Jang Jin Ho: Valor in the Frozen North
Flush with victory, UN forces pushed north toward the Yalu River, aiming to unify Korea. But in November 1950, hundreds of thousands of Chinese troops poured across the border, launching a massive counteroffensive. The 1st Marine Division, positioned near the Chosin Reservoir—known in Korean as Jang Jin Ho—was suddenly surrounded.
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What followed was one of the most harrowing battles in Marine Corps history. In temperatures plunging to -30°F (-34°C), Marines fought a brutal 17-day battle against overwhelming odds. Cut off and encircled, they executed a fighting withdrawal through mountainous terrain, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy while preserving their own force.
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The “Frozen Chosin” became a symbol of Marine tenacity. Their ability to maintain discipline, cohesion, and combat effectiveness under such conditions remains legendary. As one Marine famously said, “Retreat, hell! We’re just attacking in a different direction.”
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A more personal account of the Chosin experience can be found in Dale Dye's article about a Marine and his incredible survival through the battles.