Inchon Harbor

Lore & Background

The atmosphere at Inchon shifted from anticipation to chaos as the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, including First Lieutenant Kurt Chew-Een Lee, touched down on September 21, 1950. Lee had drilled his men day and night on the ship's deck for two weeks, enduring mockery before finally reaching this strategic beachhead. His superiors initially attempted to reassign him to translation duties upon arrival in Japan, but Lee insisted he was there only to "fight communists," retaining command of his platoon. The landing triggered a chain reaction; as US forces pushed north, the People's Republic of China sent troops to reinforce the North Koreans. This escalation set the stage for the brutal engagements that followed, including the ambush in Sudong Gorge on November 2–3. Lee later recalled his desire to be "spectacular" and honorable, a sentiment tested immediately as the unit faced stiffening resistance from Chinese forces entering the fray.

In Their Own Story

On September 21, 1950, the waters of Inchon churned with the landing craft carrying Lieutenant Kurt Chew-Een Lee's 1st Platoon. Just days prior, Lee had shouted to his men on the ship's deck during night drills, ignoring the jeers of other leaders who doubted their resolve. Now ashore, the platoon advanced against North Korean positions, but the victory was short-lived. By November 2–3, the situation in Sudong Gorge turned dire as Chinese forces launched a surprise attack. Lee kept his men focused by ordering them to shoot at enemy muzzle flashes in the dark. He then single-handedly advanced on enemy positions, shouting commands in Mandarin to sow confusion before hurling grenades and firing his rifle. Though wounded in the knee and later shot through the right elbow by a sniper, shattering the bone, Lee refused evacuation until he was certain of his men's safety. His unit forced the enemy to retreat, inflicting heavy casualties through coordinated fire against the muzzle flashes.

Reader's Guide

For the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Inchon Harbor was not merely a port but the starting line for a grueling campaign that would test Lieutenant Kurt Chew-Een Lee's leadership. The unit landed on September 21, 1950, with orders to push North Korean forces northward. However, the strategic reality shifted rapidly as Chinese troops entered the conflict to reinforce their allies. Lee's platoon, initially threatened with reassignment to staff duties upon arrival in Japan, successfully retained its combat role thanks to Lee's insistence on fighting directly. The harbor served as the entry point for a campaign that would lead to the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and the deadly ambush at Sudong Gorge. For historians and fans, Inchon marks the precise moment Lee transitioned from a high school ROTC student in Sacramento to a combat commander earning the Navy Cross. His actions here and subsequent defense against Chinese forces defined his legacy as the first Asian American regular officer in the Marine Corps.

Did You Know?

• Lieutenant Kurt Chew-Een Lee insisted on retaining command of his platoon at Inchon, refusing a staff officer translation assignment to ensure he could "fight communists."
• Lee's unit landed at Inchon on September 21, 1950, exactly two weeks after shipping out from Camp Pendleton.
• During the subsequent fighting in Sudong Gorge, Lee shouted commands in Mandarin Chinese to confuse enemy forces before attacking with hand grenades and gunfire.
• Lee was shot in the right elbow by a sniper on November 3, 1950, shattering the bone, yet returned to his unit after escaping hospital care unauthorized.