Chosin Few, The - w/Counters

TOKTONG PASS, KOREA, 27 November 1950: Fox Company, under the command of Captain Barber, U.S.M.C., was positioned along the main supply route on a hill, later renamed ‘Fox hill’, overlooking the Toktong Pass. Barber and his reinforced company had arrived at 1500 hours that afternoon, and barely had time to dig foxholes before the sun went down. He positioned his 3rd platoon on top of the hill, the 1st platoon on the right, 2nd platoon on the left, and Lieutenant Brady with his 60mm and 80mm mortars at the base of the hill near some buildings.

Brady had just enough time to register the 80s on the rocky hill northeast of Fox Hill before dusk. The Captain put his unit on 50% alert, trying to match up veterans with the new kids, allowing two men per hole with one awake and one asleep through the night. A full moon rose at 2300, and the night was clear and cold with a temperature about 20 degrees below zero. At 0115 hours the Captain conducted an inspection and found many of his sentries sleeping. He roused the NCOs and encouraged them to stay awake, then lay down to sleep at 0155. At 0230 he awoke to heavy firing north of Fox Hill, and he heard his aide Corporal Ashdale shouting, “Here they come!” The 3rd platoon was under heavy attack and the perimeter was hit in three different places at the same time, including Lieutenant Brady’s area.

The 3rd platoon was taking casualties and beginning to fall apart as a defensive force, when one of its soldiers, Private Cafferata, “…stood up and began firing two M-1 rifles as fast as a fellow wounded Marine could load.” He moved up and down the line, batted CCF grenades away from his position and killed 15 enemy soldiers in close combat. Later that morning he was wounded while grabbing a grenade, but still he fought on. Finally a sniper’s bullet caused him to sustain further wounds and he was evacuated. His actions and uncommon valor won Cafferata the Medal of Honor.