War: Retreat of the 20,000

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The commanders were informed that 80,000 to 120,000 Chinese were in the country around them. General Smith said that as soon as one Chinese division ran out of ammunition, another came up to take its place. The enemy was reported to have set up four strong roadblocks along the road ahead, and one officer feared what he called a "double envelopment."

"Wave & Look Happy." Meanwhile, the port of Wonsan was evacuated by elements of the Army's 3rd Division, which were moved 50 miles north by sea to help hold a perimeter around Hamhung and Hungnam. The R.O.K. 3rd and Capital Divisions, which had also been evacuated by sea far up the northeastern coast, arrived to strengthen the defense arc around Hamhung. The U.S. 3rd formed a rescue force which rolled up the Changjin road and joined the hard-pressed marines and G.I.s of the southbound column, a few miles from Koto. The rescue party had been given the formidable job of opening the road and holding it open all the way down to the coastal perimeter.

Enemy resistance seemed to be lessening. On their way to the junction, the 3rd's fighting men had dispersed one roadblock and nothing more was heard of the other three. One day 100 cold and famished Chinese came out of the hills and surrendered. Some said they were former Nationalist soldiers who had been dragooned into the Red army, and that they now wanted to join Chiang Kai-shek on Formosa.

For the first time it looked as if most of the 20,000 would get through. A vast armada of ships—freighters, transports, LSTs, carriers and other warships of the Seventh Fleet—were waiting for them. Vice Admiral Charles T. Joy, Far East naval commander, held a secret conference on his flagship with the X Corps' Major General Edward M. Almond and other brass. Joy said the Navy was ready for "any eventuality"—which was official doubletalk for evacuation.

At week's end some 8,000 marines broke through the last thin crust of enemy resistance and poured into Hamhung. More kept coming in every hour as tanks bringing up the rear rolled across the coastal plain. Frantic photographers called to the bedraggled men, asked them to "wave and look happy." They obliged. The triumph was marred by more than 30% casualties, but the bulk of the marine division's and the 7th's survivors had reached safety and warmth. It was an epic of great suffering and great valor.