Monument Details

Battle of the Punch Bowl Monument

Details:

Off to the side of the road Monument

The memorial is a large concrete structure with three bronze soldiers atached to the front. Three stainless steel inscribed plaques are mounted to a railing adjacent to the monument explaining the Battle of the Punch Bowl.

This memorial located in Yanggu is dedicated to U.S. Marines who fought in the Battle of Punchbowl, which took place from August 31 to September 20, 1951, during the Korean War.

The Punchbowl was the name given to the bowl-shaped Haean Basin by the U.N. Forces. The Battle of Punchbowl was one of the last battles of the movement phase of the war. The U.S. 1st Marine Division, reinforced by the Korean Marine Corps Regiment, captured the line of hills north of the Punchbowl.

The Korean Demilitarized Zone now runs along the line of hills captured by the U.N. forces in September 1951 during this battle.

Source:

https://koreanwarmemorials.com/memorial

Monument Text:

BATTLE OF THE PUNCH BOWL

The lst Div of U.S.M.C and Ist Regiment of R.O.K. Marine Corps fought for 3 continuous weeks to occupy HaeAn Basin(Punch Bowl) north of YangGu. During Ist phase

(31 August 1951 ~ 3 September 1951), they attacked the NK Ist Div of 3rd Corps located along the current EulGi observation Site and GaGeon-Ri(Hill 924-Hill 1,026-Hill 702-Hill 660) and secured the Punch Bowl. During the 2nd phase(11 September 1951-20 September 1951), they seized enemy sanctuary vic GanMu-Bong and secured all key terrain which control Nae KeumGang Mt.

At the start of 1st phase, R.O.K. Marine Corps designated Hill 924 as Hill of

'Kim II Sung' and Hill 1,026 as Hill of 'Mao Tse-tung' in order to inspire their Marines with hostility against NK communists. They broke through mine fields along ridges north of the Punch Bowl and finally seized these 2 critical hills after 4 days of bloody fight. The late President Lee Seung Man bestowed "God Wondering Merits" to pay a high tribute to this outstanding battle and the bravery of the Marines.

During this battle, R.O.K. and U.S Marines defended WolSan-Ryung area until 17

March 1952 and continued to conduct reconnaissance operations. They killed 2,799 and captured 557 enemy soldiers while sustaining 428 KTAs(183 R.O.K, 245 U.S) and-1,062 WIAs ( 557 R.O.K, 505 U.S). This battle will be commemorated forever as a hard fought honorable battle where R.O.K and U.S Marines fought side by side.

Troops and Commanders

United States Marine Corps (U.S.M.C);

MG. Gerald C. Thomas. CG. 1st MARDIV. USMC

Col. Sidney S. Wade; 1st RGT. Commander. USMC

Col. Richard G, Weede; 5th RGT. Commander. USMC

Col. Herman Nickerson.Jr.; 7st RGT. Commander. USMC

Col. Custix Burton.Jr; 11th RGT. Commander. USMG

MG. Christian F, Schilt; CG. Ist Mareine Air Wing

Republic of Korea Marine Corps (R.O.K.M.C):

Col. Kim Dea Sik.; 1st RGT. Commander. ROKMC

Lt. Col. Kim Dong Ha; 1st RGT. Commander. (After 1st Sept, 1951)

Commemorates: