Compass Points - Few are Chosin
A sudden attack
Compass Points - Few are Chosin
A sudden attack
November 27, 2024
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After the incredible Inchon landing and the taking of Seoul during September 1950, it seemed that the UN forces in Korea, led by the US Army and Marines, would quickly end the conflict. But there was a surprise on the way. On November 27, 1950, units of the 1st Marine Division were attacked by more than 100,000 Chinese.
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. . . Communist China entered the conflict at “frozen Chosin,” shifting the war’s momentum again. In a surprise attack, more than 100,000 Chinese troops trapped American forces in some of the harshest, most remote territory of the region—in temperatures that regularly fell to 25 degrees below zero. In a place where it was too frigid to dig foxholes without explosives and bulldozers, combatants piled frozen bodies in lieu of sandbags. Feet froze into blocks of ice inside boots. Even bullet wounds sometimes froze, keeping soldiers from bleeding out until they went inside heated tents.
Ultimately, some American units took the brunt of the attack, allowing others to escape on a hard-fought 70-mile march to the sea. Casualties were high. And victory, seemingly in reach, evaporated, leaving the war to slog on for several more years.
The Chosin Reservoir battle has become one of the most storied exploits of grit and sacrifice in Marine Corps history. In the words of Commanding General Oliver P. Smith: “Retreat, hell. We’re not retreating. We’re just advancing in another direction.”
— History.com “The Most Harrowing Battle of the Korean War”
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Sergeant “Ronnie” Reininger was one of the Chosin Few.
Sergeant Werner "Ronnie" Reininger was born in May 1929 in San Antonio, Texas. and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in October of 1948. Less than two years later, with the start of the Korean War approaching, his reserve unit was called to active duty by President Truman.
Years after his service in Korea, Ronnie, as he was called by one and all, frequently returned to the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion in San Antonio to talk with the young Marines. Ronnie had a smile and a handshake for everyone. Although he walked slowly and with difficulty, Ronnie had a strength and vitality about him that amazed Marines decades younger. Ronnie loved to laugh and joke with the young Marines. For them, listening to Ronnie speak about his experiences in the Marine Corps was an instant jolt of motivation.
Marines want to "locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver" but when that is not possible, then Marines, "repel the enemy's assault with fire and close combat."
Ronnie was a machine gunner in a machine gun platoon with weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Ronnie would often say that compared to the Marines who fought in hot climates like Vietnam, he felt fortunate to have fought in the snows of Korea. Ronnie explained that in hot climates wounded Marines would often bleed out, but at the Chosin Reservoir the wounds of Marines froze instantly.
As Ronnie walked slowly up the aisle to give his talk, he would always stop and shake hands with a few of the young Marines. It felt different to shake hands with Ronnie, not just because of his enthusiasm, but because in the snows of the Chosin Reservoir, Ronnie left all ten of his fingers.
In his talks, Ronnie always remembered with great affection and respect his friends and fellow Marines who had given their lives in Korea.
Although Ronnie's talk was somber at times, it had its lighter moments. At the end of the talk, Ronnie asked the young Marines if they wanted to see the Marine Corps tattoos on his legs. When the Marines said yes, Ronnie pulled up his trousers and revealed the Marine EGA stickers he had placed on his prostheses. Ronnie had also left both his legs in Korea.
Sergeant Werner "Ronnie" Reininger has now marched forward to his reward. On this anniversary of Chosin, Compass Points salutes Ronnie and all Marines who continue to inspire in their lives and in their deaths.
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Military.com (military.com) 07/08/2015
Sailors, Marines Witness Presentation of 'Lone Star Medal of Valor'
By Specialist 1st Class Jacquelyn D. Childs
Indeed prime example of “if it can go wrong it will.” Boy did it ever. But, then the 1st Marine Division had engineers, sappers, full artillery and infantry regiments. A robust a Marine wing of fixed wing CAS pilots and the early days of helicopter flight. Critically it had Major General OP Smith Divsion CG, who refused to believe the wisdom spewed forth by MacArtur and his acolytes like General Willoughby. Worse when the first attacks did start Tokyo refused to believe that the ChiCom forces were capable of large scale mass formation attacks. Hmmm sound familiar? “I am Commandant Berger I know more than you all and you will do as you’re damn told.” His acolyte General Smith has doubled down on the bad bet. Rather than trade out and buy small increments of assets back he has chosen to make the bad bet worse.
In addition to preparing for what General OP Smith sensed was an impending attack, his forward planning and logistics tail would prove critical to successfully getting most of the 1stMarDiv that fought its way back to Hungnam off the beach for evacuation. One leader showed vision and common sense based on sound military principals of war. The other?
Well look, why rude, it’s Thanksgiving. Best Turkey dinner? Ever? When Master Gunnery Sargent Horsely arrived in a 6X to the machine gun K range on the Verona Loop Road with hot chow. Turkey, mashed potoatos the whole shebang, as a young Infantry Officer the wait for the last tray of chow was sublime as I watched the faces of our young 0331’s in training gorge themselves. Wide smiles, laughter as only Marines can laugh, and maybe for some a real thanksgiving for the first time in their lives. For that reason alone we need to prevail and save the Corps from the current mess. We fight to the whistle. We few, we happy few.
Today’s piece is a prime example of our current judgment being tempered by our history, to wit: 1st MarDiv engagement in the Chosin Reservoir. Given what we know occurred in that grim retrograde, we should ask ourselves this question: Do we have the “right stuff” in terms of personnel and equipment to do what the Marines did at Chosin - if committed tomorrow, could we do it again? The “time to get-well clock” is ticking. Offered as Food For Thought.