In November, 1950, with the highly successful Inchon Landing behind him, Gen. Douglas MacArthur planned the last major offensive of what was to be a brief "conflict": the drive that would push the North Koreans across the Yalu River into Manchuria. In northern Korea, US forces assembled at Chosin Reservoir to cut behind the North Korean forces blocking the planned march to Manchuria. The 31st Regimental Combat Team, a 3,000-man composite unit of the Army's 7th Infantry Division, was ordered to Chosin's east side. This book describes the tragic fate of those troops and presents a thorough analysis of the physical conditions, attitudes, and command decisions that doomed the men of the 31st. The 31st RCT forces were still being assembled east of Chosin Reservoir when a Chinese Communist army launched a surprise attack in the dead of the night of November 27-28, 1950. In temperatures that reached thirty-five degrees below zero and with high winds sweeping down from Siberia, the 31st RCT faced five nights and four days of unrelenting, sometimes hand-to-hand combat with the Chinese. There was no place to hide on the treeless shores of the reservoir, and from the surrounding hills enemy snipers had the American soldiers in full view against the snowy landscaper. The American troops were surrounded and cut off, with only limited aerial support and no communications with their headquarters. Out of ammunition, low on fuel, with many weapons and vehicles inoperative in the bitter cold, they attempted to retreat with their wounded. But the Chinese cut off the only road, and not a single vehicle made it out, despite heroic efforts. Hundreds of dead and wounded soldiers remained where they lay when the convoy was attacked. The 31st RCT's command officer was among the dead, the highest-ranking officer killed in action in Korea. The only survivors were those who were able to trudge or crawl the three or four miles across the frozen reservoir to American lines or were rescued from the reservoir by efforts from the Marine perimeter at Hagaru-ri. The story of the US Army troops east of Chosin has never before been told. For five years the author tracked down the survivors and listened to their stories. "This was by far the worst experience of my life," said Chosin veteran Lt. Hugh May. "There was no comparable action I was in during WWII with the ferocity and the determination displayed during the Chosin action."

Includes index. Includes maps of: Korea; U.S. Lines as of November 24, 1950, and MacArthur's Plan of Attack; Chosin Reservoir; X Corps Movements to Chosin Reservoir and Plan of Attack; Chinese Troop Movement before November 27; 31st Regional Combat Team, Evening of November 27; 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry, 7th Division Forward Perimeter; 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry, and Batteries A and B, 57th Field Artillery Battaliion; Task Force Faith's Inlet Perimeter; Situation at the Beginning of the Breakout Attempt; Breakout Attempt. Some copies are : Texas A&M University Press paperback reprints. Included in the U.S. Army Chief of Staff's Professional Reading List, 2004.

The war in Korea, November, 1950 -- Army troops assemble at Chosin Resrvoir -- The Army occupies the Marines' forward position -- The enemy at Chosin : what was known--the unknown -- The first night, November 27-28 -- The next day, November 28 -- The second night, November 28-29 -- The 31st Regimental Combat Team consolidates at the Inlet -- Captain Drake's send attack, November 29 -- The 2nd Battalion, 31st Infantry fails to arrive -- MacArthur calls a conference, November 28 -- The third night--Task Force Faith at the Inlet -- Withdrawal from Hudong-ni to Hagaru-ri -- The fourth night at the Inlet, November 30-December 1 -- Breakour from the Inlet Perimeter, Decmber 1 -- The first blown bridge -- The Chinese block at Hill 1221 -- The Chinese destroy the convoy -- Those who escaped to Hagaru-ri -- The question of a relief force -- American and enemy losses -- Could Task Force Faith have been saved? -- Epilogue.