U.N. forces continue their advance in North Korea closing to the Korean/China border. As severe winter weather moves in American forces, including the 5th Marines, encounter Chinese troops for the first time. American forces continue the advance to the Yalu River – the Korean/China border – and the Marines advance to the Chosin Reservoir. The end of the war seems at hand with talk of ‘home for Christmas. The Chinese Army mounts a massive attack in November and overruns the U.N. forces pushing to the Yalu and eight Chinese divisions encircle the Marines at the Chosin reservoir, beginning one of the bloodiest fights in the Corps’ history. In freezing weather, the surrounded and heavily outnumbered Marines broke through the encirclement in a fighting retreat inflicting crippling losses on the Chinese Army.