Holding the High Ground
By mid-1951, the war had settled into a grinding stalemate. In the eastern mountains of Korea, the Punchbowl—a volcanic basin surrounded by steep ridges—became a focal point of combat. The terrain was unforgiving, and the enemy well-entrenched.
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Marines launched a series of assaults to seize key ridgelines and observation posts. The fighting was intense and often hand-to-hand, with artillery and mortar fire raining down from both sides. The campaign tested the Corps’ ability to adapt to mountainous warfare and trench-style combat reminiscent of World War I.
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Despite the hardships, Marines succeeded in securing vital terrain, helping to stabilize the front lines and strengthen UN negotiating positions. The Punchbowl campaign underscored the Corps’ versatility and grit in prolonged, positional warfare.