CHOSIN RESERVOIR: Hand-to-Hand Combat in the MOST BRUTAL Fight of Korea | Pat Finn

Patrick Finn lied about his age and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve at 15 years old. He served until he was 18 years old and was ready to return to civilian life, when a sudden change of heart prompted him to re-enlist. The following year he found himself in one of the fiercest battles of the Korean War - the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.
Attached to Item Co, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines Finn found himself heading North through the Korean Peninsula thinking the war was all but over. The men eventually arrived at a desolate, frozen lake known as the "Chosin Reservoir". The Marines had no idea they had walked into a trap, surrounded by 120,000 Chinese troops. Finn engaged in hand-to-hand combat in a brutal fight for survival in conditions so cold, wounds simply froze.
The battle of Chosin would see some of the most horrific fighting, in some of the most brutal conditions of the Korean War. The actions and bravery of the Marines would go down in lore. Those who survived would forever be known as the "Chosin Few".
Interview recorded on November 2, 2023
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Video Credits:
Interviewer - Greg Corombos
Director of Photography - Jon Hambacker
Editor - Daniel Taksas

[@Michael-A]

My Dad was there in 50/51 as a USMC Grunt, then in 58 as an Advisor. He joined the Marines at 16 in 46, retired in 66 as a Gunnery Sergeant. He was an Orphan in South Bend Indiana, and knew he had a younger brother in the Orphanage but could not remember his name. He was very young when an inventor adopted him, and never was able to find out anything about his little brother. Then in 1964 Dad received a phone call from a man named Tom, who said he was Dad's little brother, and was a truck driver, coming through our city in the near future. So Dad invited Tom to stop nearby and he would bring him home for dinner. I remember eating hamburgers on a beach towel in the living room while they talked. Uncle Tom noticed the Marine Corps decorations and said he was in the USMC too, and as they talked it became apparent they were both in Korea at the same time. Tom was a Tanker, and he lost a lung in a Tank attack, and he named the place and the battle. My Dad's face turned white, and Tom asked him what's wrong. Dad had tears in his eyes as he told Tom "I pulled a Marine out of a burning Tank there, and named the Month and year it happened, at the same battle. Further details came forth from both of them as we all realized Dad had saved his little brother's life without even knowing he was his little brother. My older brother and I marveled at all of that, and how it took over ten years for them to discover that, and each other, but now they had a bond that couldn't be broken. My Dad then relished the scars he got while pulling Uncle Tom out of that burning Tank. I was grateful that God was so gracious to both of them, that in the middle of all that hell they both received such a great blessing.

[@johndilday1846]

Wow. Just wow. Providential.

[@MickB52s]

Life is sure like a box of chocolates. Always a surprise..make a movie into that one Thank you for your service

[@noturfather1106]

Brothers in more ways than one

[@gideonevans9717]

MAN I love stories like this!! That's so cool!!

[@longhairdontcare122]

Blood lines are of great importance to God raise your grand children and uncels children to be strong men.

[@johndoe2480]

My grandpa was there , he spoke about it only once ... sitting by a campfire he told me the horror of chosin reservoir and what him and his friend went through as tears streamed down his face. I never asked him about the war again. Bless the brave men that fought through hell .

[@helloworldRR]

Met a ex solider @ a rememberence day ceremony , He was full of remorseful feelings sadness obviously as i looked at him walking , then frozen on the way to the service ... He couldnt bring himself to stand through the service or even get to the memorial.. he had me in tears .. two grown men both over 6 foot 3 standing in the middle of the street weeping... i couldnt imagine what he actually went through or his young eyes seen at the time... which would have went for most of these young men at the time or just a few short years before after the big one... Its 2023 on the eve of 2024 sadly true war is sometimes necessary ... wish it wasnt untill tyrannical forces or thoes who bring about evil are stopped or greed and life saving substances for humans is met... Pray thies in a free country keep it that .. its clear all free nations are under attack seems to be coming from within..

[@joedirt5720]

Mine was too.... John Frederick Schaffer from Mobile Alabama... He was a Marine that went on to serve 3 more tours in Vietnam and retired as a Gunnery Sergeant.... He had a Korean flag all his guys signed as well....

[@justlookingaround]

My grandfather fought in the Pacific in ww2. The things he did to survive and the things he witnessed and the amount of suffering he experienced are beyond comprehension. For instance, he suffered from the effects of the military’s failed attempts to vaccinate soldiers for hepatitis and malaria. He was one of the almost ten thousand soldiers in the invasion of the Pacific that got sick. The famous footage of the group of Japanese soldiers running across an open area from bunker to bunker with an airfield behind them while U.S. soldiers were shooting on them, my grandfather was there, they were told the airfield was abandoned and it would be a quick mop up and secure and hold the field and because it was no big deal the army would go in next to the marines and the marines would go in on the beaches were the Japanese were at. He was shot at the entire way in to the beach then had to fight to get off the beach, and then fight from every tree to every bunker all the way to the airfield, got his first battle field promotion from rifle man to machine gunner/ squad automatic rifleman on the beach, not a real promotion the sgt gave him a Browning automatic rifle and said congratulations you’re promoted now put down some automatic cover fire so we can get off this beach, he then handed his rifle to the Sgt and said here, sgt looked at him funny and said what’s that for? Grandpa replied it’s for the man who’s BAR you gave me." sgt looked him dead in the eyes and said Bobby he doesn’t need it he’s dead." And it was at that moment that the realization of what was happening set in on him. There are so many great stories. Eating jungle foul covered in mud and thrown on a fire with Filipino gorillas who were still pretty native wearing loin cloths eating and drinking rice and water out of the bamboo tubes the Filipino guerillas would bring to them and trade for a few cigarettes. Being in the middle of a battle and Filipino guerillas would run out and grab dead Japanese soldiers' rifles and join right in the battle. He really had a liking for them. And when the Filipinos would capture a Japanese soldier alive, he got to see the brutality of cruelty towards the soldiers from the years of rape slavery and torture inflicted on them by the Japanese.

[@lefty_13]

Same here my grandfather was in that battle to didn't really talk about it only thing he told me was it was the coldest he had ever been.

[@joshuacox1559]

@@justlookingaroundthen the cameras turned off and suddenly out of nowhere they heard “that’s a wrap”.

[@user-bj7dj5rj5k]

I am from South Korea. I am truly grateful to the veterans who fought in the Korean War. I have traveled to more than 10 countries and now I work in Canada. Witnessing refugees from many countries fleeing war or suffering under oppressive political regimes, I am reminded of how precious the freedom enjoyed by me and other Koreans is. We South Koreans will never forget your sacrifices and dedication.

[@swaptrickgaming]

My father fought there from 51-53. One of the last things things that happened to him before he got too sick to leave the house, a young South Korean man saw him in public and thanked him profusely for what they did. I want to thank you, and others like you for continuing the appreciation over the generations. It really helped him to hear that on many levels. He was there in his early 20s and passed away last year at 93 years old. He had nightmares, even 70 years later. He rarely spoke about it. Any time someone thanked him for his service he would typically say "just thank the guys we left over there". But to be thanked like that by a SK citizen meant the world to him, and helped ease some of the pain in his memory. It gave him a sense of pride that the people there still appreciate the sacrifices made by so many. Thank you again.

[@user-io6pj8bz8h]

B.S there are no refugees today.

[@paulbriggs3072]

I gave you your 62nd thumbs up. Who knows how many more read your comment.

[@user-io6pj8bz8h]

Liar

[@user-io6pj8bz8h]

@@whowhoyou7102 hahahaha, what are you ranting about little leftist? Can't you read? Oh wait, you're a leftist, text is outside of your capacity.

[@TinWhistleTraveler]

This is my grandpa and I remember him telling me these stories about the war. This was a very well done interview. Thank you. A few more stories he told me was when they called for mortars, the code word was "tootsie rolls", but when the supply drop came, it was a crate full of actual tootsie rolls. This was a blessing in disguise because the soldiers could eat them and they could also use them to patch bullet holes in fuel tanks and fuel lines. Another story was when without orders they evacuated thousands of Koreans and put them on boats when they arrived in the harbor. The parents of South Korea's President were among those refugees.

[@christinapomponio6452]

🤦‍♀️ I bet whoever made that "Tootsie roll" mistake was scratching his head wondering why these guys were asking for tootsie rolls.

[@staypuft199]

Thats cool, thank you for this little story

[@starjunkie5328]

Awesome story!

[@tsikada]

Sounds fake

[@supperman]

​@@tsikada The tootsie roll story is actually not fake. If you don't believe me, look it up.

[@BDCasey1]

My Father in Law was at Chosin Reservoir when the Chinese over ran his position. Severly wounded, he played dead in the snow as the Chinese were killing the wounded. A Chinese soldier took Marv's wedding ring off of his finger. Marvin laid there for hours in the freezing snow. The Marines counter attacked and drove the Chinese back. Strangely enough, a buddy of Marvin's killed the Chinese soldier that stole the wedding ring. He gave the ring back to Marvin when he was found alive. Marvin carried the shrapnel wounds in his head, chest and legs until the day he died in 2006.

[@BDCasey1]

He also lost half a foot from frostbite.

[@obi-wankenobi1750]

That’s hardcore af

[@starjunkie5328]

A story within a story, I love that the ring got back to him. Miracle of miracles. It's the little things in a horrific battle that can sometimes life a man's spirit.

[@holly52ful]

That is sad but happy!! Possums know how to live!!! Great story!

[@jamesmossettiii8936]

My grandpa lost 3 fingers that were sticking out of the snow. His flame thrower tank was hit and threw him around in the explosion. He said they called him Rocket Man, But his nick name is Whitey.

[@DukeOfDiabetus]

It warms my heart to hear some Korean war veterans interviews. Its called the Forgotten War but those men did their jobs and deserve all the recognition for what they did

[@christopherstmarin]

In Canada the Korean vets had to pay for their own memorial in our capital Ottawa through donations they gathered. Forgotten for sure

[@user-82719a]

It is truly sad, The Forgotten War is, in my opinion, the most moving and emotional monument in the D.C. National Mall. It feels so inconsiderate that noimportant in

[@american_cosmic]

Mad respect for this guy and all his brothers. I consider myself fortunate to have been born in time to meet and know some WW2 and Korea vets before this generation all but fades away to history. They were heroes.

[@melissawestlund1389]

My Father in law was a WWII vet. He lived the rest of his life with shrapnel in his head & in his leg.

[@jacobgill4808]

My dad was a water cooled machine gunner 7th Army his pill got over ran one night near the reservoir he got shot in the face he got a silver star along with his Purple Heart for refusing to abandon his position when everyone else did the Silver Star paperwork said the approaching Hillside in front of Michael Gill's machine gun position was littered with over 400 confirmed kills my dad said they were so close so you could see the cotton shooting out of their jacket they were throwing grenades into his hole he was throwing them out he said a guy popped up right in front of him with a burp gun and shot him right in the face the Koreans took the hill that night and thought my father was dead the next day Americans retook the hill and discovered my wounded father he woke up on a hospital ship

[@user-ms2mk2rm3t]

A mans man..!!! God Bless your Dad..!!!

[@ZoltanMarossy]

Wild

[@kingdedede9135]

You don’t know how to use periods?

[@lovelygargantua]

⁠@@kingdedede9135 What, are you on yours or something? Do you not know how to plug it? 😂

[@harutogames9204]

Respect to your father my friend, faced off with death its self and won in the end.

[@brentnearhood8874]

My dad was there in 50 and 51. He lost his high school friend who is still MIA. He lost his fox hole buddy because they had to bug out in the middle of the night and he didn't have his boots on. He went to Japan too and taught the new Marines how to shoot before returning to the US.

[@boss2234]

My father was there, he had night mares in his dreams most of his life, it was impossible for anyone to sleep in the same bed with him. He was a strong man and an excellent leader especially in hazardous situations, worked in the petroleum business all his life. The kind of man everyone respected weather they knew him well or not it was the vibe he gave off.

[@user-82719a]

Thank you for your Fathers Service Sir!

[@mountaininfidel2060]

Knew a man who was there and he told me about the attacks. The Horns blaring and the waves of Chinese coming at them and how he remembered shooting at them and the Feathers coming out of the down filled one piece PJs the Chinese wore.Feathers all over the place. Their goal was to exhaust the ammo of the marines.The first wave no weapons,the second some were armed and the third wave fully armed regulars.Cold beyond the imagination.God bless these guys.Tougher than leather is all.

[@jackmazza5742]

An Outstanding Gentleman. He makes me more proud to be a veteran and an American.

[@Thomas-uw1gq]

I salute all of you Korean Vets , God Bless you all ! I am a Vietnam Vet , in the heat and crap of jungle and rice paddies , but I now believe that the freezing cold and snow was far worse ! I can't imagine that hell ! Glad you made it ! Vietnam Vet Tom

[@christiantackett829]

Welcome home, Tom, and thank you for your service.

[@maxmoanz6561]

This gentleman is very well spoken. Im proud to come from Minnesota because of men like him and my Grandpa (who was also a korean war vet). My grandpa is the whole reason I joined the military which led to a couple combat deployments. He was also a very big reason I was able to readjust and deal with all the problems that come from war. He's 94 now, I'm going to miss him when his time comes.

[@BillyAsWell]

The most understated generation. When he said “I was a fairly decent marksman,” I bet he qualified Expert.

[@obi-wankenobi1750]

“He could shoot the tip off your pickle at 50 yards cold barrel.”

[@yboriginal01]

Nothing but respect and admiration for this absolute legend of a man

[@americanveteranscenter]

It was amazing interviewing him! Thanks for watching!

[@yboriginal01]

@@americanveteranscenter Thank you for sharing these! I can't tell you how many Korean and Vietnam War stories I've read or listened to. It's surreal to see the actual veterans speaking about their experiences there. I am a Navy veteran myself and am extremely humbled by these titans. Thanks again for doing what you do and bringing our history to life.

[@williamaraujo2603]

Dad, lied about age and joined Marines at 16 in 1947. He was stationed in Tsingtao China, a "China Marine" 1948-1949 when kicked out by Commies at Revolution. He went to and fought at Pusan Perimeter with 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, Inchon, Seoul and Chosin Reservoir. It was horrific and unimaginable. God Bless them all.

[@miltonhollis703]

The Korean war is over looked by some of our younger generation...but It's relevant to me" when the Korean started I was Ten years old at that time.....This brave soldier and many others mended how freezing cold it was...THIS SOLDIER is Definitely a HERO"❤

[@user-gw4xh7ww3d]

Yes, they were also battling 'Trench Foot'

[@Wdm58]

My uncle, Master Sgt Mack Wightman, survived with the 502, 101 AB jumping into Normandy, Holland and fought at the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest. Afterwards, he was stationed in Japan and reassigned to 7th Division, 17th Regiment, landing in Inchon, liberating Seoul, advancing to the Yalu and along the central front. He and his platoon were pinned down by heavy machine gun fire while advancing up Hill 1232. He drew fire, sacrificing his life, which allowed his men to flank and take out the position. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously. My dad was stationed in Japan with the AF as Air Traffic GCA awaiting Mack’s return that never happened. War is hell.

[@larryfloyd4993]

my father was a korean war saft sgt... he worked railroad northfolk southern... raised 6 kids married 51 yrs... none of us went to jail or prison, . we all married..i never had any kids... but i went railroad like him... i'm so proud to have had a father like him...i did join the army.. but destory my knee in basic... ..but my life is going great.. i was a welding teacher railroader retired married to a school teacher... my dad raised a very good son..thank you dad, .. my my lord and saviour jesus... my dad died in 2022

[@ivanfernandez4739]

It’s hard watching this man’s face change as the memories flood his head and the interview progresses. You can see the truth in his pain. Thank you for your service Pat.

[@joannamcpeak7531]

You dear, dear gentleman. What you have endured I cannot even imagine. Thank you so much for your sacrifice ❤❤❤❤🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@jakesanchez7235]

My grandfather was a replacement for the men of Chosin! He served under the 1st Marine Division as well, my grandfather is currently 93 years old and still alive. He doesn’t speak much of his Korea time, but he said the same thing how the Chinese just came in “waves” of men. My grandfather served in first in easy company 2nd battalion 7th Marines -> injured in the battle of Hwacheon -> sent to Japan to recover -> transferred to Charlie company 1/7 Marines -> participated in the battle of the punch bowl -> came home and was sent to Nevada to be part of an atomic bomb test. He’s known as an “atomic marine” for that. Thank God for the Marine Corps, and the men who served in it. I have pictures of the article from when they sent him to see the atomic bomb test.

[@JackVogel2024]

Always so glad to see an upload from this channel, since it's unarguably, objectively a net good for the world. Many thanks for preserving history like this

[@americanveteranscenter]

Thank you for this! That is the exact sentiment we are going for - trying to be a net good for the world, one story at a time.

[@bodidley5015]

Had the privilege of escorting a visiting Medal of Honor recipient from the Chosin engagement when I was stationed at Parris Island. His name was Carl Sitter and he received medal for his actions as a company commander. He had also been awarded a silver star for actions in WW2 as a rifle platoon commander. This was late 90s and it was just great meeting and spending a little time with an old Corps Marine.

[@griffwoodford1115]

Please keep these interviews at the forefront. This generation of men is a national treasure and a template for resilience to all future generations of young men.

[@Mtlmshr]

Another American HERO that is just so dam humble!!!

[@brandonmann9952]

My grandfather was in Korea went to Japan in 47 remembered when he got the news north korea started a war in 1950 was with an ordinance battalion in the ARMY they hit the docks offloaded and his words " a captain came over and asked if anybody there knew how to drive a tank, i daid i can run a tank, an there i went off to my war" He passed away three days before this last Christmas army vet then navy after his discharge and back to korea he went purpleheart and bronze star recipient

[@user-mt4bx8ms2f]

Thanks for your service from Republic of Korea

[@davidjohnson1065]

My dad served in Korea.He was a minenan first class on UDT squad ❤❤. Love you Dad

[@xvsj5833]

Thank you for your service, sacrifice and courage to answer the call 🇺🇸👍❤

[@codyburgess7844]

My great grandpa Leroy fought in Korea. I don't know much about his experiences but one I do know is he and his people went to sleep in a camp they had set up and he go in a sleeping bag and packed himself into the snow for insulation, it snowed more that night covering him even more. When he woke up everyone in his camp was dead. They had been raided at night and had their throats slit. Gnarly stuff. He didn't speak of his time there almost at all but one time he was talking to my dad and said "The first one you kill is very hard but after that you just stick em with your bayonet and throw them over your back" sadly he died in 2005. R.I.P. Grandpa Leroy

[@arkalonalan]

I can't think of any worse conditions to fight for your life. Being cold, especially minus 30 cold....... everything hurts.

[@FuriousMess]

Dad was an M1917 machine gunner at Chosin. His Sargent was killed after the landing at Inchon and he was field promoted to Sargent. He had some really horrific, yet, heroic stories of Korea. It took over a decade before he'd talk much about it. He had entered at 17 just after WW II and was a Corporal of the guard at Gitmo before they asked him to participate in the UN's excursion in Korea. Dad was an outstanding Marine until he died.

[@srsmedic8285]

My Great Uncle Tony was a Marine at the Chosin reservoir. That experience made the rest of his life difficult

[@daryllinkugel3804]

The people that were in Korea don't get the respect or recognition for what they did. Hats off to all that were there!

[@Birdbrain69]

My grandfather Clarence Matz was one of the chosin few he passed away one year ago and he used to tell me “there’s no f$&@&$?! Sportsmanship in killing animals” only years later after I’d gotten out of the army and matured I realized how much death that young man saw in that frozen landscape

[@christinapomponio6452]

Your grandfathers comment reminds me of a book I read in elementary school called the most dangerous game.

[@Birdbrain69]

@@christinapomponio6452 I’ll have to check it out!

[@markeich1]

All respect and gratitude to you sir.

[@JEM133]

My dad was there with you,,,,,God bless you all, unspeakable what you all endured.

[@starjunkie5328]

Hand on my heart for you, sir. You went and did the impossible that was asked of you, and you still honor all of those who did not make it back home.

[@bluebirdski]

I'm an ex-Marine and never went into battle. Even the training I did was life changing. To listen to Marines like this calmly talk about one of the harshest and most storied Marine battles in history is inspiring and strange. The images in his head and that he probably blends in now with civilians is impressive. True combat veterans like this hero are rare. Love this guy, and any like him. Semper Fi.

[@RayS-hx6ou]

Knew a gentleman that was there. Even though I was a fellow Marine (too young for the jungle and out before the desert) I didn't ask him about it, and he didn't say much of anything about it - he didn't need to. Semper Fi, Steve and the Old Corps!

[@Lightlinefisherman]

As a Korean American ty so much for your sacrifice

[@lawrencerooney2772]

My grandfather was a conscripted infantryman in the US Army 24th Division and spent 10 months in Korea during the war. He only told a few stories about the war, mostly funny ones. My brother asked him once if he killed anyone. "Only the ones trying to kill me." He never had any bad feelings about the enemy. He always said war was stupid.

[@jacobhall8615]

Thank you for being patient and taking the time to ask this hero the important questions in a respectful way

[@mf-xo7sv]

Grandsons great grandfather on other side was at Chosin when I was 2. Got to meet him before he passed. Then 21 years later I was in Korea,and now the 2nd ID is still there. DMZ not a fun place,back then we got hostile fire pay.

[@nicoleayala3532]

My grandfather was a Marine in the chosin reservoir as well. He enlisted with 5 friends as part of a dare at 18 years old and landed in Korea. Drug bodies of his friends down a mountain at 20 years old, almost lost both his feet to frostbite, returned home as one of two friends left alive of the original 6. Unfortunately I never got to meet him because his own country poisoned him shortly after his return at Camp Lejeune, and he died young after suffering from years of horrible diseases. May God bless the heroes who gave everything, either in battle itself or in life afterward as a result of their service.

[@KevinDevereaux]

Why would your own government poison their own soldier? Sounds like utter nonsense bordering on conspiracy unless it was friendly fire

[@srsmedic8285]

Wake island and the Chosin reservoir are two examples of every Marine is a riflemam. They weren’t outright wins.. but show how incredibly capable the Marine Corps is in unwinable situations

[@Thomas-uw1gq]

The US Army was also there , God Bless them all !!!!!!!. Vietnam Vet Tom

[@308driver]

Thank you for your service!! Peace boss!

[@sgt_s4und3r54]

My grandpa served in the First Cav artillery in Korea 50 to 52. He didn't talk about it. One day, though, he pulled out his unit photo and pointed at the ones that didn't come back. Other than his promotions, he never talked about what he saw. Korea is never a forgotten war in my home as I carry his name.

[@jonnyref3475]

Wonderful to hear Mr Finn’s reflections on his time in the Korean War. I hope we get to hear more of his experience in Korea and the USMC. He is a great credit to his former comrades and all those who fought. As he rightly says at the end South Korea has proved we were correct to fight.

[@rickybobby1055]

Thank you for your service and story. I had the honor to meet a korean war vet on pendleton during bootcamp and he always wore 2 pairs of socks. He said it was so cold he would never have cold feet again.

[@gdmofo]

My father was there he's been long gone can't imagine what him and these other brave men went through

[@CuttingEdgetools]

My Uncle Marion’ survived Korea and the Frozen chosin’ . He never talked about it, but few years before he passed. I sat with him at our family Reunion. He told me only 3 from his platoon came out alive. RIP Brothers 🙏❤️ thanks for your service

[@TheRbrooks502]

What unit was your Uncle with?

[@CuttingEdgetools]

@@TheRbrooks502 I will have to ask my Cousin. She would be the only one with any of his service records. Her older Brothers my age are passed on as well. Thanks for your service ❤️🇺🇸

[@andrew5875]

Minnesota marine here too! Semper Fidelis. Sure was a helluva fight.

[@chadddaddy228]

I worked with a marine who was there mr.frank. He told me a very good story about how him and his battle buddy was trying to eat and found this burnt log to sit and eat turned out to be a dead combatant. They found this out after they sat and figured out it was kinda squishy and flipped over and seen it was a enemy fighter. What a story.

[@jimd8008]

Thx again

[@user-fp1nb5fs4o]

Thank you Patrick for everything you’ve done for America and South Korea. I could listen to these old timers all day.

[@MurCurieux]

Thank-you, sir!

[@q-man762]

That's got to be the most hellish circumstances for combat in the US history, temps well below zero, outnumbered 10 to 1, fighting their way out through a gauntlet of Chinese all under the above conditions.

[@daveh5605]

Bless you for your service Patrick , My dad only told me all this about a year before he passed. He was with you lobbing those rounds for the breakout.

[@josephbarr511]

Recently discovered one of my uncles was in Item Co. 3/1 (Chesty Puller’s regiment) which was on the southwest side of Hagaru Ri. My cousin gave me his service records, and I’ve been able to piece together at least some of his story. I’m humbled to have served in his footsteps. You hear about Chosin in boot camp, but you never really get what it was like until you see interviews like this. Truly the greatest generation.

[@bfgivmfith]

What an honor to hear this! Thank you!

[@user-kf8wb2cq4f]

Wow. Thank You.💯

[@americanveteranscenter]

Thanks for watching!

[@user-gw4xh7ww3d]

My dad, US Army 50-51 volunteered at 18. Traumatized... fighting in his sleep. His best friend, who just received a 'Dear John' letter, then, (I believe, as mom told it to me) he stood up and his head was blown off

[@MickB52s]

Thank you for your services. The golden people surviving tragic events

[@joer5627]

My great Uncle John was there. I spent many days with him, my grandad, and his other brother. He told many similar stories. I miss them all.

[@chadford8500]

My dad was from this generation of men and fought in Korea. Very humble, even keeled, and hard working man...He rarely talked about his time in the army but had lots of battle scars from bullets, schrapnel, and knives..Imagine it was hell in that war freezing and fighting hand to hand a lot..

[@lucky9lives4me]

I was Navy and I never seen turmoil like you've seen thank God for you and people like you. We need more people like you in this world.😊 Thank you for your service

[@johngrogan7585]

Thank you very much

[@jose2226]

22:10 the way he just sinks into that despair...

[@subcitizen2012]

I remember an interview with a man, of I recall he survived a shell, but lost part of an arm and both legs. Despite being conscious and alive the perception was that he was a goner, and they threw him on top of the heap of corpses. He said he was cursing and spitting, god damnit I'm alive! Obviously, this corpse was alive! So they took him and he was treated and survived, against understandably grim odds.

[@user-fc7ug4sl9p]

THANK YOU SIR, GOD BLESS YOU ALL 🙏

[@NCarolina4455]

Thank you for your service sir. It is truly appreciated

[@timsmith1465]

We are still at war with korea...pretty crazy.

[@knunyabeasewhacks8744]

Thank you for your sacrifice! And your willingness to share it with all of us.

[@marks5336]

My father in law is one of the "Chosin Few" 1st Marines 1st Division 93 and still kicking.

[@brentlohr3394]

Thank you, sir

[@Stizo7777]

I served a hardship tour for a total of 16 months in South Korea 1990-1991 while in the US Army. We had no internet, no library. We soldiers knew very little about the Korean War. The little I knew was told to me by the Korean people themselves. I was in the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Casey up toward the DMZ or "Demilitarised Zone". Our standard operation proceedure in the event of an attack, was to load up our trucks and drive toward the South near Seoul, South Korea in order to get out of range of any heavy artillery strikes.

[@craiglarge5925]

Trip wire. I was told back in the 1990s' if the NKPA had reached 25 miles past the DMZ in the event of invasion, the U.S. military would deploy and utilize nuclear weapons. I am glad that thus far, this has not happened.

[@davidkimmel4216]

Several of my close friends were in that conflict. Like all wars they don’t talk about the bad times only on the light times. Thank You for Your Service

[@christiantackett829]

Outstanding interview. Thank you, all veterans, for your service.

[@trevorminer3413]

Thank you, Sir!

[@sonofliberty92]

This war isn't spoken about enough.

[@lewisridenhour6536]

God bless you sir you are a noble American my dad lives in the Korean War and World War II before it he was in the Navy pharmacist mate first class he said that was the coldest he'd ever felt even in his worst nightmare and he was raised in Oklahoma he said that was the most ungodly horrible cold ever never felt anything like it before or since

[@jumanji5239]

Respect 🙏

[@cadefoster9446]

That’s my grandpa he used to tell me these stories when I was a child. What a guy I tell ya

[@dwightchaos9449]

There’s another person saying this is their grandpa..??? Sounds like somebody lying?

[@memonk11]

My father was there. Like a lot of the old vets, he almost never talked about it.

[@alexw.8999]

Of all the wars I wouldn’t want to be in as an Infantryman the Korean War is #1. I was an Infantryman in Iraq and Afghanistan for a couple years and always pitched myself for not fighting in Korea under those conditions. Tip of the hat to all those men.

[@wildcat8598]

These were some tough sumbiches to fight in those conditions. I’m in the dead of winter where I live now it’s in the single digits and below zero with the wind chill and I couldn’t imagine it being another 20+ degrees colder than it is outside my house. Then imagine having to fight a war in that. Thank you Sir for your service

[@jackolantern404]

Thank you for your service and sacrifices.

[@riverbender9898]

I salute you Sir.

[@jimsharp5044]

Had a family friend that was a US Navy corpsman with the Marines and he was at the frozen chosin. I didn’t know about him being there till I was in the Marines

[@122Music1]

A True Patriot! Make more! This troop's generation knows how bad it can get. God bless him, and ALL subject to the "Frozen Chosin" scenarios in ANY WAR. Count your blessings. WAR seems to be eternal. Imagine being DRAFTED! May God guide us, and deliver us ...

[@brettcheatham3030]

Talk about an absolute legend. This man personifies bravery.

[@thisisnotmyname3048]

"One man is a heavy cost" What a way to look at it. Heroes, the lot of them

[@jeffeverett274]

I worked with a korean war vet years ago, he said the north would sneak out at night and give our sleeping infantry smiles. Afterwards he warned his men not to wander around at night because he would shoot at any noises he heard.

[@Onlyusemesuede]

Thank you for continuing to voice these gallant stories of these brave men. Especially from what many consider a forgotten war. Salute to the American Veterans Center! Edit: wow this guys a Minnesota native like myself that’s awesome!

[@WowDoodWuuut]

Are you the fancy Brian Rizzo

[@Onlyusemesuede]

@@WowDoodWuuut unfortunately no lol

[@WowDoodWuuut]

@@Onlyusemesuede at least you don't slam Jaeger and throw dogs. FIRESALES AYOOO

[@user-ln4zr4pz4f]

Happy Saint Patrick's day Mister Finn (ok two days late). Hope there was corned beef and beer. Thank you for your service Sir. My friend and neighbor was there from Inchon on, infantry. He was the most respected man in the community and loved by all. School teacher after the war as a career. Passed recently and dearly missed by everyone.

[@jessecockrum5273]

Thanks for your service sir. Im so greatful for everyone who protects us

[@jason-hy8ci]

Thank you and God bless you Sir. 🇺🇸 My Dearly Loved Uncle Don served with the 1st USMC DIV. during the war.