Editing Battle of Chosin Reservoir (section)

==Battle==
[[File:Song Shilun in Chosin Reservoir.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Three Korean men standing in a snowy field|Song Shilun (middle), commander of the People's Volunteer Army 9th Corps at Chosin Reservoir]]
On the night of 27 November, the PVA 20th and 27th Armies of the 9th Corps launched multiple attacks and ambushes along the road between the Chosin Reservoir and Kot'o-ri. At Yudam-ni, the 5th, 7th and 11th Marines were surrounded and attacked by the PVA [[79th Division (People's Republic of China)|79th]] and [[89th Division (People's Republic of China)|89th Divisions]], with the [[59th Division (People's Republic of China)|59th Division]] attacking the road between Yudam-ni and Hagaru-ri to cut off communication. Similarly, RCT-31 was isolated and ambushed at Sinhung-ni by the PVA [[80th Division (People's Republic of China)|80th]] and [[81st Division (People's Republic of China)|81st Divisions]]. At Hagaru-ri, the 1st Marine Division command headquarters was targeted by the PVA [[58th Division (People's Republic of China)|58th Division]]. Finally, the PVA [[60th Division (People's Republic of China)|60th Division]] surrounded elements of the 1st Marines at Kot'o-ri from the north.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=52}} Caught by complete surprise, the UN forces were cut off at Yudam-ni, Sinhung-ni, Hagaru-ri and Kot'o-ri by 28 November.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=72}}

===Actions at Yudam-ni===
[[File:Chinese 79th Division at Chosin.jpg|thumb|alt=A group of soldiers climbing up a snow-covered hill|Soldiers from the Chinese 79th Division moving to engage the Marines at Yudam-ni]]
Acting on Almond's order, Smith ordered the 5th Marines to attack west toward Mupyong-ni on 27 November.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=52}} The attack was soon stalled by the PVA 89th Division and forced the Marines to dig in on the ridges surrounding Yudam-ni.{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=301}}{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=56}} As night came, three Chinese regiments of the 79th Division attacked the ridges on the north and northwest of Yudam-ni, hoping to annihilate the garrison in one stroke.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=68}} Close quarters fighting soon developed as the attackers infiltrated Marine positions,{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=64–68}} but the 5th and 7th Marines held the line while inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese.{{sfn|Guang|2007|pp=68–71}}{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=74}} As day broke on 28 November, the Chinese and Americans were locked in a stalemate around the Yudam-ni perimeter.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=71}}

While the battle was underway at Yudam-ni, the PVA 59th Division blocked the road between Yudam-ni and Hagaru-ri by attacking the defending Charlie and Fox Companies of the 7th Marines.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=227}} The successful assault forced Charlie Company to retreat into Yudam-ni, which left Fox Company, commanded by Captain [[William E. Barber]], isolated on a hill overlooking the Toktong Pass, a vital pass that controlled the road.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=73}} On 29 November, several efforts by the 7th Marines failed to rescue Fox Company, despite inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=178}} Aided by artillery from Hagaru-ri and Marine [[F4U Corsair|Corsair fighters]], Fox Company managed to hold out for five days while enduring constant attacks by the PVA 59th Division.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=226}}

After the heavy losses suffered by the PVA 79th Division at Yudam-ni, 9th Corps headquarter realized that the bulk of the 1st Marine Division was stationed at Yudam-ni, with a garrison strength double the initial estimate.{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=329}} Believing that any further assaults would be futile, Song Shilun ordered the 9th Corps to switch their main attacks toward Sinhung-ni and Hagaru-ri,{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=329}} leaving Yudam-ni alone from 28 to 30 November.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=213}} At the same time, the US Eighth Army on the Korean western front was forced into full retreat at the [[Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River]], and MacArthur ordered Almond to withdraw the US X&nbsp;Corps to the port of Hungnam.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=120–121}} Acting on Almond and Smith's instructions, Lieutenant Colonel [[Raymond L. Murray]] and Colonel [[Homer Litzenberg|Homer L. Litzenberg]], commanders of the 5th and 7th Marines, respectively, issued a joint order to break out from Yudam-ni to Hagaru-ri on 30 November.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=215}} Faced with tough fighting between the blocking Chinese divisions and the withdrawing Marines, Smith remarked: "Retreat, hell! We're not retreating, we're just advancing in a different direction."{{sfn|Retreat of the 20,000 |1950}}

For the breakout, the Marines formed into a convoy with a single [[M4 Sherman|M4A3 Sherman tank]] in the lead. The plan was to have [[3rd Battalion 5th Marines|3rd Battalion, 5th Marines]] (3/5) as the vanguard of the convoy, with three battalions covering the rear. At the same time, [[1st Battalion 7th Marines|1st Battalion, 7th Marines]] (1/7) would attack towards Fox Company in order to open the road at Toktong Pass.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=215–216}} To start the breakout, [[3rd Battalion 7th Marines|3rd Battalion, 7th Marines]] (3/7) had to first attack south and capture Hills 1542 and 1419 in order to cover the road from Chinese attacks.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=218}} The breakout was carried out under the air cover of the 1st Marine Air Wing.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=214}}

[[File:Marines engage during the Korean War.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A line of soldiers on a hill engaged in a battle|Marines engaging the Chinese]]
On the morning of 1 December, 3/7 Marines engaged the PVA 175th Regiment of the 59th Division at Hills 1542 ({{Coord|40.435|N|127.107|E|display=inline}}) and 1419 ({{Coord|40.428|N|127.135|E|display=inline}}). The Chinese defenders soon forced the Marines to dig in on the slopes between the road and the peaks{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=220}} when the convoy passed 3/7's position by the afternoon.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=218}} With Hagaru-ri still not captured, the PVA High Command scrambled the 79th Division to resume attacks on Yudam-ni, while the 89th Division rushed south towards Kot'o-ri.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=88}} The Chinese struck at night, and the ferocity of the fighting forced the rear covering forces to call in [[night fighter]]s to suppress the attacks.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=223}} The fighting lasted well into the morning of 2 December until all the Marines had managed to withdraw from Yudam-ni.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=223}}

At the same time, 1/7 Marines also tried to break the Chinese blockade at Hill 1419 on 1 December. Despite being badly reduced by combat, hunger and frostbite, the PVA 59th Division sent in its last five platoons and refused to yield.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=86}} As night approached, 1/7 finally captured the peak and started to march through the hills on the east side of the road.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=233}} Relying on the element of surprise, they managed to destroy several Chinese positions along the road.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=234}} On the morning of 2 December, a joint attack by Fox Company and 1/7 secured the Toktong Pass, thus opening the road between Yudam-ni and Hagaru-ri.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=235}}

Although the road had been opened between Yudam-ni and Hagaru-ri, the convoy still had to fight through the numerous Chinese positions on the hills overlooking the road. On the first night of the retreat, the Chinese struck the convoy in force and inflicted heavy casualties on 3/5 Marines.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=221–223}} Although strong air cover suppressed most of the Chinese forces for the rest of the march, the cold weather, harassing fire, raiding parties, and roadblocks slowed the retreat to a crawl, while inflicting numerous casualties.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=224–225}} Despite those difficulties, the convoy reached Hagaru-ri in an orderly fashion on the afternoon of 3 December, with the withdrawal completed on 4 December.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=239–243}}

===East of the reservoir===
[[File:Lt. Col. Don C. Faith, Jr., 150226-O-ZZ999-021.jpg|thumb|alt=A Caucasian man with brown hair in a military uniform|Lieutenant Colonel Don Carlos Faith, Jr.]]
RCT-31, later known as "[[Task Force Faith]]," was a hastily formed regimental combat team from the 7th Infantry Division that guarded the right flank of the Marine advance towards Mupyong-ni. Before the battle, RCT-31 was spread thin, with main elements separated on the hills north of Sinhung-ni, the Pyungnyuri Inlet west of Sinhung-ni, and the town of Hudong-ni ({{Coord|40.43|N|127.28|E|display=inline}}) south of Sinhung-ni.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=85}} Although the Chinese believed RCT-31 to be a reinforced [[regiment]],{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=329}} the task force was actually understrength, with one [[battalion]] missing, due to the bulk of the 7th Infantry Division being scattered over northeast Korea.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=85}}

On the night of 27 November, three regiments from the 80th Division attacked the northern hills ({{Coord|40.489|N|127.259|E|display=inline}}) and the inlet,{{sfn|Guang|2007|pp=53–54}} completely surprising the defenders.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=89}} The 1st Battalion, [[32d Infantry Regiment (United States)|32nd Infantry]], to the north of Sinhung-ni suffered heavy casualties,{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=93}} while the 57th Field Artillery Battalion and the 3rd Battalion, [[31st Infantry Regiment (United States)|31st Infantry]], were almost overrun at Pyungnyuri Inlet.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=97}} The Chinese also sent the 242nd Regiment of the 81st Division towards Hill 1221, ({{Coord|40.449|N|127.268|E|display=inline}}),{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=55}} an undefended hill that controlled the road between Sinhung-ni and Hudong-ni.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=98}} As the night's fighting ended, RCT-31 was split into three elements.{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=310}}

Believing that the defenders had been completely destroyed at the inlet, the Chinese stopped their attacks and proceeded to loot the American positions for food and clothing.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=58}} As morning came on 28 November, the 3/31st Infantry counterattacked the PVA 239th Regiment at the inlet, driving the surprised Chinese back in a complete rout.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=58}}{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=96}} In the afternoon, Almond flew into the Sinhung-ni perimeter of RCT-31, convinced that RCT-31 was strong enough to begin its attack north and deal with whatever "remnants" of Chinese forces were in their way. Almond ordered Colonel Allan D. Maclean, the commander of RCT-31, to resume the offensive north, while presenting [[Silver Star]]s to three of Maclean's officers. In disgust, Lieutenant Colonel [[Don C. Faith, Jr.]], the commander of the 1/32nd Infantry, threw his medal into the snow.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=102–103}}

[[File:Chinese at Chosin.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Soldiers charging into thick smoke|Chinese troops assaulting Task Force Faith's position at Sinhung-ni.]]
On the night of 28 November, the PVA 80th Division attacked again with four regiments.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=59}} At the inlet, the Chinese assault became a disaster as communications broke down, while devastating fire from the [[M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage|M16]] and [[M19 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage|M19]] anti-aircraft (AA) guns attached to the 57th Field Artillery Battalion swept the Chinese ranks.{{sfn|Guang|2007|pp=59–60}}{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=107}}{{efn|RCT-31's anti-aircraft guns were from D Battery, 15th Antiaircraft Battalion, which was attached to the 57th Field Artillery Battalion during the entire battle. See {{harvnb|Appleman|1990|p=82}}.}} In the aftermath, the PVA 238th and the 239th Regiment together had fewer than 600 soldiers.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=61}} The attacks by PVA 240th Regiment, on the other hand, forced Maclean to order a retreat from the northern hills towards Sinhung-ni.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=110}} On 29 November, the 1st Battalion managed to break through the Chinese blockade and reached the Sinhung-ni perimeter, but Maclean was lost when he mistook some Chinese soldiers for American.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=114}}{{efn|Maclean's final fate is disputed between US and Chinese sources. Although both sides agreed that Maclean was shot numerous times while running towards the Chinese soldiers, Chinese sources claim that Maclean was shot dead on the spot, while UN POWs stated that Maclean later died from his wounds while being moved to a POW camp. See {{harvnb|Appleman|1990|p=114}} and {{harvnb|Guang|2007|p=60}}.}} The Chinese finally stopped their attacks on the night of 29 November, while waiting for fresh reinforcements.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=62}}

While RCT-31 was under siege, Almond finally instructed the 1st Marine Division to rescue it by breaking out of Yudam-ni, an impossible order for Smith to implement.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=183}} Only the 31st Tank Company tried to rescue RCT-31, by attacking Hill 1221 from Hudong-ni,{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=103}} but without infantry support, the two armored attacks on 28 and 29 November were stalled by slippery roads, rough terrain, and close infantry assaults.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=103–105, 118–9}} By 30 November, the US forces evacuated Hudong-ni in order to defend Hagaru-ri, leaving the rest of RCT-31 completely isolated.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=126}}

On 30 November, Major General [[David G. Barr]], the commander of the 7th Infantry Division, flew into Sinhung-ni and met with Faith, who by now had assumed command of RCT-31. Faith laid out the difficulties of a breakout, particularly the 500 wounded that RCT-31 had to bring along.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=124}} On the same day, parts of the PVA [[94th Division (People's Republic of China)|94th Division]]{{efn|Misidentified as the 90th Division by UN intelligence. See {{harvnb|Guang|2007|p=118}}.}} and the rest of the 81st Division{{sfn|Ye|p=114|2007}} arrived as reinforcements for the 80th Division.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=62}} By midnight, six{{sfn|Ye|p=126|2007}} Chinese regiments renewed their attacks, and Zhan Danan, the commander of the 80th Division, ordered the complete destruction of RCT-31 before dawn.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=63}} Again, the 57th Battalion's AA guns held the Chinese at bay,{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=129–130}} but supplies of shells were desperately low.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=134}} On the day of 1 December, Faith finally ordered RCT-31 to break out from Sinhung-ni and withdraw to Hagaru-ri.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=134}}

[[File:Koreacloseairsupporttwo1950.JPEG|thumb|alt=Soldiers watch a hill in front of them as aircraft drop bombs on it|Marines watch [[F4U Corsair]]s drop napalm on Chinese positions.]]
The breakout began as soon as the weather allowed the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing to provide air cover on 1 December.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=132–135}} As the soldiers formed a convoy and tried to leave the Sudong-ni perimeter, the PVA 241st Regiment immediately swarmed over the American forces,{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=137}} with three other regiments closing in.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=64}} Left with no choice, the covering aircraft dropped [[napalm]] right in front of RCT-31, inflicting casualties on both American and Chinese troops.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=137–138}} The resulting firestorm wiped out the blocking Chinese company,{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=64}} allowing the convoy to advance.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=138}} As the front of RCT-31 made its way forward, heavy small arms fire caused many members of the rear guard to seek shelter below the road instead of protecting the trucks.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=138}} Chinese fire also killed or wounded those already in the trucks as well as the drivers, who viewed the job as a form of suicide.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=139}} Slowly, the convoy approached a roadblock under Hill 1221 in the late afternoon.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=140}} Several parties tried to clear Hill 1221, but after taking part of the hill, the leaderless soldiers continued out onto the frozen reservoir instead of returning to the column.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=144}} As Faith led an assault on the roadblock, he was hit by a Chinese grenade and subsequently died of his wounds.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=146}} The convoy managed to fight past the first roadblock, but as it reached the second at Hudong-ni, RCT-31 disintegrated under Chinese attacks.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=150}} Out of the original 2,500 soldiers, about 1,050 managed to reach Hagaru-ri, and only 385 survivors were deemed able-bodied.{{sfn|Alexander|1986|p= 339}} The remnants of RCT-31 were formed into a provisional army battalion for the rest of the battle.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=249}}

===Actions at Hagaru-ri===
[[File:Dasc at hagaru ri.jpg|thumb|alt=A group of tents surrounded by grass|A [[Direct Air Support Center]] at Hagaru-ri]]
To support the Marine attack towards Mupyong-ni, Hagaru-ri became an important supply dump with an airfield under construction. Smith and 1st Marine Division headquarters were also located at Hagaru-ri.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=72}} With the bulk of the 1st Marine Division gathered at Yudam-ni, Hagaru-ri was lightly defended by two battalions from the 1st and 7th Marines, the rest of the garrison being composed of engineers and rear support units from both the Army and the Marine Corps.{{sfn|Alexander|1986|p= 322}}

The original Chinese plan called for the 58th Division to attack Hagaru-ri on the night of 27 November, but the division became lost in the countryside due to the outdated Japanese maps it used.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=74}} It was not until the dawn of 28 November that the 58th Division arrived at Hagaru-ri.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=74}} Meanwhile, from the fighting and ambushes that had occurred the previous night, the garrison at Hagaru-ri noticed the Chinese forces around them. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas L. Ridge, commander of [[3rd Battalion, 1st Marines]] (3/1), predicted the Chinese attack would come on the night of 28 November.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=162}} Almost everyone, including rear support units with little combat training, was pressed into service on the front line due to the manpower shortage,{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=174}} and the entire perimeter was on full alert by 21:30.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=163}}

It was not long before the PVA 173rd Regiment attacked the western and the southern perimeter, while the 172nd Regiment struck the hills on the northern perimeter.{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=317}} Despite the preparations, the understrength garrison was overwhelmed, with the Chinese opening several gaps in the defenses and reaching the rear areas.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=165}} The resulting chaos, however, caused a breakdown in discipline among the Chinese soldiers, who began looting food and clothing instead of exploiting the situation.{{sfn|Alexander|1986|p= 324}} The defending Americans managed to destroy the Chinese forces in counterattacks, while a breakdown of communications between the Chinese regiments allowed the gaps to close.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=174}} When the fighting stopped, the Chinese had only gained the East Hill ({{Coord|40.387|N|127.259|E|display=inline}}) on the northern perimeter.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=174}} Another attack was planned for the night of 29 November, but air raids by [[VMA-542|VMF-542]] broke up the Chinese formations before it could be carried out.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=195}}

[[File:Evacuation of wounded Marines during the Korean War.jpg|thumb|alt=A wounded man is carried by soldiers onto a helicopter|Wounded Marine being evacuated by a [[Sikorsky H-5|HO3S-1]] helicopter from [[VMO-6]]]]
Given the critical manpower shortage at Hagaru-ri, on 29 November, Smith ordered Colonel [[Chesty Puller|Lewis "Chesty" Puller]] of the [[First Marine Regiment]] to assemble a task force to be sent north from Kot'o-ri to open the road south of Hagaru-ri.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=186}}{{sfn|Hickman}} A task force was formed with 921 troops from 41 (Royal Marine) Commando, G Company of the 1st Marines and B Company of the 31st Infantry.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=187}}{{sfn|Montross|Canzona|1992|pp=228, 234}} It was dubbed "Task Force Drysdale" after its commander, Lieutenant Colonel Douglas B. Drysdale, who also commanded 41 Commando.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=187}} 

On the afternoon of 29 November, Task Force Drysdale pushed north from Koto-ri, while under constant attack from the PVA 60th Division.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=78}}{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=189}} The task force's harrowing experience later earned the road the nickname "Hell Fire Valley".{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=193}} As the Chinese attacks dragged on, the task force became disorganized,{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=191}} and a destroyed truck in the convoy later split the task force into two segments.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=192}} Although the lead segment fought its way into Hagaru-ri on the night of 29 November, the rear segment was destroyed.{{sfn|Alexander|1986|p= 327}} Despite suffering 162 dead and missing and 159 wounded, the task force managed to bring in 300 badly needed infantrymen for the defense at Hagaru-ri.{{sfn|Montross|Canzona|1992|pp=228, 234}}{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=201}}

As more reinforcements arrived from Hudong-ni on 30 November,{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=204}} the garrisons attempted to recapture the East Hill. All efforts failed, despite the destruction of a Chinese company.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=80}}{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=203}} When darkness settled, the PVA 58th Division gathered its remaining 1,500 soldiers in a last-ditch attempt to capture Hagaru-ri.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=81}} The reinforced defenders annihilated most of the attacking forces, with only the defences around the East Hill giving way.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=205}} As the Chinese tried to advance from the East Hill, they were cut down by the 31st Tank Company.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=206}}

By 1 December, the PVA 58th Division was virtually destroyed,{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=340}} with the remainder waiting for reinforcements from the 26th Army of the 9th Corps.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=97}}{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=251}} Much to the frustration of Song Shilun, the 26th Corps did not arrive before the Marines broke out of Yudam-ni.{{sfn|Xue & Li Part Four|2000}} The airfield was opened to traffic on 1 December, allowing UN forces to bring in reinforcements and to evacuate the dead and wounded.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=208}} With the Marines at Yudam-ni completing their withdrawal on 4 December, the trapped UN forces could finally start their breakout towards the port of Hungnam.

===Breakout===
[[File:Chosin-Retreat.png|thumb|alt=A map showing the withdrawal of a military force south along a river|A map of the Retreat from the Changjin (Chosin) Reservoir]]
After a short rest, the breakout began on 6 December, with the 7th Marines as the vanguard of the retreating column, while the 5th Marines covered the rear.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=247}} At the same time, the much-delayed PVA 26th Army arrived at Hagaru-ri with its [[76th Division (People's Republic of China)|76th]] and [[77th Division (People's Republic of China)|77th Divisions]] to relieve the 58th and 60th Divisions.{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=379}} As the 7th Marines pushed aside the PVA 76th Division south of Hagaru-ri, the 5th Marines took over the Hagaru-ri perimeter and recaptured the East Hill from the 76th Division.{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=382}}{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=260}} In a last effort to stop the breakout,{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=382}} the customary Chinese night attack was launched, with the 76th and 77th Division striking the Hagaru-ri perimeter from all directions.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=97}} The Marines repulsed the attacks, inflicting heavy casualties.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=262}}

Meanwhile, the 7th Marines opened the road between Hagaru-ri and Koto-ri by capturing the high ground surrounding the road. But as soon as the Marines pulled out, the 77th Division returned to the peaks and attacked the column.{{sfn|Roe|2000|pp=382–383}}{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=257}} Chaotic fighting broke out and the retreat was slowed to a crawl.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=257–259}} The Marine night fighters returned to subdue the Chinese forces,{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=257}} and most of the blocking troops were eliminated.{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=383}} On 7 December, the rest of the column managed to reach Kot'o-ri with little difficulty, with the last elements reaching Kot'o-ri that night.{{sfn|Alexander|1986|p= 361}}

After the failure of the 26th Corps at Hagaru-ri, the PVA High Command ordered the 26th and 27th Corps to chase the escaping UN force, with the 20th Corps assigned to block the escape route.{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=383}}{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=103}} But with most of the 20th Corps destroyed at Yudam-ni and Hagaru-ri, the only forces between Kot'o-ri and Hungnam were the remnants of the 58th and 60th Divisions.{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=341}} In desperation, Song Shilun ordered these troops to dig in at Funchilin Pass, while blowing up the vital bridge ({{Coord|40.232|N|127.296|E|display=inline}}), hoping the terrain and obstacles would allow the 26th and 27th Corps to catch up with the retreating UN forces.{{sfn|Xue & Li Part Four|2000}}{{sfn|Roe|2000|p=341}} 

The PVA 180th Regiment that occupied Hill 1081 ({{Coord|40.233|N|127.326|E|display=inline}}) blew up the original concrete bridge and two improvised replacements in succession, believing the bridge was rendered irreparable.{{sfn|Mossman|1990|p=137}}{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=288–296}} In response, the [[1st Battalion, 1st Marines]] (1/1) attacked Hill 1081 from the south, and the hill was captured on 9 December, though the defenders fought to the last man.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=300–301}} At the same time, the 7th Marines and RCT-31 attacked the bridge from the north, only to encounter defenders who were already frozen in their [[Defensive fighting position|foxholes]].{{sfn|Alexander|1986|p= 364}}

[[File:Aerial view of the Changjin (Chosin) Reservoir penstocks in the Funchilin Pass, with a close-up of the damaged bridge.jpg|thumb|An aerial view of the Funchilin Pass, with a close-up of the blown bridge]]
With the path to Hungnam blocked at Funchilin Pass, eight [[C-119 Flying Boxcar]]s flown by the US [[314th Troop Carrier Wing]] were used to drop [[Bailey bridge|portable bridge sections]] by parachute.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=297}}{{sfn|Rumley|2010}} The bridge, consisting of eight separate {{convert|18|ft|m|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|2900|lb|kg|abbr=on}} sections, was dropped one section at a time, using a {{convert|48|ft|m|abbr=on}} parachute on each section.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=296}} Four of these sections, together with additional wooden extensions were successfully reassembled into a replacement bridge by Marine Corps combat engineers and the US Army 58th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company on 9 December, enabling UN forces to proceed.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=296–304}} Outmaneuvered, the PVA 58th and 60th Divisions still tried to slow the UN advance with ambushes and raids, but after weeks of non-stop fighting, the two Chinese divisions combined had only 200 soldiers left.{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=108}} The last UN forces left Funchilin Pass by 11 December.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=314}}

One of the last engagements during the withdrawal was an ambush at Sudong ({{Coord|40.17|N|127.324|E|display=inline}}) by the pursuing PVA 89th Division,{{sfn|Guang|2007|p=108}} which Task Force Dog of the 3rd Infantry Division repulsed with little difficulty.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|pp=307–310}} The trapped UN forces finally reached the Hungnam perimeter by 21:00 on 11 December.{{sfn|Appleman|1990|p=316}}