Heartbreak Ridge: Operation Touchdown In The Korean War

On November 27 through December 13, 1950, the Battle of Chosin Reservoir was a decisive battle in the Korean War. The battle was fought over some of the roughest terrain during some of the harshest winter weather conditions of the Korean War (Appleman, p24). Major General Olive P. Smith, commander of the US 1st Marines Division, used proper mission command

The Battle of Chipyong-ni was a decisive battle during the Korean War and the first major victory following the entry of the Chinese into the war. COL Freeman employed the following principles of mission command during the battle of Chipyong-ni: build cohesive teams through mutual trust, use of mission orders, exercise disciplined initiative, and accept prudent risk. He was an outstanding leader who knew the value of good communication with his unit. He led by example, and fostered a climate that allowed his subordinates to excel.

The Korean War is known by many as “The Forgotten War”, and as such, specific unit

The Korean War was a defining part of the United States foreign policy in the Cold War Era and was a response to threats from the Soviet Union. The Korean War was a culmination of tensions between North and South Korea that had resulted from the influences the United States and the Soviet Union inculcated into the countries during their occupation. When the Korean War was initiated, by the invasion of South Korea by North Korea, the United States and their allies in the United Nations perceived the invasion as a bold communistic expansion effort that occurred without provocation. (Document A). Further validating this idea was the fact that the attack was endorsed by the USSR, and partially lead by Red China, both of which were communist countries

He also disagreed with some governors claiming to bomb North Korea. The US rejected the request of the Nationalist Chinese for the battle because they did not want to trigger communist Chinese aggressiveness. (Rees) However, the first important battle of the Korean War, The Battle of Osan, involved 540 soldier Task Force Smith. This was a small forward element of the 24th Infantry Division, but it was unsuccessful. (Stokesbury) North Korean Army continued the winning streak and pushed back the South Korean Army and the Eight United States Army to Busan where it was southeast of Korea. (Stokesbury) United States base in Japan kept detaching materiel and soldiers to defend Pusan. (Stokesbury) There were also tank battalions directly sent from San Francisco. South Korea could get about 500 medium tanks for the battle by August. (Stokesbury) South Korean Army and United Nation Command forces could exceed 180,000 to 100,000 soldiers by September 1950. They were all prepared by that time and could push up.

For ten long days, American and South Vietnamese Army troops fought alongside each other to gain control of Dong Ap Bia, Hill 937. Their mission was to search and destroy the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the Viet Chong (VC), believed to have grouped in the A Shau Valley area. The battle now known as Hamburger Hill begun May 10, 1969 and is recognized as one of the last major encounter between the Americans and the NVA. Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Weldon Honeycutt, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment

Forces were the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry, and the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry. These units were supported by the 9th Marines and the 3rd Battalion, 5th Cavalry, as well as elements of the Army of Vietnam. ‘Don’t mean nothing’, That was the reference from the powerful 1987 movie about the battle for Hamburger Hill, more correctly called Ap Bia Mountain also known as Hill 937. Many soldiers of that May 1969 fight would no doubt agree, since the hill was abandoned to the enemy soon after it was taken. But the truth is that it was one of the most key and historical battles of the war, for it spelled the end of Major American ground combat operations in Vietnam.

This paper will examine how a unwavering adversary and difficult terrain combined to negate the effects of American technology. The Battle of Hamburger Hill was a battle of the Vietnam War which was fought by the United States and South Vietnam against North Vietnamese Forces from May 10–20, 1969. The battle took place on Ap Bia Mountain in the rugged, jungle-shrouded mountains along the Laotian border of South Vietnam. Ap Bia Mountain anchors the northwest corner of South Viet Nam's A Shau Valley. The valley has been a major infiltration route for Communist Forces from the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos to the coastal cities of Northern I Corps since1966. Ap Bia Mountain dominates the northern valley, towering some 937 meters. Official

The landing at Inchon during the Korean War was a strategic turning point for the securing of the southern Korean capital of Seoul. Had it not been for mission planning, strategic preparation, and valuable intelligence gathering by the Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy, the Battle of Inchon would not have been a success. If

The Battle on Pork Chop Hill is a significant event in the war because it lasted longer than any other single battle during the Korean War. The Field Artillery was important to these battles and so were the effects it had on these events. Many lives were lost as a result of fighting for this hill including Soldiers from the NATO coalition forces, United States, North Korea, and China. Both sides had constructed such great defensive tactics that if they tried to advance, it would result in loss of more men. Like many wars, this battle focuses on political views. When

As the commander of the 3/187th BN, LTC Weldon Honeycutt understood the mission he was given. Hill 937, more commonly referred as Hamburger Hill, was a key terrain in the A Shau Valley. Securing the hill was not an option at the time he was given this mission. The terrain and enemy however made securing this key hill nearly impossible. He was a tough leader and demanded the most from his troops. Operation Apache Snow was a three-phased campaign to secure the A Shau Valley. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) used the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the A Shau Valley to transport supplies from Laos and Cambodia south to Hue and could easily overrun the South Vietnamese civilian population. (Battle Staff Paper) The NVA had over 6,000 miles of trails through the valley and while the US would bomb to destroy these trails the NVA would simply reroute and rebuild. This led to over 10,000 tons of supplies being moved through the valley every month. (youtube) LTC Honeycutt was given the brutal task of securing Hill 937 because of his previous experience. This task started on 10 May 1969 and ended after 11 attempts to secure the hill on 20 May 1969. (Hell on Hamburger Hill)

Comparison of the Practices and Strategies Utilized in the Korean and Vietnam Wars Two of the greatest battles which were fought by similar foes were those of the Korean and Vietnamese wars. Both conflicts involved a "communist" and "capitalist" participant(s) which had their own ideals and reasons for why to include themselves into such conflicts. There are also other similarities other than the opponents in these wars, such as the military tactics and strategies which were effectuated during this time. In both cases, the U.S. intervened forcefully introducing large masses of militia and using a considerable amount of armament, yet on the other hand, their enemies were supported by their allies

They also destroyed the Salphou Mines were the North Koreans were using as housing their replacements and supplies. This provided as a key item to destroy. “Infantry moves forward to the attack with spirit and confidence and a more marked willingness to “give ‘em hell” when tanks are moving with them. If enemy tanks appear they do not have the effect of slowing an advance. Friendly tanks take them on, and the advance can go on to the swift conclusion desired. Enemy emplacements, pillboxes, and bunkers are quickly neutralized by powerful tank guns, when troops in such instances might otherwise be pinned down.” (Hinshaw, Heartbreak Ridge, pg. 113). With this showed that the infantry had more fight in them with the assistance from the tanks.

The United States geared up for a war against communism. Not more than a day after Seoul fell, the US had officially entered the war and had ground troops committed, an action backed by the U.N. At the beginning of the war the U.S. soldiers had little combat experience and they were in a foreign land. This was the reason for the mass casualties sustained by the U.S. “US Army casualties from June 25 through July 31, 1950 totaled 6,003: 1,884 Killed In Action, 2,695 Wounded In Action, 523 Missing In Action and 901 reported captured. Of these more than half were from the 24th Infantry Division- 3,610.”( Evanhoe, Ed. "The Korean War." The Korean War. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2012. <http://www.korean-war.com>.)

Only three days later, a sister battalion engaged in a similar battle only two and a half miles away at Landing Zone Albany. After the battle at LZ X-Ray, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Calvary was ordered to retreat to LZ Albany while B-52's dropped 200 tons of bombs on the Chu Pong Mountain above LZ X-Ray. Before they reached their destination, however, the troops captured two North Vietnamese soldiers. But while the American soldiers interrogated the prisoners, the North Vietnamese launched a surprise attack against U.S companies. Artillery and air support prevented a mass slaughter at Albany. Nonetheless, by the time the battle ended on November 19th,