One chance to survive
by David Simon
News-Post Staff

	This insignia represents Cpl. Paul Carty's rank at the time of his disappearance.
	Talk back: Post and view comments

On Dec. 1, 1950, the men of the 31st Infantry Regimental Combat Team had one chance for survival: fight their way through a Chinese force with greater numbers in an effort to link up with a group of Marines.

U.S. Army Cpl. Paul Kenneth Carty, 18, of Thurmont, was with the 57th Field Artillery Battalion, part of the 31st at the time.

Toward the end of 1950, United Nations forces had reached a high point in their counteroffensive against the North Korean army, driving the North Koreans across the 38th Parallel. As the U.N. soldiers moved north toward North Korea's Yalu River border with China, thousands of soldiers with the Chinese People's Volunteer Army filtered south into the hills.

In late November, Carty and the rest of the 31st were advancing north along the eastern border of the Chosin Reservoir; members of the 1st Marine Division were moving along the western side of the reservoir.

The Chinese Communist Forces attacked the troops on the eastern side the night of Nov. 27. Not expecting a strike, large chunks of American soldiers became entrenched in separate, nonsupporting, defensive positions along the road.

Despite being overrun in places, the American soldiers repelled the enemy by dawn Nov. 28. The next day, the separated packs of troops consolidated.

The CCF, ignoring its heavy losses, relied on overwhelming manpower for continued attacks every night. The assaults, combined with subzero temperatures, limited ammunition and a short food supply, quickly eroded the American forces.

U.S. troops were surrounded by the morning of Dec. 1. Several attempts by an armor-infantry team failed to break through the CCF roadblocks from the south. Suffering numerous casualties, Carty and his fellow soldiers decided to try a last-ditch escape route - right through the Chinese forces to the south.

The troops began to fight their way toward the Marine lines from the western side of the reservoir about 1 p.m. Dec. 1. The path wasn't easy - from the hills along the main supply route, Chinese forces rained down small arms fire, disrupting the retreat several times.

Throughout the next two days, the survivors, including Carty, made their way to the Marine perimeter at the town of Hagaru-ri. There, they joined with Marine forces.

By the morning of Dec. 6, members of Carty's 57th, along with other survivors of the 31st, took defensive positions on the east side of Hagaru-ri. The CCF continued its attack and penetrated the perimeter in several places. Although the artillery positions were overrun, the survivors launched an immediate counterattack and a seesaw battle ensued.

Carty was reported missing after the fighting Dec. 6.

The Chinese forces withdrew to the surrounding hills at dawn Dec. 7. They then began bombarding American troops with artillery and mortar. Later that morning, the remnants of the 57th and 31st retreated to the south.

More than 120 men from Carty's battalion who fought in the Chosin campaign remain missing.

The Army, lacking any information about him, issued a presumptive finding of death Dec. 31, 1953.

From 2003 to 2006, Department of Defense officials interviewed Army and Marine veterans of the Chosin battles. No one could provide more information about what happened to Carty.