Battle of Hoengsong

The Battle of Hoengsong was a battle during the Korean War. It took place between 11–15 February 1951. As part of the renewed Chinese assault on the UN strongholds in Korea, it was the first part of the CPVA Fourth Phase Offensive, and was fought between the Chinese and United Nations forces. The Chinese were victorious in this battle, having inflicted heavy casualties to the UNC forces in the two days of fighting. South Korean soldiers were ordered to lead the assault and the U.S. were ordered to support them, not lead the assault this time. Unfortunately, after the Chinese offensive began, retreating South Korean soldiers streamed south past U.S. support forces, allowing the Chinese to flank American positions. Soon, the Chinese owned the narrow, twisting valley north of Hoengsong and the road that ran through it, the only escape route. Hundreds of U.S. soldiers including field artillerymen, infantry, and logistics soldiers were killed by Chinese forces, resulting in one of the most lopsided defeats suffered by the U.S. military in the Korean War.

Hundreds of bodies of U.S. soldiers lay where they fell as well as their destroyed vehicles. The Chinese stripped the soldiers of their heavy winter clothing and shoes. Many U.S. soldiers had been shot in the head with their hands tied behind their back. It was a very harsh cold winter so the corpses were still fresh when the U.S. Marines arrived a month later in March after finally driving the communist forces out of the area. The Marines angrily posted a sign on the side of the road next to where their fallen army comrades died that said "Massacre Valley, Scene of Harry S. Truman's Police Action. Nice Going, Harry!"

After being pushed back northward by UN Command's counteroffensives earlier during Operation Thunderbolt, the Communist forces halted the UN counterattack as well, temporarily regaining the initiative.