The Korean War, also known as the Korean War, was a large-scale local war that took place on the Korean Peninsula in the early 50s of the 20th century. This war was not only a civil war between the north and the south of the Korean Peninsula, but also a proxy war in the context of the Cold War because of the intervention of international forces. The confrontation between China and the United States in this war is not only a military contest, but also a collision of ideology and national interests.
On June 25, 1950, the Korean War broke out, and North Korea, with the support of the Soviet Union, attempted to unify the Korean Peninsula by force. The United States, as one of the leaders of the international community at that time, responded quickly and adopted a UN resolution to organize the so-called "United Nations Army" to intervene in the Korean War with the US military as the main force. The main purpose of the United States is to contain the expansion of communism and protect its interests and the security of its allies in East Asia.
In the autumn of 1952, the Korean War had been going on for more than two years, and the two sides were at a stalemate near the 38th parallel. Against this background, the commander of the US 8th Army, General James Van Vliet, proposed a new battle plan aimed at changing the battlefield situation through military action and thus gaining a more advantageous position in the subsequent peace negotiations. At the heart of the plan was the capture of the Sangganling region in central Korea, which was the focus of contention due to its strategic location.
Sangganling, located in the middle of the Korean Peninsula in Gimhwa County, was a strategically important high ground during the Korean War. To control Shangganling means to control the commanding heights of the area, which can overlook and threaten the rear of the opponent's defensive line. Therefore, Shangganling is not only a key military point, but also a psychological symbol, representing the determination and will of both sides of the war.
General Van Vliet's plan was approved by the new commander-in-chief of the United Nations forces, General Mark Clark. General Clark believes that by capturing Shangganling, not only can the posture of the US military on the battlefield be improved, but it can also politically put pressure on the Chinese and North Korean sides to force them to make concessions at the negotiating table. Therefore, the outbreak of the Shangganling Battle was not only a need for military action, but also a part of the political struggle.
The Battle of Shangganling began on October 14, 1952 and lasted until November 25, lasting 43 days. The battle was one of the most brutal and fierce battles of the Korean War, and the two sides fought to the death on this small piece of high land. The U.S. military and the South Korean army used a large number of troops and firepower, including aircraft, artillery, tanks and other heavy weapons, to carry out continuous and fierce bombardment and artillery bombardment of the Sangamling area. The Chinese People's Volunteers, on the other hand, relied on strong tunnel fortifications and put up stubborn resistance.
In this battle, the Chinese People's Volunteers showed extremely high fighting will and sacrifice spirit. In the face of the enemy's wanton and indiscriminate bombardment, the officers and men of the volunteers held their positions, were not afraid of sacrifice, and repelled the enemy's attacks on many occasions. The Volunteers' tunneling tactics played an important role in this campaign, and by digging tunnels inside the mountain, the Volunteers effectively resisted enemy artillery fire and launched counterattacks when enemy infantry approached.
The U.S. and South Korean forces also paid a huge price in the Battle of Sanggamyeong. Although they had the advantage in firepower, they were never able to completely occupy Shangganling in the face of the stubborn resistance of the volunteers. The brutality of the battle exceeded the expectations of both sides and became a landmark event in the Korean War.
The importance of the Battle of Shangganling was not only reflected in the military, but also in the political and psychological aspects. The outcome of this battle, although it did not change the overall situation of the war, had a profound impact on the morale and confidence of both sides. For the Chinese People's Volunteers, the Battle of Shangganling was a major victory, which proved the fighting strength and determination of the volunteers and enhanced the national pride of the Chinese people. For both the U.S. and South Korean forces, the Battle of Sangganryeong was a painful lesson, revealing that firepower superiority alone does not guarantee victory in the face of stiff resistance.
The brutality and fierceness of the Shangganling Battle have also aroused widespread concern from the international community. The battle became a microcosm of the Korean War, reflecting the ruthlessness of the war and the persistence of both sides. It also reminds the world of the preciousness of peace and the cruelty of war, and calls on people to cherish peace and avoid war.
McCallaghan, a veteran of the U.S. Army, recalls a time when gunsmoke was in the air – the Battle of Shangganling during the Korean War. This battle was not only a direct confrontation between the Chinese and American armies, but also a contest of will and courage. McCallahan, then as a young American soldier, was sent to this place of war.
In October 1952, McCallahan followed his troops to Shangganling in the central part of the Korean Peninsula. Here, two small hills, became the focus of the desperate struggle between the two sides of the war. The outbreak of the Battle of Shangganling, which was originally just a small-scale operation by the US military to try to gain more bargaining chips at the negotiating table, unexpectedly escalated into a large-scale battle. Under the cover of aircraft, tanks and artillery, Mai Callahan and his comrades launched a series of attacks on the positions of the volunteers.
In a fierce battle, McCallaghan's company attacked the positions of the Volunteers. He recalled that when they rushed to the position, they found that only thirty bodies and a young Chinese soldier were left there. The soldier leaned against a tree trunk strewn with shrapnel and bullets, his eyes full of hatred and fear, and his mouth kept screaming, even though no one could understand what he was saying. McCallahan and his comrades did not shoot, they wanted to capture the young soldier alive. However, at this moment, countless shells poured down like a torrential rain, instantly blowing up the American soldiers on the position. McCallahan survived, but lost a leg. And the young Chinese soldier was also killed in this shelling.
More than 50 years later, McCallahan still remembers the last shout of the Chinese soldier. He had always wondered what the young soldier was saying at the end of his life. It wasn't until 2008, when a delegation of Chinese business people visited the United States, that McCallahan learned the answer. The soldier was shouting: "I am Wang Cheng, the enemy has surrounded me, dear chiefs, comrades, please fire at me, for the sake of victory, fire at me!" These words brought tears to the eyes of all the Chinese present, and also made McCallahan deeply feel the heroic and fearless spirit and sacrifice spirit of the Chinese People's Volunteers.
McCallaghan's experience is a microcosm of the countless soldiers who fought in the Battle of Shangganling. The cruelty and tragedy of this battle are beyond people's imagination. On this 3.7-square-kilometer land, the two sides have invested 100,000 people and engaged in a tug-of-war for 43 days and nights. The hill was cut down by artillery fire by two meters and turned into powder more than a meter thick. Although the artillery fire of the volunteers was only half that of the "United Nations Army", they relied on strong fortifications and heroic resistance to successfully repel the enemy's attacks again and again.
The story of McCallahan allows us to see the cruelty of war, but also allows us to see the brilliance in human nature. In the Battle of Shangganling, both the soldiers of the Chinese People's Volunteers and the American soldiers like McCallahan showed extraordinary courage and sacrifice. This battle was not only of great military significance, but also gave people profound inspiration spiritually. It tells us the preciousness of peace, the dignity of life, and the indomitable spirit that human beings can display in the face of difficulties and challenges.