Re: Rewriting History

[<ChosinMead@aol.com>]

Jose,
I don't recall saying the 65th were in Hungnam sleeping in warm beds. I do recall saying we all had our jobs to do, and that it doesn't matter whether the job was fighting at the Reservoir or holding the perimeter at Hungnam,The only important consideration was did they do their job well. I know of nothing to indicate that the 65th did not do their job in holding the perimeter.
You said, "If the Chinese had a few more 'victories' such as the Chosin-the war would have ended sooner." You are right but for the wrong reason's. If the Chinese had more "victories" such as at the Chosin-there wouldn't have been any Chinese left. One month later, the First Marine Division had replaced and equipped, and had retaken the field. On the other hand, the Chinese had 7 Divisions that no longer existed-and three more that were so decimated that it would be six months before they could take the field again. They could not have afforded more victories such as that.
As you may have recognized, my primary interest in the Korean war is the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. Consequently, I have an extensive library based on the subject, consisting of everything from books, periodicals, video tapes. No where in all of that material, have I ever encountered info that the 65th was,"just south of the treadway bridge." I would appreciate it if you could recommend where I might find that info-from a third party, not written as a history of the 65th or by one of their apologists.
Sometimes people apply different images to the same words. You said," men running for their lives," You seem to perceive that as something acceptable. I, on the other hand, see terrified men, throwing down the weapons, running helter-skelter like a disorganized mob. I don't know of anyone (other than you) who would find that acceptable. Real fighting men would only consider an orderly retreat as an honorable rearward movement.
Lastly, let me say, that the 65th at Hungnam have no reason to want to rewrite history-their actions were enough to do them honor. As for the 90 members of the 65th who refused to fight-history has already judged them-and rightly so.