“Some of us learned quickly how to fight for real with a bayonet when our unit was overrun by thousands of Chinese on Hill 1403 northwest of Yudam-ni in the Chosin Reservoir. It was nighttime when they came at us blowing bugles and whistles and beating on drums. I guess they thought they would scare us off the hill. They wore grey quilted outfits, and were armed with rifles, machine guns, pistols, and plenty of grenades. They were a lot better fighters than the Koreans.

We stacked their bodies up like cordwood with our machine guns and grenades. Still they came. We were fighting hand-to-hand before they were stopped by our artillery. It was the worst experience of my life.

The whole experience in the Chosin Reservoir was all tragic. One would have to have been there to fully understand what it was really like. There is no way to explain what went on there. When I try to explain the details, nobody believes me. They think I am exaggerating. It was sort of like Custer’s Last Stand-quick and deadly.

One guy shot his own finger off to get out of the fight, but lost so much blood he froze to death before he could be carried off the hill.”
– US Marine William Sports, H Company, 3/7. Chosin Reservoir. Korea 1950
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As we always say here at Battles and Beers (TM) Every soldier has a story, and every story deserves to be told.