Supporting Veterans in Your Community

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Twelve significant battles and monuments that highlight key moments in which the U.S. military was engaged during the Korean War:

1. Battle of Pusan Perimeter (1950) – Early in the war, U.S. and South Korean forces held a defensive line around the port city of Pusan, repelling North Korean advances and preventing the fall of the entire Korean Peninsula.
   • Monument: The UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan, South Korea, honors the U.S. and Allied forces who defended the Pusan Perimeter and fought in the Korean War.

https://koreanwarlegacy.org/chapters/holding-the-pusan-perimeter/

1. Inchon Landing (1950) – General Douglas MacArthur’s bold amphibious assault at Inchon turned the tide of the war, allowing U.S. and UN forces to recapture Seoul and push North Korean forces back across the 38th parallel.
   • Monument: The Inchon Memorial Hall commemorates the successful landing and honors the sacrifices of the soldiers involved.

https://koreanwarlegacy.org/chapters/changing-the-game-at-incheon/

1. Battle of Chosin Reservoir (1950) – U.S. Marines and Army forces faced brutal winter conditions and overwhelming Chinese forces in northeastern Korea. Despite being surrounded, they executed a fighting withdrawal, inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese.
   • Monument: The Chosin Few Monument at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia honors the heroic stand of the U.S. forces.

https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/the-battle-of-chosin-reservoir-the-korean-wars-hills-of-hell/

1. Battle of Osan (1950) – The first U.S. ground engagement of the war, where Task Force Smith attempted to delay advancing North Korean forces but was quickly overwhelmed, marking the harsh realities of the conflict.
   • Monument: The Task Force Smith Memorial at Osan Air Base in South Korea commemorates the bravery of the first U.S. soldiers to engage in the war.

https://www.pacaf.af.mil/Info/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/909898/osan-air-base/

1. Battle of Heartbreak Ridge (1951) – A protracted battle in which U.S. and UN forces fought to capture a strategically important ridge from well-entrenched North Korean and Chinese troops. It demonstrated the brutal, attritional nature of the war.
   • Monument: A memorial marker on Heartbreak Ridge in South Korea honors the U.S. soldiers who fought in this fierce battle.

https://blog.togetherweserved.com/korean-war-the-battle-of-heartbreak-ridge/

1. Battle of Pork Chop Hill (1953) – Fought near the end of the war, U.S. forces engaged in intense combat with Chinese troops for control of a small but strategically important hill. The battle epitomized the high cost of holding symbolic terrain during the conflict.
   • Monument: The Pork Chop Hill Memorial in South Korea commemorates the sacrifices made by U.S. soldiers during the battle.

https://army.togetherweserved.com/dispatches-articles/63/797/Battlefield+Chronicles+-+Pork+Chop+Hill

1. Battle of Seoul (1950 & 1951) – Seoul was recaptured twice by U.S. and UN forces, first after the Inchon landing and later after being briefly retaken by Chinese forces. Both battles were pivotal in controlling the South Korean capital.
   • Monument: The War Memorial of Korea in Seoul commemorates all battles fought for the liberation of the city and the country during the war.

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3418679/america-marks-anniversary-of-end-of-korean-war/

1. Battle of Bloody Ridge (1951) – U.S. and UN forces fought for control of a ridge in central Korea, eventually capturing it after weeks of bitter fighting against North Korean and Chinese forces.
   • Monument: A monument near the battle site on Bloody Ridge commemorates the U.S. and UN troops who fought there.

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/battle-of-bloody-ridge-korean-war.html

1. Battle of Old Baldy (1952-1953) – A series of engagements over control of a hill nicknamed "Old Baldy," with both sides suffering heavy casualties as the hill changed hands multiple times. It underscored the static, trench warfare that dominated the later stages of the war.
   • Monument: The Old Baldy Memorial in South Korea remembers those who fought for control of the hill during these intense battles.

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-battles-at-old-baldy-korean-war.html

1. 10.Battle of Imjin River (1951) – A key battle where U.S. and British forces held off a Chinese offensive across the Imjin River, preventing a breach of UN lines and maintaining control of a vital defensive position.
   • Monument: The Gloster Memorial near the Imjin River honors both U.S. and Commonwealth forces who fought in the battle.

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-battle-of-imjin-river-korean-war.html

1. Battle of Chipyong-ni (1951) – Often called the "Gettysburg of the Korean War," U.S. and French forces successfully defended Chipyong-ni against a large-scale Chinese assault, marking a turning point in halting Chinese advances.
   • Monument: The Chipyong-ni Memorial in South Korea commemorates this crucial defensive victory by U.S. and French forces.

https://www.armyheritage.org/soldier-stories-information/the-battle-of-chipyong-ni/

These battles and monuments highlight critical moments where U.S. forces played pivotal roles in the Korean War, facing overwhelming odds and enduring some of the most intense combat in the conflict.