Frozen Hell: Marine on Close-quarters Combat Across Korea | Chosin Reservoir | Johnny M. Johnson

Sgt Johnny M. Johnson enlisted in his beloved Marine Corps in 1948, two short years later the Korean War broke out and Johnson found himself en route to the Korean Peninsula to be one of the first Marines in combat.
Johnson would see his initial combat after landing at Pusan and to help drive the North Koreans back up the peninsula. He would participate in MacArthur's famed amphibious invasion of Inchon where he would experience intense hand-to-hand combat.
Johnson and his fellow Marines would face their biggest hardship as they advanced North into North Korea and settled into a mountainous region surrounding a vast reservoir known as "Chosin". The Marines would quickly find themselves surrounded and outnumbered by Chinese soldiers and the battle that ensued would go down in Marine Corps lore.
Interview recorded on November 4, 2023
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Video Credits:
Interviewer - Luke Ryan
Director of Photography - Umit Gulsen
Editor - Daniel Taksas

[@americanveteranscenter]

HISTORY LOVERS - before you comment, be sure to subscribe to this KZbin channel and ring the notification bell so you never miss a future upload!

[@user-bj7dj5rj5k]

I am from South Korea. Thanks to you, all South Koreans, over 70% of all Koreans, are living freely. If it weren't for your help, my family and I would probably be living a terrible life in the worst country in the world. I truly appreciate it.

[@karytrumble9145]

My grandpa was there and survived Chosin. He died in the 90s, but we just recently found a very formal letter to him from the Korean government thanking him for helping to build schools and helping the people. I know my grandpa absolutely loved the Korean people. He said they were hard-working and kind and he admired them very much!

[@JohnCarlson-vw6vx]

My dad served there in 52 developed frost bite on his feet. Couldn’t handle the cold weather back home. He never talked about his experience there other he didn’t care for the Chinese. He loved the Korean My wife dad served in the marine corp wouldn’t marry her mom until he returned didn’t want her to be a widow. You are very welcome they would both do it again. My dad passed away in 02 and my wife’s dad in 08.

[@RyanCampbell-ve1xv]

Russia handed half the country to a mad man I think, right? So yea....would you say that in that situation, american and Asian culture mixing worked out well. I know China didn't want us next to them. But a crazy guy got the north part because of Russia and us arguing over it. Lol I don't know. I like history.

[@skwabo]

Thank you for giving your valuable perspective. Some young Americans don't understand why we fought in wars overseas. It's important for us to have these reminders that we did the right thing.

[@bryantdarris]

👏🏽

[@whiskeymonk4085]

"And here I am 93.... And I made it." Thats how you do it lads ❤

[@shadowmihaiu]

My father was in the 45th Infantry in Korea, wounded twice, once mistakenly listed as KIA. Listening to him and his veteran buddies as a kid, it was unbelievably savage. Hand-to-hand, for real, again and again. These men who might seem frail today, who might be otherwise gentle people, are true warriors. One if the things we owe them is to honor their service by aggressively protecting our liberties, and those of others, at home

[@fiscalcpiano]

And giving them free healthcare

[@ThriftGestapo]

I love the note of how the enemy “hadn’t fought any Marines yet.” They certainly knew they had fought some Marines afterwards! Thank you for your service!

[@MrPapageorgio]

My grandpa fought in Chosin. Military gave them stripper clips so he got frostbite from having to take his gloves off to hand load the en block magazine for his Garand. He said there was "waves of Chinese Soldiers" coming over the hills. They fought hand to hand under parachute flares and were just fighting to make it to day break so the airforce could fly in. He said he was trying to sleep in a foxhole when the tarp covering it suddenly disappeared and they saw a Chinese soldier holding it in the air on the end of his gun. They then got into close quarters fighting. He had to pile up his frozen friends. I miss you my Gunny.

[@Jace-ew5si]

Greatest generation! Never forget, GOD REST HIS SOUL!

[@jethrox827]

👍

[@L33Reacts]

My grandpa and his brother (i guess my grand uncle) served in Korea. There is actually a book written about them called "The Windtalkers" (not the native american ones) about them putting up pirate radio stations for coms behind enemy lines. They were great men. My gramps and namesake lived to be 99 and he is so missed. Thank you for your service to all who served during Korea and all other conflicts.

[@dexter255]

Man! They don’t make them like this anymore! What a group of men! So grateful and always faithful! God bless the marines he made them mean and green!❤

[@Dracsmolar]

Brother in law turned 18 on the troop ship headed to Korea 1950. Served for the duration then did two tours in Vietnam. RIP Bob.

[@yorktown1953]

🇺🇸 🫡

[@jacobthayer236]

What a badass...

[@rossgadsby9663]

RIP, Bob sounds like a based dude.

[@delmccormack7001]

These men have truly lived. Thank you all. Heroes are forged in extreme circumstance.

[@CowBoy_talk]

My Grandpa was in Korea- 1st Cavalry Division, attached to the 77th field artillery battalion- he’s got some wild stories….

[@treyhazel9010]

Glad he made it back 2 tell em Semper Fi

[@brendenharper9898]

cavalry? that's gnarly stuff. you should share some of those stories I bet its crazy. Thanks to your gramps

[@CowBoy_talk]

I’ll give you guys two stories,

[@CowBoy_talk]

I don’t know exactly where he was at, But he said; him and his buddy Harvey were cleaning their M1 Garands, and they both heard the North Koreans marching on the other hill, and Harvey grabbed my Grandpa’s safety switch, and Harvey said he would give it back when he got back, My Grandpa teary eyed said the last time he saw Harvey was when he was carried out in a stretcher with a bullet wound in the middle of his eyes, and the back of his head blown out.

[@thespicemelange.1]

My buddy's Dad was there too. I wonder if you knew him. His name was James Jondro. He has some crazy stories he would tell me. May God rest his soul.

[@HamCubes]

Thank you, Sgt. Johnny M. Johnson! 🙏❤️‍🔥🦅🌎⚓️ I felt that right in me gut!

[@dotell3359]

From one veteran to another I salute you Sir. God bless.

[@danflores8445]

As a U.S. Army Combat Veteran Paratrooper, I Salute you with the upmost Respect and Gratitude. Every member of Congress, every politician, judge, mayor, law enforcement official and city council member should be required to hear this man’s story. This man’s story is a great example of Duty, Patriotism, Service, Sacrifice, Commitment and Courage.

[@yorktown1953]

We simply no longer have a “Congress”, only a corporate entity representing corporations.

[@tombob671]

Danflores8445 thanks for your service and a salute from this old Marine

[@sharonrwilson2727]

Yep

[@CaptainLysop]

Wow 93 years old!

[@janehall2720]

I had an uncle, Gene Miller, in the service but I don't know which branch. I do know that he went missing for something like 6-8 weeks. He would not talk about. Maybe he was captured and got away, or he just got separated. He may have told him wife but our family didn't know. He has passed now. My other uncle served with the marines during WW2. He was in the Philippines and Japan. He watched them raise the flag at Ewojima (sp?). He spent time in fox holes and one night he was too hot so he slept outside. In the morning every man inside had been killed. He had PTSD very bad when he came home. Thank you for your service.

[@TwoHawksHunting]

Thank you and all the rest of the Korean War veterans for your valor and commitment. Semper Fidelis.

[@chrisedgemon4943]

my 95 yr old grandpa was a marine in Korea never really talked about it he did talk about being there during the peace talks really a shame they don't get the recognize they deserve he was drafted an eventually signed with the marines for a shorter tour cuz he was going either way he received a purple heart from catching shrapnel in the back

[@yorktown1953]

Outstanding 🫡 Thank You Marine ⚔️

[@Ilovesarahbforeva]

My grandfather was there with the 5th Marines I think thanks to all these men I have an amazing wife who is half Korean and 2 amazing kids

[@CrossOfBayonne]

1st Marine Division lets go

[@user-lo6cf3df1x]

Korea the forgotten war our veterans paid dearly in that war

[@xvsj5833]

Thank you Sir for your service, sacrifice and courage to fight against our enemies ❤ 🇺🇸 God Bless you, family and friends ❤️

[@williamaraujo2603]

Dad, Bill Araujo, B/1/11, also went to Pusan Perimeter w/1st Provisional Marine Brigade. He also fought at Inchon, Seoul and Chosin.

[@abrahamornelas160]

Respect due.

[@williamneumyer7147]

A comprehensive account of the "police action" is "The Forgotten War" by Clay Blair (1987).

[@TUCOtheratt]

Unapologetic American Valor! 😃👍

[@austinking5420]

Man, imagine the fear running through your blood as you hide in a boxcar, hearing the cars around you getting cleared. God bless the marines.

[@Ja_s-per]

🎇🇺🇲"God Bless Our Veterans and Active Warrior's!!!"🇺🇲🎇 🫡

[@CrossOfBayonne]

1st Marine Division lets go

[@anlerden4851]

Thank You so much for your service and lovely dedications to Our Beautiful USA!!! Dear American Marine Sir, Semper Fi!!!!!! ususususususus.....🥰😍🤗❤❤❤❤❤🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍💙💙💙💙💙💯🙏✝

[@inesborstel5592]

Thanks!!

[@tig9495]

Thank you for making me and my family’s life peaceful and be able to do the things I do today

[@JohnThreeSixteen918]

👏 Brilliant. Thanks much for this excellent series. I just love watching/listening to these fellas as I go about my daily chores...they colour my day!

[@jenBaker707]

God Bless you Mr Johnson

[@patrickheavirland3599]

Semper Fi sir!

[@boblevey]

God Bless you, and He did🙏🏼

[@Doug3575]

God Bless him.

[@MeALG.]

Gloves on for an interview...that man is a stone cold killer.

[@tonybennett3904]

Wonderful man,god bless you Sir from England.

[@345Weeehrs]

I MADE IT!

[@INFINITEWISDOM19]

When my great grandfather died he died when I was like two years old maybe but I always ask my grandma and she always told me that he didn’t like to talk about it much. I wish he did because these stories are what I feel like the youth needs to be strong again.

[@bryantdarris]

🥲👏🏽🇺🇸Thank you for my freedom. South Koreans that I met love America and 🙏🏽 Pray for us. Thank you for telling your story and honoring your Fallen comrades.

[@alextaylor29]

Thank you US Marines!

[@4catsnow]

Harry Truman couldn't, or wouldn't step up here..and guys like this really caught it....

[@pirpin]

Does anyone know of anyway I could reach out to this man? I would like to write a book on some of his stories from the Korean War.

[@reggiegesmundo7043]

Chosin, Toktiong pass legendary

[@345Weeehrs]

TRUE AMERICAN HEROS

[@jamesmounce3242]

I am shocked that men survived this war.

[@sickowhale6861]

People don't know how hellish the Korean war was, especially during the battle of Chosin. It is a literal winter version of WW l, and it is criminal that these heroes are not recognized as one of the hardest fellas who ever lived on earth! I'm Korean and I owe you so much, not just me, literal ALL of my fellos Koreans as well. If these gentlemen's family member see this comment, THANK YOU for your service, and you MUST know how it was like to fight in Korean during the war! It was more hardcore than any modern wars.

[@sickowhale6861]

Thanks to you we are all alive and not living under the horrible communist regime of the north!

[@Threestars307]

My grandpa mark soldierwolf was in the Korean war, hand to hand fighting is crazy fr the Marines are a force to fight several million Chinese

[@thespicemelange.1]

Wow

[@debbiannelauper4402]

Do you remember Harold Lauper?

[@whiskeymonk4085]

All this war buisness has to end. Lets all pray in our individual faiths that we can become wise enough squash it.

[@user-ud2jj2dg3l]

Id like to know if these Marines could still qualify with there rifle

[@garymckee63]

Damn right they never fought any UNITED STATES MARINES 🇺🇸

[@g-man2228]

🇺🇸

[@garymcgoff6946]

Praise Jesus!

[@markoj3512]

🫡

[@CaptainLysop]

Was that old man just a civilian ? 😮 15:32

[@johe90]

He had a concealed weapon so he shouldn’t have been a dumb azz

[@ddial1982]

Larry didn’t think so. That’s good enough for me.

[@user-tx3xy7lw6w]

​@johe90 only if you interpret decorative ornaments as a weapon lol. Seems to me like it was just a walking cane.

[@sharonrwilson2727]

​@u3ser-tx3xy7lw6w 3 ft. Sword!!!

[@indy500tabasco8]

👽👽👽👽🌎👽👽👽👽

[@fiscalcpiano]

Gut-wrenching story.

[@JohnvonLovehq743]

How You Can Have Eternal Life ! Realize you are a sinner being sorry. Sin is lying, evil thoughts, lust,etc. Therefore, do not trust in your own works to go to heaven because you realize, being a sinner, you cannot offer the perfect blood sacrifice that God requires to pay for sin. Instead, believe, meaning fully trust, that in Christ's love for you, on the cross, His one perfect blood sacrifice, when Christ bled, suffered and died, in your place, paid for your sins in full, past, present and future ! Believe that Jesus rose from the dead ! Believe Jesus is God Almighty, God the Son, alive for evermore ! And believe that the sinless blood of Jesus Christ is what cleanses you from all sin, which purifies your soul ! Then the Lord Jesus will forgive you,save you from hell and give you eternal life ! And you will be sealed with the Holy Spirit who will dwell within you forever! And thank Jesus ! Rom.3:25,5:8,9,10:9 Rev.1:5,Ephes.1:7,13,4:30, Heb.10:10-14,19,38,39 I John 5:7,13,20

[@jessejames7757]

You murder a old man.

[@mghayes9489]

The "old man" was holding a 3' long sword in his hand. They stopped the old man from murdering them when they turned their backs on him. ..."they have eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear." 🥺

[@Flibbybibby]

Officers were all real smart… Well that must exclude the two officers that were passengers in the jeeps driving down the middle of a road in a war zone. Derp