The Dandelion Ranch
A Love Story. Annie and Her Cowboy Marine During The Korean War's Chosin Reservoir Campaign
by
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Louie finally had to ask what the Chosin Few was. They explained to him that Chosin Few meant the few American Marines, Army, Navy and UN survivors of the Changjin Reservoir campaign during the Korean War. "After the success of the Inchon landing, and the recovery of Seoul, the American Marines and the US Army and UK Marines charged all the way to the Changjin Reservoir. But the Changjin Reservoir campaign was deadly because of the human-sea tactics of the Communist Chinese Forces. Our army was surrounded. So, the few that survived from this battle named the fraternity Chosin Few." "Is it Changjin, or Chosin?" Louie said rather sheepishly. "When General MacArthur came to command the military operations, right after World War II, he used Japanese maps. In those maps, Changjin was called Chosin in Japanese. So that name just stuck. Although there were some movements to change Chosin to Changjin later on, what's in a name?" "Yes, and 'Few' means the survivors. The US Marines that survived the Chinese human-sea tactics." One skinny old man spoke for the first time. "After the success of the Inchon landing. the US Army charged on to North Korea, but the participation of the Chinese shook them. They stood their ground against 120,000 Chinese soldiers. Well, on the Changjin Reservoir campaign at the Changjin Reservoir, about eighty miles from Port Hungnam, the road was so narrow that wagons had to go one by one, and the temperature was thirty to forty degrees below zero and to top it all off there was a snowstorm." Now everyone began to speak. "The tired and freezing rifle units of US Marine divisions arrived at Udam-ri, west of the Changjin Reservoir. That was on November 25th, 1950. 120,000 CCF soldiers were lying in ambush, and 500,000 more were waiting across the Yalu River. The US 8th Army and the Korean troops were stationed in a place eighty miles away from Udam-ri, and the main Korean force was already all the way up to the Yalu. But these four powers, the US 8th army, The 10th Corps and the two streams of the Korean forces weren't under united commands, and were so far apart that communication between the units was poor. Ten miles separated the US 10th Corps from the US 8th Army. Both were surrounded by the CCF." "US 10th Corps' marine regiment defended at Yudam-ri. Their duty was to secure the intersection. The intersection was an important strategic point to the US 10th Corps and US 8th Army." "When the US Marines were searching the Udam-ri village on November 25th, the CCF began its attack." Once again, the skinny ranch owner with a low voice began to speak. "The US Marines were surrounded by the enormous numbers of the CCF. For every Marine there were ten soldiers from the CCF. The isolated soldiers began to retreat, passing Udam-ri, Toktong Pass, Hagaru-ri, Kotori, went through Hamhung and toward the final assembly spot, the Port Hungnam. The CCF cut off the line of retreat of the Marines and UN soldiers, starting a general attack to annihilate them. The US Marines fought for their lives as they headed for Hungnam. With them were 100,000 north Korean refugees." "The reason that the Changjin Reservoir campaign and Hungnam withdrawal operation is still remembered and respected was that although we had a huge loss during the retreat, we were able to function as a unit. Discipline was maintained! We were supported by other service units such as the 7th Infantry Division which fought to the last east of Chosin Reservoir to gain time for us in strenghtening defenses. Marine and Navy air support and the Royal Australian Air Group gave us close air support of deadly accuracy against the CCF. Their timely action was vital to ground success. The heroism of an Air Force troop carrier squadron, along with Marine and Navy transports and torpedo planes, saved many a combatant's life in their evacuation of the wounded and dead, to rear positions and hospitals. The air force combat cargo groups with their constant air drop of ammunition and rations, included life-saving bridge sections. This helped the 1st Marine Division to survive." "In only a few days 2,500 our soldiers died and 5,000 were wounded. The rest were freezing in the severe cold. We all still suffer from being frostbitten." One ranch owner with side-whiskers said he lost a finger at the time, holding out a hand to the fire. "The CCF also suffered great losses. 40,000 died. Looking back, they had no medicine, and died in pain when wounded. Or, they froze to death, wearing thin clothes in that cold weather." The oldest ranch owner spoke slowly. "Miraculously, we survived and escaped to Hungnam. Ships were waiting for us there. We sang a hymn, thanking God for sparing us. We sailed all the way to Pusan with 100,000 north Korean refugees. That was the biggest evacuation of civilians during a military operation in history. One hundred thousand men, women, children and children about to be born."
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About the Book
While traveling in the U.S. in 1994, the author happened to find two scrapbooks on the Korean War in a pioneer museum in Bozman, Montana. The old two-volume scrapbooks of 1950-53 led her to write this novel. Some of the characters, places and scenes that appear in this novel are based on the historical record, but it is important to stress that this novel is fictional. The author is grateful to those who worked hard to translate this novel into English. She wishes to especially render her heartfelt thanks to Miss Patricia Jun and Prof. and Mrs. Manert Kennedy and Dr. Walter Klink who edited the English manuscript for grammar and clarity of expression. Also she is extremely thankful to Mr. Robert Lunney and Brother Marinus (Capt. Leonard LaRue)of Meredith Victory, M/Gen(R) Kim Dong Ho, Assist/Chairman of the Committee for the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War for their warm support. But most of all, this book would not have been published without the patience and support of many honorable people from various fields. Especially, without the help of the Chosin Few members, Mr. James Ward and Lt. Col. Thomas Kalus, USMC(R) who sent her books, e-mails and essays on their painful experiences during the Korean War, this book would not have been born.
About the Author
Jeon Kyung-Ae was born in Taegu, South Korea in 1948. She graduated from Ewha Girls' High School and Sogang Jesuit University. She worked for The Korea Herald, the English Newspaper published in Seoul, as a reporter. She translated several books into Korean including Treasure Island, Time Zero and The Diary of Anne Frank before she finally became the novelist publishing The Rose and The Knife, Montana 625, and The Chosin Few in Korean. She also wrote a thesis on "The Forgotten War, Forgotten UN Soldiers and The Chosin Few" at The Graduate School of Public Administration, Seoul National University in 1999. She served as the chairperson of the International Section of The Korea Novelists Association, and now is a board member. She is a member of the Korean Writers Association and International PEN Club. She became an associate member of The Chosin Few in 2001. She and her husband, Dr. Ahn, Moon-Suk, live in Seoul.