Re: ALTITUDE-INDUCED ILLNESSES in the Korean War

[Ed Evanhoe <evanhoe1@korean-war.com>]

> Blake,

As a matter of information, the highest mountain in Korea is Paektu-San, 
located in far northern Korea on the Korea-Manchurian border.  It is 9032 
feet high (2744 meters) and its slopes provide the headwaters for both the 
Yalu (western slope) and Tumen (eastern slope) rivers - the dividing lines 
between Korea and China..  We never reached this mountain during the Korean 
War. The highest mountains in the area fought over by U.N. forces were 
Kumgang-San (south of Wonsan approximately on the 39th Parallel) and 
Taebaek-San (approximately on the 37th Parallel in the eastern part of 
South Korea.)  Kumgang-San (Diamond Mountain) is 5391 feet high (1638 
meters) and Taebaek-San is 5138 feet (1567 meters) high.  And U.S. troops 
never fought on either Kumgang-San or Taebaek-San, only South Korean 
troops.  The mountains within the U.S. areas, while steep and jagged, were 
all under 5000 feet tall.  In other words, lower than Denver, 
Colorado.  Thus I'm wondering how much altitude sickness there could be?

Ed

Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, OK, 74523
Life Member: Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
Author: DARKMOON: Eighth Army Special Operations in the Korean War
Web site:  http://www.korean-war.com