The CCF tactics were strange to
us, they being extremely effective by night and
by infiltration and highly effective roadblocks.
Even their methods of communications, such as the
whistles used in small-unit assault above, seemed
eerie and helped demoralize many of our
troops.
On November 5, the CCF broke off
contact to evaluate the results of their attack
and the capabilities of their enemies. This was
musunderstood by the UN High Command, who fatally
underestimated both the strength and the intent
of the CCF forces facing them. After re-grouping,
Eighth Army again formed on the Chongchon River,
and prepared to launch a general assault on
November 25, an assault to get our forces
"home for Christmas."
On November 27, China attacked
once again with what they called the 2nd Phase
Campaign. By December 6, when the CCF recaptured
Pyongyang, Eighth Army was in full flight south
in the longest retreat in United States history,
and 1st Marine Division was just finishing a
savage fight out of encirclement at the Chosin
Reservoir. Thanks to the terrible casualties the
CCF took while trying to crush 1stMarDiv, the
withdrawal of X Corps from Hungnam was orderly
and even permitted saving over 100,000 North
Korean citizens who asked for safe haven in South
Korea.
Such is war.