Special Report on Chosin Reservoir 27 Nov to 10 Dec 1950

The United Nations counter - offensive against the North Korean Army was launched in the middle of September 1950 with the X US Corps executing a successful amphibious envelopment at INCHON. In conjunction with the INCHON landing the Eighth Army attacked north from the PUSAN perimeter and after making a juncture with X Corps at the INCHON - SEOUL beachhead continued the exploitation north toward the YALU River.During October, Eighth Army continued north to capture the North Korean...
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The United Nations counter - offensive against the North Korean Army was launched in the middle of September 1950 with the X US Corps executing a successful amphibious envelopment at INCHON. In conjunction with the INCHON landing the Eighth Army attacked north from the PUSAN perimeter and after making a juncture with X Corps at the INCHON - SEOUL beachhead continued the exploitation north toward the YALU River.During October, Eighth Army continued north to capture the North Korean Capital at PYONGYANG while the I Republic of Korea Corps made a rapid advance along the East Coast of Korea. Meanwhile, X Corps mounted a second amphibious envelopment, this time against the Northeast Korean Coast.The capture of WONSAN and HUNGNAM, important east coast ports, by I Republic of Korea Corps obviated assault landings by X Corps and Commanding General X Corp assumed command of all United Nations Forces in the Northeast Zone of Korea on 20 October 1950.Following the debarkation of X Corps elements, beginning 26 October, the 1st Marine Division and 7th Infantry Division entered the exploitation phase against disintegrating North Korean resistance. The original mission of X Corps, to drive west after landing to assist Eighth Army in the capture of PYONGYANG, had been changed to an offensive to the North with the objective of reaching the Manchurian and USSR Borders as soon as pos#65533;sible. The sectors of advance were the 1st Marine Division on the West, 7th Infantry Division in the center, and I Republic of Korea Corps on the East.By the end of the third week of November the completion of this mis#65533;sion was in sight. The 1st Marine Division had conducted vigorous anti-guerrilla operations in the WONSAN - HAMHUNG area and had defeated elements of the 124th and 126th Chinese Communist Forces Divisions north of HAMHUNG. After this battle, the 7th Marine Regiment had advanced north reaching the southern tip of CHOSIN Reservoir on 14 November. On 6 November the 3d US Infantry Division, which was joining X Corps from Japan, initiated relief of 1st Marine Division elements in the WONSAN area. This released the bulk of the 1st Marine Division for its drive to the border. On 21 November, the 7th Infantry Division reached the YALU River (this was the only Unit in X Corps to reach the border), while I Republic of Korea Corps advancing Northeast completed the capture of the port of CHONGJIN on 25 November against the only organized resistance in the Corps zone.Civil Affairs was making steady progress in organizing local and provincial governments. United Nations Forces were enthusiastically received by the majority of the population. In order to protect these governments, it was necessary to employ a substantial number of troops. Likewise, the Military Supply Route's, railroads, and military installations required security against the depredations of many bands of by-passed North Korean Army troops and guerril#65533;las. These guerrilla attacks, while a problem, were not considered critical and it was felt that as soon as the Corps Zone was cleared of organized resistance most of the guerrilla activity would cease.The presence of Chinese Communist Forces in front of the 1st Marine Division was the imponderable in the Intelligence picture. On 28 October the 26th Republic of Korea Regiment made the first contact with the Chinese Communist Forces in the area north of HAMHUNG. The 7th Marine Regiment relieved the 26th Republic of Korea Regiment and by 14 November, succeeded in defeating this Chinese Communist Forces covering force, but there were few indications of their intentions and future plans.By the middle of November the plans of X Corps became dependent on the plans for Eighth Army in the West, and a change in the X Corps mission was indicated. This change was made necessary by the enemy buildup in front of Eighth Army and the halting by enemy action of the first attempt in the second week of November to advance Eighth Army to the border