On Oct. 19, a ceremony to commemorate Korean War veterans who fought in the Battle of Jangjinho Lake (장진호 전투), also called the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, was held at the Seoul National Cemetery.

The Battle of Jangjinho Lake was fought during some of the harshest winter weather conditions of the Korean War, when the Chinese 9th Army attacked U.S. forces on Nov. 26, 1950. A brutal battle in freezing weather followed in the weeks between Nov. 26 and Dec. 13, 1950. Through a series of retreat strategies, the U.S. 1st Marine Division was able to prevent the southward advancement of some 120,000 Chinese troops, an army 10 times the size of its own. The U.S. forces eventually made a fighting withdrawal and succeeded in evacuating its troops from the port of Heungnam. A 193-ship fleet assembled at the port and evacuated around 100,000 troops and 100,000 civilians to the south.

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A ceremony to honor Korean War veterans who fought in the Battle of Jangjinho Lake (장진호 전투), also called the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, is held at the Seoul National Cemetery on Oct. 19.

During the ceremony, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs awarded plaques of appreciation to Lieutenant General Philip D. Shutler of the U.S. Marine Corps who was a platoon commander during the battle, and to John E. Beasley, president of the Chosin Few chapter and who was a marine during the war.

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John Beasley, current president of the Chosin Few and former marine during the Battle of Jangjinho Lake, receives a plaque of appreciation during a commemorative ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery on Oct. 19.

 

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Lieutenant General Philip Shutler, a platoon commander during the Battle of Jangjinho Lake, gives a speech during a ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery on Oct. 19.

Chairman Park Jongkil of the Korean Military Merit Awardees Association said, “The war heroes of the U.S. 1st Marine Division, fighting in the Battle of Jangjinho Lake, showed us the meaning of brotherhood. It is thanks to this that Korea was able to rise from the ashes of the Korean War and build the developed country we live in today. We must not forget the support that the U.S. government provided, nor the sacrifices made by U.S. troops during the war.”

By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
hlee10@korea.kr