‘Mt. Chosin Few’ a fitting tribute

It’s no secret the Valley values its veterans. We have a strong contingent of veterans and military families who call the Mat-Su home, and at the Frontiersman we appreciate the opportunities we have to share the outstanding stories of these exceptional people.

Even so, there are many other stories that go untold, and many of those revolve around the Korean War. Happening after World War II and leading up to the Vietnam War, many refer to Korea as the 20th century’s “forgotten war.”

That’s why today’s cover story featuring Korean War veterans Richard Lilly of Wasilla and John Beasley of Palmer is particularly meaningful. While many tales of heroism and the sacrifices paid for our freedoms are told posthumously, Lilly and Beasley are working diligently to see that their “forgotten war” is remembered.

They’re among those leading the charge to name a mountain in recognition of the Alamo-like odds Allied forces faced at the Chosin Reservoir in November 1950.

In brief, 18,000 men from the First Marine Division were sent over the Taebek Mountains with a mission to capture the northern end of the peninsula. On Nov. 27, 1950, the Marines found themselves surrounded by a Chinese force some estimate four or five times larger than their own. With temperatures at times hovering between minus 20 and minus 40, the Marines fought for two weeks to break the encirclement and make it back to the sea.

Gen. Chesty Puller famously summed up the battle when he said, “We’re not retreating. Hell! We’re just attacking in a different direction.”

Lilly and Beasley are among those who survived. Their mission now is to get an unnamed peak designated “Mount Chosin Few.” The peak is already picked out, standing 28 miles northeast of Cordova, and the naming effort has been met with support from our congressional delegation and Mat-Su Borough officials.

It’s an appropriate name with symbolism that far exceeds paying tribute to a brutal campaign on another continent more than 60 years ago. We support the name change not only for Lilly, Beasley and the other 18,000 Marines who fought a fortnight in brutal conditions, but also for all the other “chosen few” Americans who have sacrificed, continue to sacrifice and will do so in the future.

Looking back more than six decades, it may be easy to forget the impact battles like the one at Chosin Reservoir mean to our history. To put this in perspective, 3,000 allied soldiers died in that campaign, and 17 received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their deeds.

We applaud the idea of renaming the mountain and urge lawmakers to take action. Korea doesn’t have to remain our “forgotten war.”