Combat· Korean War
Battle for Boulder City
In the last week of the Korean War the 1st Marine Division held the western end of the United Nations line, the Jamestown Line, astride the main approaches to Seoul west of the Imjin River.
With the armistice days from signature, the Chinese opened a final offensive across the front to improve their positions before the ceasefire fixed them in place. In the Marine sector the weight fell on the hill mass the Marines called Boulder City, Hill 119, and the neighboring Hills 111 and 119 to its flanks. On the night of 24 July 1953 Chinese infantry struck Boulder City and Hill 111 behind heavy artillery and mortar fire, breaking into the trench lines of the 3d Battalion, 1st Marines. Through 25 and 26 July the position changed hands in close fighting among the bunkers and trenches. Companies from the 2d Battalion, 7th Marines and the 2d Battalion, 1st Marines were committed to hold and retake the ground, supported by Marine artillery, tanks and close air support, and by the morning of 27 July the Marines held Boulder City and the main line of resistance was intact. The armistice took effect at 2200 on 27 July 1953, and Boulder City became the last battle fought by Marines in Korea. It cost the division 43 killed and 316 wounded in four days, in defense of ground that would be given up within 72 hours under the terms of the ceasefire that created the Demilitarized Zone.
Record no. 908