Hungnam evacuation

Overview

The Hungnam evacuation (Hungnam evacuation operation) was the seaborne withdrawal, carried out from the Hungnam port in South Hamgyong Province, of the U.S. X Corps (1st Marine Division, 7th Division, 3rd Division), which had fought the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, and the ROK I Corps (Capital Division, 3rd Division). U.S. Navy Task Force 90 (commanded by Admiral Doyle) mobilized more than 125 transport ships, and seven aircraft carriers along with battleships, cruisers, and destroyers covered the beachhead with naval gunfire and aircraft. As tens of thousands of refugees crowded the docks, at the request of ROK commanders and U.S. civil affairs officers, it was decided that refugees would also be taken aboard the ships.

Background

In late November, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's Second Offensive broke the U.S. Eighth Army on the western front at the Chongchon River, and on the east the U.S. X Corps was encircled at the Chosin Reservoir. A land connection with the Eighth Army to the south became impossible, and in early December MacArthur's headquarters decided to withdraw X Corps by sea. The ROK I Corps, which had advanced toward Chongjin and Songjin on the northern east coast, also gathered at Hungnam and Songjin. Some troops and refugees also withdrew from Wonsan.

Course of events

• 11 December: The 1st Marine Division, having withdrawn from the Chosin Reservoir, arrived at Hungnam. A semicircular beachhead was established around Hungnam.
• 12–15 December: The 1st Marine Division was the first to board ships and left Hungnam around 15 December. ROK I Corps units also embarked in turn. Some troops and cargo were flown out through Yeonpo Airfield.
• 15–23 December: The 7th and 3rd Divisions gradually boarded ships while shrinking the beachhead. Meanwhile, naval vessels and aircraft launched intense bombardment against the Chinese forces approaching beyond the perimeter.
• 22–23 December: The cargo ship SS Meredith Victory (Captain Leonard LaRue), instead of the military supplies it had been loaded with, took aboard more than 14,000 refugees and left Hungnam; after a three-day voyage it reached Jangseungpo on Geoje Island around Christmas. Five babies were born during the voyage. This was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest number of people rescued by a single ship.
• 24 December: After the last unit, the U.S. 3rd Division, had boarded, U.S. forces blew up the Hungnam port facilities and the remaining ammunition and supplies. The fleet left the waters off Hungnam on Christmas Eve.

Scale

The number of troops evacuated is reported as about 105,000, vehicles about 17,000, and cargo about 350,000 tons (many sources give both planned and actual figures, so exact values differ between sources). According to English-language sources, more than 86,000 refugees boarded ships at Hungnam, and including Wonsan and Songjin, about 98,000 people from the northeastern region moved south, while a similar number of people were left behind on the docks. In Korea, refugees are often referred to as "about 100,000."