Jipyeong-ri

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Jipyeong-ri

지평리
Coordinates: 37.475000°N
127.637000°ECoordinates: 37.475000°N
127.637000°E
Country South Korea
Province Gyeonggi
County Yangpyeong

Jipyeong-ri is a village in Jije-myeon, Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

History
Jipyeong-ri
Hangul 지평리
Hanja 砥平里
Revised Romanization Jipyeong-ri
McCune–Reischauer Chip'yŏng ri

Jipyeong-ri was the site of the Battle of Chipyong-ni during the Korean War, February 1951. A memorial
has been erected at the site, which is split into three portions — South Korean, US, and French. The area
was an important transportation and communication hub.

The battle is sometimes known as the Gettysburg of the Korean War. The battle saw 5,600 South Korean,
US, and French forces under the command of Colonel Paul L. Freeman, 23rd Infantry Regiment, defeat a
numerically superior Chinese force in hard fighting. Surrounded on all sides, the 2nd Infantry Division’s
23rd Regiment with the attached French Battalion was hemmed in by more than 25,000 Chinese Communist
Forces around Jipyeong-ri. United Nations forces had previously retreated in the face of the Communist
forces instead of getting cut off, but this time they stood and fought. The allies fought at odds of roughly 15
to 1.[1]

On the third day of fighting, units of the 5th Cavalry Regiment punched a hole in the Chinese lines relieving
the 23rd Regiment.

The victory is considered so decisive that the Chinese began peace overtures soon after.[2]
Sergeant First Class William S. Sitman, a Medal of Honor recipient and Bellwood, Pennsylvania native was
killed during the battle.

Various older historical landmarks are located there, including the Jipyeong hyanggyo (village school) and a
three-story stone pagoda from the Goryeo period.

Battle of Chipyong-ni
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Battle of Chipyong-ni
Part of the Korean War

Map of the Battle of Chipyong-ni on the night of 13–14

February 1951
Date 13–15 February 1951
Chipyong-ni, South Korea
Location
Coordinates: 37.475°N 127.637°E
Result United Nations victory[1]
Belligerents
 China  United Nations
   United States
 France

Commanders and leaders

Deng Hua Paul L. Freeman Jr.
Strength
US sources:
25,000[2]
4,500[4]
Chinese sources:
<6,000[3]
Casualties and losses
US sources: US sources:
1,000 killed 51 killed
2,000 wounded 250 wounded
79 captured[5]:4 42 missing [5]:ii
Chinese sources: Chinese sources:
1,800 killed and wounded[3] 800 killed and wounded[3]

 v
 t
 e

Korean War

The Battle of Chipyong-ni (French: Bataille de Chipyong-ni), also known as the Battle of Dipingli
(Chinese: 砥平里战斗; pinyin: Dǐ Pīng Lĭ Zhàn Dòu), was a decisive battle of the Korean War, that took
place from 13–15 February 1951 between US and French units of the US 23rd Infantry Regiment and
various units of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) around the village of Chipyong-ni. The result
was a United Nations Command victory. The battle, along with the Third Battle of Wonju, has been called
"the Gettysburg of the Korean War," and represents the "high-water mark" of the Chinese invasion of South
Korea. Due to the ferocity of the Chinese attack and the heroism of the defenders, the battle has also been
called "one of the greatest regimental defense actions in military history."

Background
After Chinese forces entered Korea in November 1950, the UN forces, uncertain about the intentions and
combat capabilities of the Chinese, drew back behind the 38th parallel and waited to see what the Chinese
would do. Plans were even made for complete withdrawal from the peninsula.[6] In this climate of general
uncertainty, Lt. General Matthew B. Ridgway decided to make a stand at Chipyong-ni and also at Wonju.[4]
He recognized that the Chinese had overstretched their supply lines, and would not be able to keep up their
advance much longer. He intended to use the 23rd RCT to blunt the Chinese attack so that the Eighth Army
could carry out a counterattack before the Chinese had a chance to consolidate their forces.