Korean War (Exhibit, Frame 2, Text)

Military Mail: Korean War (Frame 2)

This web page, published by the Military Postal History Society, contains the text of Frame 2 of the Korean War exhibit pages created by Bob Collins. They are reproduced and distributed to the public with his permission.

To see exhibit frame images, click on Frame 2 exhibit frame images.

Updated 1/26/2018

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Korean War: The Chinese Communist Chosin Reservoir Offense and Marine Defense

CHOSIN RESERVOIR. the epic battle where 60,000 communist Chinese soldiers surprised and attacked 12,000 US. Marines. The Marines, along with a small group of British Commandos, and miscellaneous US. Army troops fought their way through the Chinese to the port city of Hungnam, North Korea. The Marines accomplished this amazing feat while taking their wounded and their equipment with them. Besides the Chinese soldiers, the troops encountered snow, high winds, and temperatures that dropped to 30 degrees below zero. On December IS the Marines boarded ships and by December 25th every US. Soldier, Sailor, South Korean Soldier, British Marines, and about 100,000 refugees had been removed by ship and the port was destroyed by demolition charges. When General MacArthur relayed the news of the rescue to President Truman, he replied, 'That was the best Christmas present I have ever had.'

December 21, 1950 - APO #1052 - Tokyo, Japan, 75th Station Hospital - 3/?/46 - 11/2/54

Marine, badly wounded in action at 'Chosin Reservoir' fighting. This Marine was taken to a hospital in Japan for treatment of his severe wounds. Since his injuries prevented him from writing a letter home to his family, a Red Cross worker wrote his letter as he dictated it. There was still some confusion over the new PL-609 rule, as an airmail stamp was used.

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Recapture of Seoul and Inchon in the Chinese Communist Offensive

January 3-4, 1951 - Seoul, capital of South Korea, retaken by the Chinese and North Koreans

January 4, 1951 - Navy Number 12867 Unit 6 - 7th Marines, First Marine Division - 9/15/50 - 4/?/55

January 25, 1951 - Inchon captured by Chinese and North Koreans troops.

January 25, 1951 - Navy Number 12867 Unit 8 - 7th Marines, First Marine Division - 9/15/50 - 4/?/55

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Recapture of Seoul in U.N. counterattack

February 2, 1951 - APO #24 - Kyongson, North Korea - 1/23/51 - 2/14/51

March 14-15, 1951 - Seoul retaken by United Nations troops

March 21,1951 - U.S.S. Wallace L. Lind - Destroyer

Sailed for Korea September 6, 1950, on combat tour which lasted until May 9, 1951; defense & evacuation of Hungnam, North Korea; bombardment of Wonson and Kosong and other cities.

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Korean War: Recall of General MacArthur as Supreme Commander

April l, 1951 - APO #909 - Chechon, South Korea, 3/23/51 - 4/10/51

April l, 1951 - President Truman removed Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the United Nations forces in Korea, and replaced him with Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway.

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Second Spring Offensive of Communist Chinese and North Koreans

April 18, 1951 - Navy Number 12867 Unit 5 - 5th Marines, First Marine Division - 9/15/50 - 4/?/55

May 15-20, 1951 - Chinese and North Koreans begin second Spring offensive which was halted by United Nations forces, who then start their own offensive.

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Korean War: U.N. counterattack - Operation Piledriver

June 9, 1951 - APO #24 - Pyongan-ni, North Korea - 6/3/51 - 7/6/51

June 14, 1951 - Last day of Operation Piledriver; objectives attained.

June 14, 1951 - APO #5l - Yonju, South Korea - 6/14/51 - 6/19/51

Note: APO #51 operated in Korea for 2 months. At Yonju it was only open for 6 days.

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Korean War: Soviet Union proposes a ceasefire.

June 23. 1951 - Jacob Malak, Deputy Foreign Commissar of Soviet Union, proposes a cease fire.

June 25, 1951 - APO #76 - Kimpo Air Force Base (Seoul, South Korea) - 4/30/51 - 1/1/65

LISTED CRASH COVER (AAMC interrupted flight covers #5l.4). Purple handstamp 'DELAY caused by Air Mail Interruption Near DENVER Date 63051.' The aircraft crashed into Crystal Mountain near Fort Collins, Colorado. Captain and First Officer were both killed.

June 30. 1951 - Navy Number 14009 Unit 2 - MAG-12, lst Marine Aircraft Wing - 10/?/51 - 4/?/55

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Hubba Hubba Mail

July 13, 1951 - APO #301 - Taegu, South Korea - 1/23/51 - 10/1/52

The 'Huhba Hubba' handstamps, privately used on mail going home, were a carryover from World War II, meaning hurry up, do it quickly, chop chop, etc. Different subjects were used and Daisy the dog, with numerous design differences, became the most popular. This is the earliest dated of the 'Huhha Hubha' type handstamps in this exhibit. For those of you who think they are common nickle and dime handstamps, you are due for quite a culture shock should you try to purchase any. They are a collectible item on their own and there are several well known collectors who buy these handstamps. While Daisy the Dog examples are the most seen, others, like my one-of-a-kind examples, are highly sought after.

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Truce Talks begin

July 10, 1951, Truce talks begin in Kaesong

July 31, 1951 - U.S.S. Estes - Amphibious Force Flagship

Korean service from June 1951 to April 1952; flagship for Vice Admiral I. N. Kiland at Inchon.

Cover transferred from U.S.S. Pasig (AW-3) Distilling Ship, Korean waters April 1951 - April 1953.

August 16, 1951 - APO #301 - Taegu, South Korea - 1/23/51 - 10/1/52

Marked 'Inner Island' (mail within Korea). Addressee left 323 Engineer Heavy Equipment and returned to US. (Z.I.-Zone of Interior), Phillip, Mississippi. Numbers - order numbers.

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Chinese Communists and North Koreans break off peace talks

August 29, 1951 — Chinese and North Koreans break off truce talks.

August 29, 1951 - APO #8 - Hongchon, South Korea - 6/23/51 - 10/5/51

August 30, 1951 - U.S.S. Epping Forest - Dock Landing Ship

Served in Korea from May 1951 to February 1952 and from October 1952 to September 1953.

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Battle of Heartbreak Ridge fought

September 14, 1951 - U.S.S. Sicily - Escort Aircraft Carrier

Korean service began August 3, 1950 (launched aircraft of VMF 214 on first air strike). Inchon landing, as well as the Marine withdrawal from Chosin Reservoir to Hungnam.

September 5-23, 1951 — Both sides engaged in battle for Heartbreak Ridge.

September 19, 1951 - APO #902 - Pusan, South Korea . 1/31/51 - 12/31/52

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U.N. counterattack captures Hearbreak Ridge and advance to the Jamestown Line

October 2, 1951 - U.S.S. Boxer - Aircraft Carrier

Arrived Korea July 22, 1950, with 150 planes and 1000 troops. Four combat tours. This cover posted during the second tour March 2 to October 24, 1951.

October 2-15, 1951 - Marines and Army troops advance northward with the U.S. 2nd Division taking Heartbreak Ridge, while the IX Corps advances to the Jamestown line. The Marines, having advanced, are holding north of the Punchbowl at the Soyang River.

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Peace Talks resume

October 25. 1951 - After two weeks of discussion, peace talks resume.

October 25, 1951 - Sent to APO #24 - Chunchon, South Korea - 7/6/51 - ll/l/5l

Return to writer, Verified Deceased AG SEC. GHQ, APO #500 Tokyo, Japan. Note: SFC Brooks killed in action on October 25, 1951, some day letter sent.

October 29, 1951 - U.S.S. LST #1096 - Landing Ship Tank

Stationed mainly in Pusan Harbor from October 1950 to July 1953.

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General Ridgeway orders cessation of offensive operations and start of active defense.

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Stalemate along the 38th parallel from December 1, 1951 to April 1952

November 12, 1951 -- Gen. Ridgway orders offensive operations to cease and starts active defense.

November 18, 1951 - U.S.S. Whetstone - Tank Landing Ship

Two Korean War tours, April-November 1951 & December 1952-July 1953 (end of conflict). Recovered Soviet MiG fighter, downed 33 miles north of the estuary of the Taedong River.

November 21, 1951 - APO #468 - Sannaeji, South Korea - 10/23/51 . 11/26/51

Postage not needed; sender apparently had envelope on hand and used it.

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Husband and wife writing to each other on same day during the stalemate

December 1, l95l to April 1952 - Stalemate along 38th Parallel.

December 5, 1951 - APO #301 - Taegu, South Korea - 1/23/51 - 10/1/52

Husband and wife writing to each other on same day during the stalemate

December 18, 1951 - Sent to APO #201 - Sunae—ri, South Korea - 11/26/51 - 12/29/51

Wife writing to husband on same day he is writing to her. (See cover below.)

December 10, 1951 - APO #201 - Sunae—ri, South Korea - 11/26/51 - 12/29/51