Chinese offensive marks the Korean New Year
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Dec. 26, 2000) -- It was revealed that Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" to be announced in the Jan. 1 issue will be "The U.S. Fighting Man" 50 years ago this week.
This was the first time that a group or symbol was selected over an individual. Gen. Douglas MacArthur had already been selected man of the year by the London Daily Express.
The Australia government announced it would not send additional troops to Korea, only replacements for those already there.
About 100,000 of the refugees flooding Pusan were taken to islands, according to U.N. Civil Assistance spokesmen. Seoul citizens were leaving at a daily rate of 80,000 and by Dec. 28 half of the city's one million residents had headed south.
The U.N. Command tightened news censorship, forbidding reporters to identify units smaller than Eighth Army.
Dec. 28-31, 1950 -- William Z. Foster is elected chairman of the American Communist Party at a secret New York meeting. He is unable to attend because of illness, but has sent a message calling all American communists to do all they can to interfere with defense buildup for "an imperialist war." He praises China and Russia and says their proposals for ending the war are "fair." He calls President Harry S. Truman's declaration of national emergency "a monstrous infringement upon the liberties of the people."
Dec. 29 -- The American government officially charges China with having planned to enter the war from the start of the Korean War, a charge that so far has been made only by MacArthur. Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Dean Rusk notes that Koreans in the Chinese army were released in April and May so they could join the North Korean army. Heavy shipments of Russian-made weapons and supplies also crossed Manchuria into North Korea. "There can be no doubt now that the Chinese communists, from the very start, had every intention of intervening," he says.
Dec. 29-30 -- One escape route for Seoul refugees was shut off Dec. 29 when the South Korean government closed rail lines south of the city to build them up for military traffic. The Republic of Korea cabinet decides to remain in Seoul because they feel confident that defenses are adequate.
Port cities of Pusan and Taegu are overburdened with refugees and on Dec. 30 the cities are closed to more refugees.
Dec. 30 -- Outnumbered 40-15 over northwest Korea, Air Force F-86 Sabre pilots damage two Soviet MIG-15s in the largest aerial dogfight of the war and escape without damage or loss. Earlier in the day, another American pilot shot down a MIG-15 to bring the U.S. kill ratio to 17-0.
Dec. 31-Jan.3 -- A heavy Chinese barrage late New Years Eve ends the lull in fighting. The attack has been expected, though. U.N. aircraft had been trying to keep the reds from moving artillery into the area around Kaesong northwest of Seoul.
With the discordant sound of bugles, whistles and cymbals, about 400,000 Chinese attack the U.N. defensive line early on New Years Day. The 125,000 soldiers of the U.N. Command put up a resistance, but the human waves prove too much. Chinese soldiers are killed by napalm and strafing by U.N. fighter planes and in the minefields they charge through. Others throw themselves on barbed wire, and onslaught of humanity continues.
Far East Air Force headquarters says they accounted for 2,650 Chinese casualties when the offensive began. The claims are backed up by ground troops who say American planes killed a lot of enemy soldiers in the assault.
The ROK 1st Division, on Eighth Army's right, bears the brunt of the attack, just as happened in North Korea. When the South Koreans break, Eighth Army withdraws to keep from being encircled. Instead of a disorganized retreat, this time the defenders fall back in an organized movement, inflicting punishment on the enemy. There are reports of soldiers complaining because they can't stay and slug it out with the Chinese.
After the communists drive a wedge between American and British troops northeast of Seoul, Americans decide to withdraw from Seoul.
Other U.N. soldiers set fire to any military structure that the Chinese can use.
Jan. 3 -- South Korean President Syngman Rhee, who until the last minute declared that Seoul defenses were strong enough, leaves Seoul for Pusan. His decision sets off a panic and about 300,000 civilians begin deserting the city. Some of them walk across the frozen Han River.
North Korea boasts that since the war began to Dec. 31, 507 American planes have been shot down. Far East Air Force says 120 planes have been lost between June 25 and Nov. 21, including 99 fighters, 11 bombers and 10 other types of aircraft. Since then, U.S. losses have been negligible, the spokesman says.
