November 2025: Remembrance and Resilience – Honoring the Past to Secure the Future November 2025 is a poignant time in the UNC 75th anniversary calendar. Around the world, November is associated with remembrance – a time to honor those who gave their lives in war. For UNC, November has special significance. The Korean War saw a brutal turn in November 1950 with the intervention of Chinese forces, testing UNC’s resilience. It is also the month of “Turn Toward Busan” (observed on November 11 each year), when we honor UN veterans resting in the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan. In this blog, we honor the past by remembering the sacrifices made during the dark days of November 1950, and by highlighting how commemorating the fallen with reverence reinforces our commitment to peace.
In early November 1950, UNC forces were at their northernmost advance. Hopes were high that the war might soon end. However, in late October and early November, massive numbers of Chinese “People’s Volunteer” forces began secretly entering North Korea. On November 1, 1950, UNC troops (including the South Korean 6th Division and U.S. Cavalry units) were ambushed at Unsan, and soon reports of heavy attacks poured in from across the front. By November 7, the situation was clear – the war had entered a new, more difficult phase. The first weeks of November 1950 were among the deadliest for UNC forces. Units from the U.S., South Korea, UK, and Türkiye suddenly found themselves facing an overwhelming enemy amid the mountains of North Korea. Battles like Unsan, Pakchon, and the approach to the Chosin Reservoir raged. It was during this time, on November 7, 1950, that the Thai Battalion arrived in Korea – just in time to be rushed to the front as the Chinese offensive loomed. The Thai soldiers would soon join the UNC withdrawal fighting, demonstrating gallantry in covering the retreat in early December. The sudden turn of events in November 1950 tested UNC’s multinational force to its core, but their discipline and sacrifice averted an even greater disaster. By month’s end, UNC troops were conducting a fighting withdrawal – including the famous breakout from the Chosin Reservoir by U.S. Marines and a composite UNC force (with British and Korean soldiers embedded) in early December.
This November, we solemnly honor the incredible sacrifices of UNC forces, especially in the harsh winter of 1950. We remember the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir where 30,000 UNC troops fought through encirclement by a vastly larger Chinese force. The bravery and suffering at Chosin – where temperatures plunged to -30°C – became legendary. British Royal Marines of 41 Commando and the attached Republic of Korea KATUSA troops stood with the Americans in that epic retreat, and the UNC’s 1st Marine Division famously brought out not only their wounded but also many refugees, embodying the spirit of never leaving anyone behind. We honor heroes like Lt. Col. Faith of the U.S. Army’s Task Force MacLean/Faith at Chosin, and the countless unnamed ROK soldiers who fought and froze alongside UNC allies in those mountains. Their sacrifice ensured the bulk of UNC forces could regroup and continue the fight, ultimately preventing the loss of all Korea. November 11 is commemorated in many UNC sending states as Remembrance Day. In Korea, it has a unique significance through the Turn Toward Busan ceremony. At 11:00 a.m. on November 11, people around the world turn toward the direction of Busan, South Korea, to honor the fallen UN soldiers buried in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery there. This moving tradition, observed since 2007, reminds us that the sacrifices of UNC service members are not forgotten. Rows of white crosses and headstones in Busan mark the resting places of over 2,300 veterans from 11 countries – among them 1,170 British, 378 Canadians, 117 Australians, 34 New Zealanders, 44 French, 90 Turks, 36 Dutch, 4 Norwegians (medical), 11 South Africans (airmen), and others, alongside nearly 37,000 Americans whose names are inscribed on memorials (most U.S. fallen were repatriated home). Each of these numbers represents a life of service and sacrifice. We also remember the Korean civilians who lost their lives and the Korean War veterans who carry the war’s legacy with them to this day.
November’s lessons also underscore the importance of remembrance in securing the future. By remembering the past, UNC member nations strengthen public support for the UNC’s ongoing mission. The stories of heroism and sacrifice from 1950-53 galvanize our commitment today. For example, the tale of the Colombian Battalion, which joined UNC troops in 1951 is remembered in Colombia every year in November around their own remembrance days, thereby renewing their pledge to UNC’s cause. This continuity of memory helps ensure that future generations of leaders and citizens will support UNC when needed. Indeed, securing the future rests not just on military might, but on collective will – something these commemorations help preserve. By actively remembering, we ensure the legacy of sacrifice continues to inform our collective duty to peace.
| Date Taken: | 10.31.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.07.2025 12:03 |
| Story ID: | 552580 |
| Location: | KR |
| Web Views: | 20 |
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