In 1950, when the Korean War broke out, the South Korean and UN forces launched a counterattack through the Incheon Landing Operation. However, due to the intervention of Chinese troops, they had to retreat repeatedly and eventually became isolated in the Heungnam region of South Hamgyong Province. In this urgent situation, with enemy forces tightening the encirclement, the Heungnam Port turned into complete chaos, packed with soldiers and refugees. Over 100,000 troops were to be evacuated, along with 18,000 vehicles and 350,000 tons of combat supplies. Yet, there was no evacuation plan at all for the more than 100,000 refugees.
At this, Hyun Bong-hak, civil affairs advisor to the U.S. 10th Corps, earnestly requested General Almond, the corps commander, to help the helpless refugees. South Korean General Kim Baek-il, commander of the 1st Corps, also insisted, “If the refugees are not allowed on board, I will retreat with them by land.” Eventually, permission was granted to abandon weapons and load the refugees onto the ships. At that moment, the U.S. transport ship Meredith Victory, which had a capacity of only 60 people, took on more than 14,000 refugees—later earning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
What makes the success of the “Heungnam Evacuation Operation” so remarkable is the hidden effort of the heroes who worked to save the refugees standing at the crossroads of life and death.