Battle of Chipyong-ni

Battle Chipyongg-ni
	Part of Korean War
	; Map of the Battle of Chipyong-ni on the night of 13-14 February 1951
Date	13-15 February 1951
Location	Jipyeong-ri
Result	UN victory

The Battle of Chipyong-ni was a battle of the Korean War that took place from 13-15 February, 1951, between members of the 23rd Infantry Regiment and various units of the People's Volunteer Army (PVA). It took place in the village of Chipyong-ni, present-day Jipyeong-ri. The result was a United Nations Command victory. The battle, along with the Battle of Wonju, has been called "the Gettysburg of the Korean War," and represents the "high-water mark" of the Chinese incursion into Korea.^[1]

Background

After Chinese forces entered Korea in November 1950, the UN Forces, uncertain about the intentions and warfighting capabilities of the Chinese, drew back behind the 38th parallel and waited to see what the Chinese would do. Plans were even made for complete withdrawal from the peninsula.^[1] In this climate of general low uncertainty, Lt. General Matthew B. Ridgeway decided to make a stand at Chipyong-ni and also at Wonju.^[2]

Prelude

Following the Battle of the Twin Tunnels on 1 February, 1951, the 23rd Regimental Combat Team under the command of Paul L. Freeman, Jr. reached the small railroad town of Chipyong-ni on 3 February and immediately set up a perimeter defense.^[3] Over the next few days, they dug in and were reinforced by artillery, tank, and engineer elements. By February 13, their strength consisted of three infantry battalions; the French Infantry Battalion and First Ranger Company, both attached to the battalion; the 37th Field Artillery Battalion; Battery B, 82nd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion; Battery B, 503rd Field Artillery Battalion; Company B, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion; and a platoon from the 2nd Medical Battalion. In all, Freeman had 4,500 men under his command, including 2,500 front-line infantrymen.^[2]

On the morning 13th after a patrol revealed a significant Chinese presence on Route 24 to the north of the town, Lt. General Edward Almond, commander of X Corps ordered the 23rd Regiment to withdraw to the Yoju area, 15 miles to the south, due to concerns that it would be encircled by Chinese forces. However, later on the same day, Ridgeway reversed this decision after meeting with his superior, Douglas MacArthur. He insisted on attempting to hold Chipyong-ni, and directed Almond to attack north in order to relieve the regiment if it was cut off.^[4]

Informed of this, Freeman became to bulk up his defenses, and requested resupply by air and airstrikes for the 14th. He deployed his 3rd Battalion to the northern part of the perimeter, the 2nd to the south, and the 3rd on the east, with the French on the western side. The combat engineers of Company B and the Rangers were kept in reserve behind the 1st Battalion line.

Battle

During the afternoon of the 13th, Chinese forces were sighted all around the perimeter, and were driven off by artillery. Early in the evening, Freeman gathered his unit commanders and told them to expect an attack during the night.

At 2200 hours, Company C, positioned near Route 24 on the northern perimeter, where hit by machine gun and mortar fire. At 2300, Chinese infantrymen attacked various points along the perimeter, on all sides. They continued to attack all through the night, but penetrated the perimeter only once, in the Company G sector to the south, which was beaten off with the help of the regiment's armor company and Company F. The Chinese withdrew at around 0730.

At dawn on the 14th, Freeman had sustained about 100 casualties and been hit in the leg by mortar fire himself. He retained command despite his injuries. Air support kept the Chinese away during the daylight hours of the 14th.

At dusk, artillery fire began to come down on the perimeter, followed soon after by infantry assaults. Fighting was fiercest in the sectors of Companies G and F, in the south, where at around 0315, Chinese forces broke through the perimeter and forced the defenders out of their positions, a serious threat to the beleaguered regiment. At daybreak on the 15th, Freeman ordered the Ranger company and what remained of Companies G and F to counterattack, but they were driven back. At noon on the 15th, B Company, in full view of the Chinese and across open ground, attacked once more and this time, supported by UN napalm strikes, drove off the Chinese, sustaining 50% casualties. Aware that an armored column containing elements of the 5th Cavalry Regiment (Task Force Crombez) was approaching, the Chinese withdrew.

Aftermath

Casualties on the UN side of the conflict were 51 killed, 250 wounded, and 42 missing. The Chinese lost approximately 2,000 killed and 3,000 wounded.

Awards

On February 20th, Sergeant First Class William S. Sitman was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the battle.

The French Battalion attached to the 23rd received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions during the battle.

References

^ ^a ^b "Battle of Chip'yong-ni February 1951" (PDF). 2nd Infantry Division. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
^ ^a ^b Russel A. Gugeler. "Combat Operations in Korea". Retrieved 10 November 2009.
^ "Ansil L.Walker Recalls the Battle of Chipyong-ni During the Korean War". HistoryNet.com. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
^ Bill C. Mossman. "Ebb and Flow November 1950-July 1951: Chapter 15: Defending the Wonju Line". Retrieved 10 November 2009.

External links

[2id-1] "Battle of Chip'yong-ni February 1951" (PDF). 2nd Infantry Division. Retrieved 10 November 2009.

[Gugeler-2] Russel A. Gugeler. "Combat Operations in Korea". Retrieved 10 November 2009.

[HistoryNet-3] "Ansil L.Walker Recalls the Battle of Chipyong-ni During the Korean War". HistoryNet.com. Retrieved 10 November 2009.

[Mossman-4] Bill C. Mossman. "Ebb and Flow November 1950-July 1951: Chapter 15: Defending the Wonju Line". Retrieved 10 November 2009.

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