1101
01:13:43,600 --> 01:13:45,800
That night I slept in my sleeping bag
1102
01:13:45,867 --> 01:13:48,067
on straw inside a tent.
1103
01:13:48,133 --> 01:13:50,933
It was very luxurious.
1104
01:13:59,433 --> 01:14:02,367
After the regiments
the marines return
1105
01:14:02,433 --> 01:14:05,133
from the west of the reservation and stayed there,
1106
01:14:05,933 --> 01:14:08,200
there were many correspondents there too.
1107
01:14:09,033 --> 01:14:11,433
Time Magazine, Life.
1108
01:14:12,333 --> 01:14:16,000
They said, "General, you're not like that
of the marines, give up."
1109
01:14:16,633 --> 01:14:17,800
General Smith said to them, "Withdraw?"
1110
01:14:17,867 --> 01:14:20,833
We're just moving towards the rear."
1111
01:14:24,733 --> 01:14:28,767
Smith was unnerved by the notion
this is a withdrawal.
1112
01:14:29,200 --> 01:14:31,767
There was no front, there was no withdrawal.
1113
01:14:31,967 --> 01:14:33,933
He was surrounded on all sides
1114
01:14:34,000 --> 01:14:38,833
and any movement in any direction
it was actually an attack.
1115
01:14:43,500 --> 01:14:46,667
When General Smith insisted that these
men were not retreating,
1116
01:14:46,733 --> 01:14:48,733
but "attacking in another direction",
1117
01:14:49,267 --> 01:14:51,300
at least one journalist in the camp
1118
01:14:51,367 --> 01:14:54,667
suspected it was here
a big concern.
1119
01:14:55,867 --> 01:14:58,300
"When I looked at men",
she wrote,
1120
01:14:58,367 --> 01:15:01,033
"I thought if they had the strength
1121
01:15:01,100 --> 01:15:02,600
to deliver the final punch."
1122
01:15:07,933 --> 01:15:11,067
I don't remember eating
in Hagaru.
1123
01:15:13,433 --> 01:15:15,567
Everything was scarce.
1124
01:15:18,700 --> 01:15:21,033
The worst part was the boots,
1125
01:15:21,100 --> 01:15:24,700
plastic that came up to the middle of the knee.
1126
01:15:25,267 --> 01:15:27,533
The bottom part was made of rubber
1127
01:15:28,300 --> 01:15:32,033
and as long as you were walking
everything was fine.
1128
01:15:32,433 --> 01:15:35,267
But as you climb the hills,
1129
01:15:35,333 --> 01:15:39,633
the socks were wet with sweat
1130
01:15:40,033 --> 01:15:43,000
and then there was no way
to change socks,
1131
01:15:43,800 --> 01:15:46,533
if you were lying in the snow all night
1132
01:15:46,600 --> 01:15:48,100
your feet froze.
1133
01:15:50,767 --> 01:15:52,700
The boots had an insole
1134
01:15:52,767 --> 01:15:54,433
about one and a half centimeters
thick
1135
01:15:54,500 --> 01:15:57,167
which was to absorb perspiration.
1136
01:15:57,233 --> 01:16:03,833
Instead, the insole froze
and it was like walking on ice.
1137
01:16:05,733 --> 01:16:06,967
I was thawing, I believe,
1138
01:16:07,033 --> 01:16:12,233
because they gave me coffee
and morphine.
1139
01:16:12,467 --> 01:16:15,800
But they took my boots off
1140
01:16:15,867 --> 01:16:18,100
and then I saw that my fingers
they were black
1141
01:16:19,433 --> 01:16:22,400
and I freaked out.
1142
01:16:23,867 --> 01:16:26,833
I wanted to cry, I didn't, but I wanted to.
1143
01:16:26,900 --> 01:16:29,033
I said some bad words.
1144
01:16:29,800 --> 01:16:32,433
Someone approached and said,
"Stop it.
1145
01:16:32,500 --> 01:16:34,500
Behave yourself properly. Like a marine."
1146
01:16:34,567 --> 01:16:36,900
So I kept quiet.
1147
01:16:39,533 --> 01:16:42,400
My boot was frozen,
so they had to cut it
1148
01:16:43,067 --> 01:16:46,067
and part of my fingers
they got away with it.
1149
01:16:47,467 --> 01:16:49,333
And when they took off the boot,
1150
01:16:49,700 --> 01:16:51,233
all the fingers were gone.
1151
01:16:51,300 --> 01:16:52,800
My fingertips are gone.
1152
01:16:52,867 --> 01:16:55,233
The big toe, the little toe and all of them.
1153
01:16:55,300 --> 01:16:59,433
And two of them were found
inside the boot.
1154
01:17:18,333 --> 01:17:23,767
One of Hagaru's miracles
and the Battle of Chosin
1155
01:17:23,900 --> 01:17:25,633
That's what they took from there
1156
01:17:25,700 --> 01:17:30,700
4500 injured in several C-47s.
1157
01:17:33,467 --> 01:17:35,100
It's almost impossible.
1158
01:17:49,300 --> 01:17:54,400
A doctor had to make sure
that the patient really had to fly.
1159
01:17:55,067 --> 01:17:58,900
The doctor's role was to divide those
1160
01:17:58,967 --> 01:18:01,833
that had to be sent to the plane
1161
01:18:02,600 --> 01:18:06,733
and those who had to go by truck.
1162
01:18:09,567 --> 01:18:14,200
I remember a man well
without part of the skull
1163
01:18:14,500 --> 01:18:16,400
and with the brain out.
1164
01:18:18,500 --> 01:18:23,867
If we were in South Korea
or in other circumstances,
1165
01:18:23,933 --> 01:18:26,167
he would have been taken to the hospital
1166
01:18:26,767 --> 01:18:32,300
and, yes, he would be seriously injured,
but I could survive.
1167
01:18:33,133 --> 01:18:36,967
Here is another man
who had a wound on his chest,
1168
01:18:37,033 --> 01:18:40,067
took a bullet to the chest
1169
01:18:40,533 --> 01:18:42,767
and the air went in and out there.
1170
01:18:43,567 --> 01:18:46,467
But we knew this man would survive
1171
01:18:46,533 --> 01:18:52,233
if we took him to Japan, he would go.
1172
01:18:52,300 --> 01:18:55,700
There was a man wearing another
1173
01:18:55,767 --> 01:19:00,267
giving him morphine for the pain
and leaving it aside.
1174
01:19:01,933 --> 01:19:07,867
And it's a morbid thought
We wanted to put it aside, but that's how it was.
1175
01:19:07,933 --> 01:19:09,167
That's what we did.
1176
01:19:14,700 --> 01:19:19,533
There must have been 20 of us,
maybe 30 of us on board
1177
01:19:21,333 --> 01:19:24,100
and we flew for an hour and a half,
maybe two
1178
01:19:24,167 --> 01:19:27,033
from Hagaru to Japan.
1179
01:19:28,100 --> 01:19:29,933
And when I arrived in Japan, I felt,
1180
01:19:30,000 --> 01:19:33,500
"I'm out of the war zone",
1181
01:19:33,567 --> 01:19:37,867
and, "I'll be fine."
1182
01:19:48,400 --> 01:19:52,033
The air evacuation has ended
while the marines prepared
1183
01:19:52,100 --> 01:19:54,900
to abandon Hagaru
and give it to the Chinese.
1184
01:19:56,433 --> 01:19:58,100
The last flight had enough space
1185
01:19:58,167 --> 01:20:00,600
to carry the Marines' letters
1186
01:20:00,667 --> 01:20:02,733
for anxious relatives at home
1187
01:20:03,667 --> 01:20:07,800
and to take a handful
of corpses with the wounded.
1188
01:20:07,867 --> 01:20:09,900
US MARINES
1189
01:20:09,967 --> 01:20:11,367
But the question remained.
1190
01:20:12,333 --> 01:20:17,500
How many of the ten thousand troops still in Hagaru
would they get out of there alive?
1191
01:20:40,733 --> 01:20:43,567
While the marines in Hagaru
preparing for the next battle
1192
01:20:43,633 --> 01:20:45,433
in your fight for survival,
1193
01:20:45,500 --> 01:20:47,800
their boss was in New York,
1194
01:20:47,867 --> 01:20:51,267
giving a new brand to the strategy
America in the Cold War.
1195
01:20:54,000 --> 01:20:55,500
"Idealism is not bad",
1196
01:20:55,567 --> 01:20:59,033
said the Marine Commander
told a defense industry meeting,
1197
01:20:59,400 --> 01:21:02,533
"but if we are going to take the lead
of a free world,
1198
01:21:02,600 --> 01:21:05,733
we have to arm our forces
to make our will visible
1199
01:21:05,800 --> 01:21:08,133
whenever our interests
be threatened."
1200
01:21:10,100 --> 01:21:13,800
At the Department of State and Defense,
1201
01:21:13,867 --> 01:21:17,633
what they were talking about was making the U.S.
1202
01:21:17,700 --> 01:21:22,133
essentially, forever,
the police of the world.
1203
01:21:22,200 --> 01:21:23,233
TRUMAN WARNS THAT THE WORLD IS FREE
MUST ARM AGAINST THE RUSSIAN THREAT
1204
01:21:23,300 --> 01:21:26,500
Whenever communism showed itself,
1205
01:21:26,567 --> 01:21:29,433
we had to be ready to attack.
1206
01:21:30,467 --> 01:21:34,733
President Truman was preparing for
declare a state of national emergency
1207
01:21:34,800 --> 01:21:37,800
to galvanize the country in effort
to face
1208
01:21:37,867 --> 01:21:40,600
what we call "imperial communism".
1209
01:21:40,700 --> 01:21:42,267
PREPARATION FOR TOTAL WAR
ALLIES GIVE UP ON WONJU, OSAN
1210
01:21:42,433 --> 01:21:46,067
"We have to get stronger and faster",
Truman told the counselors,
1211
01:21:46,733 --> 01:21:50,767
even if we have to give up
televisions and refrigerators.
1212
01:21:50,833 --> 01:21:52,467
TRUMAN - GREAT PREPARATION
FOR THE ARMED FORCES
1213
01:21:52,533 --> 01:21:53,600
THE PRESIDENT SAYS THE BOMBS WILL BE
USED IF NECESSARY FOR SAFETY
1214
01:21:53,667 --> 01:21:55,233
What the December 1950 crisis did
1215
01:21:55,300 --> 01:21:57,767
was to convince the American people...
1216
01:21:57,833 --> 01:21:58,767
MOBILIZATION
LARGE SCALE WINS FAVOR
1217
01:21:58,833 --> 01:22:01,633
... that they had to spend
a lot of money and make more sacrifices
1218
01:22:01,767 --> 01:22:04,733
in a Cold War
It's hot in Korea
1219
01:22:04,800 --> 01:22:07,333
and you can heat it in any other place.
1220
01:22:07,567 --> 01:22:09,600
And as a result,
1221
01:22:09,667 --> 01:22:13,033
we have had fundamental changes in America.
1222
01:22:16,967 --> 01:22:19,400
That built
the national security state,
1223
01:22:19,733 --> 01:22:23,700
built military bases abroad,
a long and always active army
1224
01:22:23,767 --> 01:22:25,733
for the first time in American history.
1225
01:22:28,533 --> 01:22:31,933
And all this is the result
December 1950
1226
01:22:32,000 --> 01:22:33,767
courtesy of Chinese intervention.
1227
01:22:41,300 --> 01:22:43,067
On the morning of the seventh of December,
1228
01:22:43,667 --> 01:22:46,833
once the camp is dismantled
from Hagaru,
1229
01:22:46,900 --> 01:22:50,733
food is destroyed
and equipment that doesn't fit in trucks,
1230
01:22:50,867 --> 01:22:54,133
the Marines' leadership units
they were already on the next challenge.
1231
01:22:58,333 --> 01:23:02,367
When we left Hagaru-ri
and we went to Koto-ri,
1232
01:23:02,867 --> 01:23:05,667
there were Chinese
everywhere on the mountain.
1233
01:23:06,300 --> 01:23:07,667
And I was there
1234
01:23:08,233 --> 01:23:11,100
behind the jeep trailer,
that was loaded to the top
1235
01:23:11,367 --> 01:23:14,533
and I was there firing my gun.
1236
01:23:14,933 --> 01:23:16,967
And the guy next to me got hit and fell.
1237
01:23:22,067 --> 01:23:25,633
One of the worst things is being on the lines
1238
01:23:25,700 --> 01:23:28,600
and one of your comrades is killed.
1239
01:23:30,000 --> 01:23:32,900
And in your last breath
he calls for his mother.
1240
01:23:33,933 --> 01:23:38,967
And nothing is more sad and desolate
than hear this.
1241
01:23:45,933 --> 01:23:48,733
One of the myths is that men
don't cry
1242
01:23:49,833 --> 01:23:51,700
and it's bullshit.
1243
01:23:52,867 --> 01:23:56,867
I saw men crying, especially
when friends were hit.
1244
01:23:57,867 --> 01:24:00,467
When you have pain, you cry.
1245
01:24:06,400 --> 01:24:08,733
You have a feeling of isolation.
1246
01:24:10,167 --> 01:24:14,600
You were never very friendly
from another marine
1247
01:24:15,033 --> 01:24:18,300
because the death of a friend
1248
01:24:18,433 --> 01:24:20,700
it would be devastating.
1249
01:24:30,467 --> 01:24:31,400
And suddenly,
1250
01:24:31,467 --> 01:24:35,333
a machine gun comes out of abunker.
1251
01:24:37,733 --> 01:24:39,667
And this Marine and I
1252
01:24:39,733 --> 01:24:44,267
we crawled up the side of the hill
to thebunker and throw grenades.
1253
01:24:47,833 --> 01:24:51,033
A guy was sitting there
with a machine gun
1254
01:24:52,200 --> 01:24:55,600
and a grenade fell between his legs
1255
01:24:55,667 --> 01:24:58,267
and exploded his legs
1256
01:24:58,900 --> 01:25:02,100
and his stomach was hanging out,
but he was still alive.
1257
01:25:02,667 --> 01:25:05,567
And he continued speaking to me in Chinese.
1258
01:25:09,967 --> 01:25:12,867
I told the officer who was behind us,
1259
01:25:13,967 --> 01:25:15,900
"We left one alive."
1260
01:25:15,967 --> 01:25:17,233
And he says,
1261
01:25:17,300 --> 01:25:19,767
"Do you know what they did to us
on East Hill."
1262
01:25:22,700 --> 01:25:25,867
But when he spoke to me,
were you talking about his family?
1263
01:25:25,933 --> 01:25:29,300
Were you begging me to kill him?
1264
01:25:30,767 --> 01:25:32,100
"Was he trying to save me?"
1265
01:25:32,167 --> 01:25:33,700
But he was going to die anyway.
1266
01:25:33,767 --> 01:25:35,533
It was all torn apart.
1267
01:25:35,600 --> 01:25:38,533
With that, I sent him away.
1268
01:25:46,733 --> 01:25:49,600
Sometimes I still think about it at night,
1269
01:25:52,767 --> 01:25:55,667
just wanting to realize
what he told me.
1270
01:26:04,333 --> 01:26:07,667
It's nothing to kill them from a distance.
1271
01:26:10,233 --> 01:26:12,900
� when you look a man in the eye,
this is different.
1272
01:26:26,933 --> 01:26:30,500
The cold didn't let up for nine days
following the start of the battle.
1273
01:26:31,833 --> 01:26:35,033
Some nights were hot
minus 30 degrees
1274
01:26:35,100 --> 01:26:38,767
and it rarely came to zero,
even with the sun out.
1275
01:26:40,733 --> 01:26:44,567
But Mao still insisted that his
army continued its mission,
1276
01:26:44,900 --> 01:26:47,567
whatever the casualties
in your troops.
1277
01:26:48,033 --> 01:26:50,733
Almost half of the 60,000 Chinese soldiers
1278
01:26:50,800 --> 01:26:54,267
who faced the first marines
were dead or injured.
1279
01:27:02,967 --> 01:27:04,567
When they attacked you,
1280
01:27:05,367 --> 01:27:09,067
especially at night
you looked at them as superhumans.
1281
01:27:11,033 --> 01:27:16,533
You thought there was nothing
to stop them.
1282
01:27:21,400 --> 01:27:24,033
Those who wanted to surrender,
1283
01:27:24,600 --> 01:27:26,167
� just the opposite.
1284
01:27:28,133 --> 01:27:31,767
They seemed lost and wanted help
1285
01:27:31,833 --> 01:27:33,267
and there were smells of hunger.
1286
01:27:37,733 --> 01:27:40,367
The Chinese were sent into battle
1287
01:27:40,433 --> 01:27:44,967
without suitable clothing, without ammunition,
1288
01:27:45,033 --> 01:27:47,567
no food, many of them.
1289
01:27:50,000 --> 01:27:53,200
Many of them had to take care of
of themselves
1290
01:27:53,267 --> 01:27:56,467
and many others died
during winter.
1291
01:28:01,167 --> 01:28:04,000
We are talking about a lot of deaths,
1292
01:28:04,067 --> 01:28:08,500
We are deaths from battle,
but also because of the cold.
1293
01:28:14,367 --> 01:28:16,733
They had sneakers on their feet.
1294
01:28:17,233 --> 01:28:20,967
You saw a prisoner
and his feet were a block of ice.
1295
01:28:23,300 --> 01:28:28,533
I remember seeing a prisoner,
you had swollen ears,
1296
01:28:28,600 --> 01:28:29,933
like a potato.
1297
01:28:30,000 --> 01:28:31,200
It looks like someone put it
1298
01:28:31,267 --> 01:28:32,667
a potato on each side of the head
1299
01:28:32,733 --> 01:28:34,533
and that they cut with the knife.
1300
01:28:34,600 --> 01:28:38,767
They were bursting
because they were frozen.
1301
01:28:44,000 --> 01:28:48,567
They suffered a lot,
much more than us.
1302
01:28:55,667 --> 01:28:57,100
I always remember that
1303
01:28:57,167 --> 01:29:01,833
whatever the conditions under which
if we were, the Chinese were too.
1304
01:29:08,267 --> 01:29:10,667
Even today, if I were to meet
1305
01:29:10,733 --> 01:29:11,967
a Chinese soldier who was there,
1306
01:29:12,033 --> 01:29:13,533
I hugged him like a brother.
1307
01:29:15,700 --> 01:29:18,700
Because I know you suffered as much as I did.
1308
01:29:34,100 --> 01:29:37,033
At the height of the front of the column
arrived in Koto-ri,
1309
01:29:37,100 --> 01:29:40,767
the Chinese couldn't
actually attack the camp
1310
01:29:41,133 --> 01:29:44,700
or do a little more
than offering resistance on the road.
1311
01:29:46,167 --> 01:29:48,333
But the word spread throughout the patents.
1312
01:29:48,400 --> 01:29:50,600
Another obstacle lies ahead.
1313
01:29:55,067 --> 01:30:00,967
South of Koto-ri, a few kilometers
there is a passage called Funchilin
1314
01:30:01,833 --> 01:30:03,367
and there is a bridge there
1315
01:30:03,900 --> 01:30:06,067
and the Chinese blew up the bridge.
1316
01:30:18,533 --> 01:30:21,033
We had to replace a bridge.
1317
01:30:21,267 --> 01:30:23,800
We had to have shape
to cross the valley,
1318
01:30:23,867 --> 01:30:26,167
otherwise we wouldn't have our vehicles
1319
01:30:26,233 --> 01:30:28,333
and we wouldn't even evacuate our wounded.
1320
01:30:33,767 --> 01:30:37,033
It was a desperate situation.
1321
01:30:38,800 --> 01:30:40,167
If I remember correctly,
1322
01:30:40,233 --> 01:30:43,367
it was a space of seven meters
1323
01:30:43,900 --> 01:30:45,533
and there we were,
with a huge hole.
1324
01:30:45,600 --> 01:30:46,733
We couldn't move forward.
1325
01:31:16,533 --> 01:31:18,333
With the column stopped
1326
01:31:18,400 --> 01:31:21,100
� expects the engineers
repair the error
1327
01:31:21,167 --> 01:31:23,367
a front came from the north.
1328
01:31:23,600 --> 01:31:24,933
Temperatures have dropped.
1329
01:31:25,500 --> 01:31:29,500
Men there insist
which was at minus 50 degrees.
1330
01:31:31,300 --> 01:31:33,767
It went from bad to worse.
1331
01:31:34,167 --> 01:31:35,800
They went through everything they went through
1332
01:31:35,867 --> 01:31:38,300
and then facing a cold front
1333
01:31:38,367 --> 01:31:40,400
with an unimaginable cold...
1334
01:31:42,633 --> 01:31:48,067
When you are very cold,
you have a lot of trouble breathing.
1335
01:31:48,700 --> 01:31:49,733
It's really cold.
1336
01:31:49,800 --> 01:31:50,867
It was cold.
1337
01:31:50,933 --> 01:31:52,000
And in what way.
1338
01:31:57,533 --> 01:32:03,933
It was so cold you weren't feeling well
neither physically nor mentally.
1339
01:32:05,933 --> 01:32:10,267
You couldn't think of anything complicated.
1340
01:32:10,333 --> 01:32:13,567
You might not even be able to count to ten.
1341
01:32:13,800 --> 01:32:17,967
The brain doesn't work.
1342
01:32:31,900 --> 01:32:35,033
One of the tricks I learned
it was taking a nap
1343
01:32:35,100 --> 01:32:38,067
sitting on the helmet,
which was round at the bottom.
1344
01:32:38,400 --> 01:32:41,067
When I fell asleep,
he would fall and wake up.
1345
01:32:41,900 --> 01:32:44,700
But before falling asleep,
I felt hot
1346
01:32:46,167 --> 01:32:47,633
and in complete peace
1347
01:32:48,600 --> 01:32:52,067
and I think that's what it feels like
before freezing to death.
1348
01:33:00,633 --> 01:33:05,100
I felt, "How are we going to get out of here?"
1349
01:33:07,200 --> 01:33:09,667
There was the feeling, I had it,
1350
01:33:09,733 --> 01:33:11,833
"It could be here.
1351
01:33:12,300 --> 01:33:15,033
I'll never see my wife again."
1352
01:33:18,733 --> 01:33:21,533
And you felt that,
1353
01:33:21,667 --> 01:33:25,867
a sense of powerlessness
1354
01:33:25,933 --> 01:33:27,433
and despair.
1355
01:33:39,067 --> 01:33:42,967
In Koto-ri, the marine commanders
had to make choices
1356
01:33:43,033 --> 01:33:46,433
about what they could carry
in the remaining trucks
1357
01:33:46,500 --> 01:33:49,067
and what they would leave behind.
1358
01:33:50,733 --> 01:33:52,233
They used some explosives
1359
01:33:52,300 --> 01:33:55,033
to break the earth
1360
01:33:55,467 --> 01:33:58,633
and then put an excavator there,
1361
01:33:58,700 --> 01:34:00,600
and they made a big hole.
1362
01:34:02,833 --> 01:34:04,167
They had a lot of difficulties
1363
01:34:04,233 --> 01:34:08,567
because they had to explode
and dig a big hole.
1364
01:34:14,933 --> 01:34:16,833
And they threw the marines there.
1365
01:35:02,000 --> 01:35:05,333
They buried 117 by my count.
1366
01:35:05,900 --> 01:35:10,400
It was devastating, a horrible sight.
1367
01:35:25,300 --> 01:35:28,600
A close friend from Detroit
1368
01:35:28,667 --> 01:35:34,567
he was killed in Yudam-ni.
1369
01:35:34,767 --> 01:35:37,367
And I had the feeling that
1370
01:35:37,433 --> 01:35:41,500
he had others that I knew
1371
01:35:41,800 --> 01:35:46,267
they were being left in that hole.
1372
01:35:55,633 --> 01:36:00,733
The Information Regiment Officer,
Captain Donald France was one of them.
1373
01:36:02,833 --> 01:36:06,967
Your assistant,
Lieutenant McGuiness, was one of them.
1374
01:36:07,333 --> 01:36:11,167
And our driver,
I think his name was Lundberg,
1375
01:36:11,233 --> 01:36:12,867
was one of them.
1376
01:36:12,933 --> 01:36:15,433
They put us in the hole and covered it up.
1377
01:36:15,500 --> 01:36:18,333
It was the best we could
do at that time.
1378
01:36:44,300 --> 01:36:47,733
The marines in Koto-ri
they were not alone in their misery.
1379
01:36:49,033 --> 01:36:51,767
North Korean civilians
saw their homes destroyed
1380
01:36:51,833 --> 01:36:54,967
by American bombers
and its artillery in previous weeks,
1381
01:36:56,167 --> 01:37:00,100
their plundered winter harvests
by hungry Chinese.
1382
01:37:01,133 --> 01:37:04,133
Thousands were already fleeing south
1383
01:37:04,200 --> 01:37:06,767
hoping for safety and warmth.
1384
01:37:10,767 --> 01:37:14,033
A large number of refugees
followed the column
1385
01:37:14,100 --> 01:37:17,333
of Marines retreating to Yudam-ni.
1386
01:37:20,500 --> 01:37:22,433
They were quite a challenge.
1387
01:37:22,567 --> 01:37:24,533
You can't understand
1388
01:37:24,600 --> 01:37:27,367
if this person who is Asian
1389
01:37:27,867 --> 01:37:29,867
Whether or not he is the enemy.
1390
01:37:32,167 --> 01:37:35,233
If they entered our lines,
they had to be searched,
1391
01:37:35,467 --> 01:37:37,900
to make sure there were no weapons.
1392
01:37:37,967 --> 01:37:41,500
It was a challenge to accept them.
1393
01:37:56,567 --> 01:37:57,700
They had no food
1394
01:37:57,767 --> 01:38:00,300
and neither did the equipment we had.
1395
01:38:01,667 --> 01:38:03,733
I don't even know how they managed to do it.
1396
01:38:04,500 --> 01:38:08,433
It was devastating, the children crying
and continue on their way
1397
01:38:08,500 --> 01:38:10,267
and you couldn't do anything for them.
1398
01:38:14,267 --> 01:38:16,533
What could you do? There were so many.
1399
01:38:17,567 --> 01:38:21,700
You can only pray to God who gives them luck
1400
01:38:23,767 --> 01:38:25,500
and make them spend the day and the night
1401
01:38:25,567 --> 01:38:27,267
and the next dila and so on
1402
01:38:28,367 --> 01:38:30,700
and even a place where they are safe.
1403
01:38:34,733 --> 01:38:39,300
I remember seeing old people, old women
1404
01:38:40,933 --> 01:38:45,300
and there were reports of women
give birth there
1405
01:38:45,367 --> 01:38:49,867
at temperatures below 30 or 40 degrees.
1406
01:38:55,600 --> 01:38:59,167
At night, you could hear a moan
1407
01:39:00,767 --> 01:39:04,267
and it was a collective groan.
1408
01:39:07,067 --> 01:39:10,067
The suffering they went through...
1409
01:39:24,733 --> 01:39:28,567
The order was urgent
and it came from General Smith himself.
1410
01:39:29,000 --> 01:39:31,633
That's why the Air Force agreed
carrying out an operation
1411
01:39:31,700 --> 01:39:33,467
never tried before.
1412
01:39:34,233 --> 01:39:37,867
We had to fix the bridge
and I had a good team
1413
01:39:38,733 --> 01:39:41,900
and they decided we could
by air put
1414
01:39:41,967 --> 01:39:45,600
different parts of the bridge
on the perimeter,
1415
01:39:47,200 --> 01:39:48,700
unite them
1416
01:39:49,467 --> 01:39:51,900
and level them in the missing space...
1417
01:39:51,967 --> 01:39:53,100
EDWARD ROWNY
US ARMY
1418
01:39:53,167 --> 01:39:58,233
...where the bridge had been
destroyed by the Chinese
1419
01:39:58,400 --> 01:39:59,967
and we would be able to evacuate.
1420
01:40:03,267 --> 01:40:07,600
Every part of it needed
from a plane to carry it,
1421
01:40:07,667 --> 01:40:09,400
a C-119 Boxcar
1422
01:40:10,067 --> 01:40:13,633
with two huge parachutes
on both sides to play it,
1423
01:40:13,700 --> 01:40:14,933
because they couldn't land.
1424
01:40:30,567 --> 01:40:34,267
Boxcars fly to the area
where our troops are
1425
01:40:34,333 --> 01:40:36,267
this woke up the entire nation.
1426
01:40:36,333 --> 01:40:39,533
Bridge sections being reset
after being destroyed by the reds
1427
01:40:39,900 --> 01:40:42,633
are sent by parachute
to reopen the only exit.
1428
01:40:42,700 --> 01:40:45,933
it is the first time that a bridge
� airborne.
1429
01:41:19,500 --> 01:41:21,733
Very early in the morning of the ninth of December,
1430
01:41:21,800 --> 01:41:24,700
almost three days later
from being stopped in Koto-ri,
1431
01:41:24,767 --> 01:41:26,733
the marines had authorization
1432
01:41:26,800 --> 01:41:29,600
to proceed to the repaired bridge.
1433
01:41:35,067 --> 01:41:39,000
When we were walking
we felt like we were surviving.
1434
01:41:41,467 --> 01:41:46,300
I think we resisted the cold
1435
01:41:46,367 --> 01:41:49,867
with the hope that this
it was the only way we could survive.
1436
01:41:51,433 --> 01:41:54,200
We just needed to walk a little further.
1437
01:41:54,267 --> 01:41:59,533
This kind of unconsciousness
affects your brain.
1438
01:41:59,600 --> 01:42:04,967
And you could follow the guy in front of you.
1439
01:42:13,133 --> 01:42:18,000
We went down and followed this path
1440
01:42:18,533 --> 01:42:23,600
with the Chinese shooting at us,
but we almost ignored them.
1441
01:42:28,267 --> 01:42:29,333
Occasionally,
1442
01:42:29,400 --> 01:42:32,033
you heard someone screaming.
1443
01:42:32,100 --> 01:42:33,567
You knew you had been hit,
1444
01:42:33,833 --> 01:42:37,900
but you kept walking.
1445
01:42:40,333 --> 01:42:42,667
You couldn't do anything.
1446
01:42:43,000 --> 01:42:45,700
There was no escape,
you couldn't hide,
1447
01:42:46,667 --> 01:42:51,800
nor arrange cover,
that's why you accepted your fate.
1448
01:43:13,000 --> 01:43:14,433
I always wondered
1449
01:43:14,500 --> 01:43:15,867
How did that first driver
1450
01:43:15,933 --> 01:43:17,500
when you stopped on that bridge
1451
01:43:17,567 --> 01:43:18,767
whether it would last or not.
1452
01:43:25,167 --> 01:43:27,633
Nothing like this has been tried before.
1453
01:43:28,467 --> 01:43:30,533
No one knew if it would work
1454
01:43:31,033 --> 01:43:35,033
and it was a scary few minutes
1455
01:43:35,100 --> 01:43:37,533
until the first vehicles pass.
1456
01:43:47,333 --> 01:43:50,733
And the men marching alongside
they could see through the gap
1457
01:43:50,800 --> 01:43:54,467
and see 150, 300 meters to the valley.
1458
01:43:59,667 --> 01:44:01,100
When I arrived at the bridge,
1459
01:44:01,200 --> 01:44:04,733
there was a man saying,
"Cross this way",
1460
01:44:05,067 --> 01:44:08,900
and I'm glad it wasn't daytime
1461
01:44:08,967 --> 01:44:12,267
because I couldn't see
what was underneath.
1462
01:44:15,067 --> 01:44:18,100
I don't have exact memories
1463
01:44:18,167 --> 01:44:21,700
to cross that beam.
1464
01:44:23,400 --> 01:44:26,167
At that time, my brain froze.
1465
01:44:27,900 --> 01:44:30,900
I just knew I couldn't stop.
1466
01:44:50,333 --> 01:44:52,567
There was a truck on the side of the road
1467
01:44:52,633 --> 01:44:53,633
with some guys inside.
1468
01:44:53,700 --> 01:44:54,967
They were injured.
1469
01:44:57,033 --> 01:45:00,067
And he said,
"Do you know how to drive a truck?"
1470
01:45:00,133 --> 01:45:01,833
I said, "Of course I know."
1471
01:45:13,067 --> 01:45:17,800
I drove the truck over there
1472
01:45:17,867 --> 01:45:19,767
with wounded behind
1473
01:45:20,433 --> 01:45:22,967
and the Chinese trying to kill
the drivers.
1474
01:45:24,667 --> 01:45:25,633
But I thought,
1475
01:45:25,700 --> 01:45:30,367
"After passing this bridge,
we're home.
1476
01:45:30,433 --> 01:45:31,633
We did it.”
1477
01:45:36,100 --> 01:45:41,067
It took almost two days to pass
the 14 thousand surviving troops,
1478
01:45:41,367 --> 01:45:44,200
next to trucks, tanks
and artillery pieces,
1479
01:45:44,567 --> 01:45:46,500
over that mended bridge.
1480
01:45:48,567 --> 01:45:51,967
The Last Marines
and army units
1481
01:45:52,033 --> 01:45:55,567
crossed it
on December 11, 1950,
1482
01:45:56,100 --> 01:45:59,400
two weeks after the initial attack
from the Chinese.
1483
01:46:10,333 --> 01:46:12,833
Upon reaching flatter land
1484
01:46:12,900 --> 01:46:15,167
outside the mountains, it got hotter.
1485
01:46:15,300 --> 01:46:18,033
It was 32 degrees,
we started taking off our clothes.
1486
01:46:20,567 --> 01:46:22,467
It was hot for us.
1487
01:46:28,400 --> 01:46:31,467
It was a feeling of euphoria
1488
01:46:31,533 --> 01:46:37,067
where you no longer have anyone
shooting at you
1489
01:46:37,133 --> 01:46:39,567
and you're not fighting back.
1490
01:46:40,867 --> 01:46:46,000
Total relaxation, happy to be alive.
1491
01:47:02,667 --> 01:47:05,700
When we arrived at the bottom
of the passage,
1492
01:47:06,300 --> 01:47:10,967
our column stopped
and when we stopped,
1493
01:47:11,367 --> 01:47:14,500
we pulled to the side of the road
1494
01:47:14,767 --> 01:47:18,533
and we lay there and fell asleep right away.
1495
01:47:22,833 --> 01:47:26,167
We were so exhausted,
we had little energy.
1496
01:47:32,200 --> 01:47:38,033
We got out of there just in time.
1497
01:48:01,333 --> 01:48:04,967
November 27th
a quarter to ten in the morning,
1498
01:48:05,400 --> 01:48:07,433
that was when the Chinese attacked us.
1499
01:48:09,733 --> 01:48:12,000
And every year on November 27th,
1500
01:48:13,033 --> 01:48:18,933
I climb a hill and sit there.
1501
01:48:19,833 --> 01:48:24,400
I thank God for letting me live
1502
01:48:25,333 --> 01:48:28,133
and I pray for those who died.
1503
01:48:38,167 --> 01:48:41,867
� a testimony from the marines
who survived
1504
01:48:42,067 --> 01:48:44,200
and they managed to escape from there.
1505
01:48:53,100 --> 01:48:55,533
But, fundamentally,
it was a Chinese victory
1506
01:48:55,600 --> 01:48:59,500
it was the key to cleaning
North Korea
1507
01:48:59,567 --> 01:49:01,933
UN troops
and they never returned there.
1508
01:49:04,300 --> 01:49:07,600
The Chinese expelled the Americans,
1509
01:49:08,467 --> 01:49:11,700
but they suffered many casualties.
1510
01:49:12,867 --> 01:49:16,667
Mao threw everything he had
to the marines
1511
01:49:17,567 --> 01:49:20,400
and they fled from his dominion.
1512
01:49:24,800 --> 01:49:28,867
We left the scene for the sea
1513
01:49:29,033 --> 01:49:30,700
and the Chinese never threatened us.
1514
01:49:32,800 --> 01:49:36,600
We managed to remove 90 thousand civilians from there,
1515
01:49:36,667 --> 01:49:37,733
North Korean civilians.
1516
01:49:40,267 --> 01:49:43,100
The Chinese never stopped them,
they never threatened them.
1517
01:49:46,633 --> 01:49:49,533
I still believe that sacrifice
1518
01:49:49,967 --> 01:49:52,800
not just the marines,
but from the army and navy
1519
01:49:52,867 --> 01:49:55,833
and everyone who supported
this commitment
1520
01:49:56,100 --> 01:49:57,767
they did the right thing.
1521
01:49:57,833 --> 01:50:00,067
South Korea is still alive
1522
01:50:00,567 --> 01:50:03,000
and they are proud, hard-working people
1523
01:50:03,533 --> 01:50:05,300
and I support them to this day.
1524
01:50:05,367 --> 01:50:07,600
And I don't regret the time
1525
01:50:07,667 --> 01:50:10,133
that I went there to defend them.
1526
01:50:10,833 --> 01:50:12,000
At all.
1527
01:50:20,567 --> 01:50:24,000
They often say that it is a forgotten war.
1528
01:50:24,333 --> 01:50:26,900
I have to say it was a victory.
1529
01:50:28,367 --> 01:50:29,733
We didn't win it
1530
01:50:29,800 --> 01:50:32,833
in order to unite the Koreas.
1531
01:50:32,900 --> 01:50:34,500
That didn't happen.
1532
01:50:34,867 --> 01:50:40,967
But we managed to keep it
South Korea as a country
1533
01:50:42,867 --> 01:50:45,633
and what we managed to keep
1534
01:50:45,700 --> 01:50:48,967
It was worth fighting, it was worth every second
1535
01:50:49,533 --> 01:50:52,900
and I'm proud to have been part of it.
1536
01:50:59,767 --> 01:51:02,167
When I talk to people
from the Chosin Reservation,
1537
01:51:02,233 --> 01:51:04,267
I say I'm one of the survivors.
1538
01:51:08,067 --> 01:51:10,200
I'm grateful I was able to get out of there
1539
01:51:10,267 --> 01:51:13,700
just a little arthritic and missing a foot.
1540
01:51:15,033 --> 01:51:18,167
I'm proud of it
because I'm part of history.
1541
01:51:26,300 --> 01:51:31,733
It's something that stayed with me
my entire adult life.
1542
01:51:35,433 --> 01:51:40,867
I didn't understand the impact
what this experience would have
1543
01:51:41,433 --> 01:51:47,033
in my soul, in my being.
1544
01:51:52,767 --> 01:51:56,000
I fought in other battles after that
1545
01:51:57,633 --> 01:52:01,700
and nothing compares
� Battle of Chosin Reservation.
1546
01:53:35,967 --> 01:53:37,967
Translated by: Daniela Cunha