These cheerful men of the 5th U.S. Marines, far from their homes, are getting ready to enjoy a Thanksgiving turkey in a very unlikely place — at the notorious Chosin Reservoir in Korea in November 1950.
If you are familiar with the Korean War, and likely even if you are not, you have probably heard of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. One of the most famous — and desperate — battles of the Korean War. It saw United Nations Command troops make a fighting withdrawal against numerically superior Chinese forces. The battle is notorious for its hellish conditions, including subzero temperatures, ice, rocky chasms and sufferings endured by the men who fought in it, including hypothermia and the effects of starvation.
Despite their superior numbers, the Chinese were unable to eradicate the UNC forces and sustained heavy losses. The particular resilience shown by the U.S. Marines in the direst situations at “Frozen Chosin” has made the battle the subject of particular reverence among members of the Marine Corps.
In this photo, taken sometime between November 21-25, Marines are enjoying a happy moment as they prepare to dig into a holiday meal that doubtlessly reminded them of scenes they were missing back in the States.
“The holiday menu, accomplished by strenuous effort on the part of many hands, included shrimp cocktail, stuffed olives, roast young tom turkey with cranberry sauce, candied sweet potatoes, fruit salad, fruit cake, mincemeat pie and coffee,” wrote Brig. Gen. Edwin H. Simmons of U.S. Marines in an official Marine history of the battle. “Even the Marine infantry units got at least the turkey.”
Things would take a turn for the worse for these troops in the matter of only a few days. Yet the gladness felt by these Marines in this Thanksgiving moment lives on forever in this image, highlighting the appreciation of fighting troops in extreme circumstances for some semblance of ordinary life.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many people served in World War I?
1914 saw Britain declare war on Germany. This began a four-year conflict that would cost millions of lives and last for four years.
The British Army bravely fought against German machine guns, artillery and infantry on the battlefield. The army couldn't resist digging trenches across northern France when it came down to trench warfare.
The British created a network that stretched more than 10,000 miles from the English Channel into Switzerland in 1915. This network became known as the "Western Front"
The front line stretched for nearly 100 miles along the French-Belgian border. By 1916, almost 400,000 soldiers were fighting on each side of the line.
During World War I 1.2 million casualties were suffered by the Allies, including 585,000 people killed. Meanwhile, the Germans lost 716,000 soldiers.
What are the 3 types of war?
Both sides find war an intense experience. For the aggressor, war is a thrilling experience. He wants to make the enemy suffer. To him, it is a game of strategy and tactics.
The victim is faced with fear, uncertainty and confusion. He knows he is outnumbered and outgunned. He isn't sure where or how many injuries he will sustain.
The victor is the one who wins in the end because he is victorious. He feels strong. He looks forward to the next battle. His mind is clear, focused and alert.
He is not only aware that he could lose, but he is also ready to accept the loss. He is ready for defeat. He recognizes that his opponent is more skilled and stronger than he.
The winner views himself as the ruler of his domain. He believes that he is invincible. He believes victory is certain.
War is more than just physical. It is also mental.
It's psychological warfare.
It's not about winning hearts or minds.
It's about persuading people to follow you over your opponent.
What was the name and origin of the first army?
The first army was known as the Roman Army. This force included soldiers who fought for Rome. It consisted of three main divisions, the infantry, cavalry, as well as the navy.
These soldiers were armed with spears and swords and would fight any enemy as they marched across the land.
They used horses to ride into battle. When they did, armor protected them. These men had been fighting since ancient time and were well-trained.
You will find them in many countries, such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and Italy.
There were no planes or tanks during this period, so all attacks were made on foot.
Romans also believed that the gods would help their victory if they prayed prior to going to battle.
However, these soldiers were no longer needed once the Roman Empire fell.
So the Romans abandoned their empire after hundreds and years.
But what happened the army?
It continued to exist but changed its name to the Imperial Army.
It eventually became part of the Holy Roman Empire's Army.
In the 16th Century, the word "army" was changed to "infantry".
You can also call soldiers who fought during World War II for Germany 'Roman Infantries' in modern English.
Who won the Battle of Gettysburg
This battle took place in Pennsylvania's American Civil War (1861-1965). General Ulysses S. Grant's Union Army defeated Confederate troops led By General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870).
The outcome of the battle had a profound impact on both sides. It was the turning-point of the war. It was a turning point for the war, and for the Union, it marked the end of slavery.
Lincoln's famous 1863 "Emancipation Proclamation", which granted freedom to slaves within rebel states, was signed by President Lincoln in 1863. In 1865, he signed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery throughout America.
General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia to General Ulysses S Grant on April 9, 1865.
Lee was made prisoner of War after his surrender. He died in 1870.
Grant was awarded the Medal of Honor because of his leadership in the battle.
He died in 1885.
What amount of money did the U.S. invest in the Vietnam War?
The war cost us 6 trillion dollars. And we lost. There were many lives lost.
I'm sure there were other costs involved, but those were the big ones.
It is difficult to estimate the cost of war because it requires you to consider more than just military expenditures. Also, there's the cost to care for our veterans.
There is also the draft cost. This ended when the average American man reached the age of 21. An estimated 1,000,000 young men were involved in the draft.
Of course, most of them weren't drafted. But even though they weren't forced to serve, many had to attend college anyway.
This resulted in a significant increase in tuition fees for students. The total cost of tuition fees is close to $1 trillion if you add the cost for the GI bill.
And the cost keeps on rising.
According to the National Priorities Project, the cost of care for disabled vets could exceed $4.3 trillion.
It would also be necessary to include the cost to provide health care to those who were able to survive the war.
At any rate, the bottom line is that the United States spent more money fighting the Vietnam War than we've spent on wars since.
Who was General Douglas MacArthur and why?
He was an American soldier commander, politician, diplomat and author. He was an explorer and engineer, educator, and inventor.
He was born 1880 in Missouri, United States. His father died while he was still young. This forced him to leave school at an early age to support his mother and other siblings. He joined the army at age 16 and quickly rose through the ranks. He fought in Cuba during Spanish-American War. He received two medals. After the war, he got involved in politics and helped to form the Philippine Army.
Jean Faircloth (who he had met in Japan) was his first wife. Arthur Jr., Robert and Mary would be their three children. He was the commander of the Philippine Division and led the successful invasion in northern Luzon during World War I. In 1935, he was discharged from active duty and returned home to the Philippines. During the Second Sino-Japanese War he was Chief of Staff for the Allied Expeditionary Force.
MacArthur was best known for leading the Allied Forces to victory against the Japanese Imperial Forces in the Pacific Theatre of Operations during World War II. When the Allies invaded Leyte Island in 1944, MacArthur ordered the landing site to be shifted southward due to poor weather conditions, resulting in heavy casualties among the troops. This decision was later to be fatal for the Leyte operations. MacArthur, however, returned to Australia and successfully planned the Battle of Okinawa that resulted in the capture of the island. His actions earned him the Medal of Honor.
MacArthur returned to the US in 1952 and continued his service as a Congressman. In 1952 and 1954, he became the president of the United States. He was responsible for the Korean Armistice Agreement, and oversaw the withdrawal of US troops South Korea.
MacArthur published many books in his retirement years including Strategy and Command (1959), Memoirs (1963), and Reminiscences (1956). MacArthur was the founder of the Military History Institute of California. He also published his autobiography Years of MacArthur (1966). On April 5, 1964, he died.
General Douglas MacArthur is one of the most celebrated soldiers in history and has been inducted into many halls of fame.
Statistics
- Fact: Kentucky provided more soldiers in the War of 1812 than any other state and suffered approximately 60 percent of the war's total casualties. (history.ky.gov)
- Of military historians, 0% are Socialist, 8% are Other, 35% are Liberal, and 18% are (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
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history.army.mil
How To
Are there any famous battles involving U.S. military services?
For adrenaline rush, there is nothing like war. An adrenaline rush that creates a sense urgency and danger and makes us feel alive, ready to go.
The most common way to create these feelings is to use a conflict between two opposing sides. This creates a dichotomy where we identify ourselves as either for or against them.
There are also wars fought inside our country. These are often more difficult to explain because they do not involve a clear-cut opposition. Yet, they produce similar results.
Both sides felt a strong desire for the Union to be preserved in Civil War. In World War II, the Allies wanted to defeat Nazi Germany, while the Axis Powers wanted to keep the peace and avoid another world war.
These internal conflicts take a lot longer to understand. Let's now look at some examples external conflicts.
The Battle of Bull Run (1861) pitted General George McClellan against Confederate General Robert E Lee.
Lee won the battle but was fired as the Army of Northern Virginia commander.
There was also Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 where General William Rosecrans tried stopping General Joseph Hooker’s advance towards Chattanooga.
Hooker failed to achieve his objective, but he did manage to capture Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
The Battle of Little Big Horn in June 1876 is another example. Generals Sitting Bull, Custer, and General George Washington engaged each other in a battle that lasted for three days. It resulted in the deaths of over 300 Native American warriors and several soldiers from both sides.
Last but not least, the Vietnam War is the most famous battle involving the U.S. military. 1975 saw the invasion of South Vietnam by the North Vietnamese Army. Their main goal was to take control of Saigon.
This was an important turning point for Southeast Asia's history. The United States voluntarily withdrew its troops from Southeast Asia in 1978. They were replaced in South Vietnam by the government.
This was one war that attracted widespread media attention. And it remains one of the bloodiest too.
58,000 people were killed by the Vietnam War. It is close to twice the number of those who were killed during the Revolutionary War.
Did you miss our previous article...
https://lessonsbeyondthestory.com/world-wars/first-time
