The 20 Deadliest Battles of the Korean War, 1950-1953



    Battle

    Combat Fatalities

    Dates

    Pusan Perimeter

    3,603

    Aug 4-Sep 16,1950

    Chosin Reservoir

    1,641

    Nov 27-Dec 9, 1950

    Kunu-Ri

    1,194

    Nov 29-Dec 9, 1950

    Naktong Breakout

    834

    Sep 16-27, 1950

    Hoengsong

    773

    Feb 11-13, 1951

    Taejon

    638

    Jul 19-20, 1950

    Heartbreak Ridge

    616

    Sep 13-Oct 15, 1951

    Kum River

    490

    Jul 13-16, 1950

    Unsan

    454

    Nov 1-2, 1950

    Soyang River

    406

    May 17-20, 1951

    Chochiwon

    405

    Jul 10-12, 1950

    Triangle Hill

    393

    Oct 14-25, 1952

    Seoul

    382

    Sep 20-27, 1950

    Bloody Ridge

    341

    Aug 18-Sep 5, 1951

    Hadong

    306

    July 27, 1950

    Kumsong River Salient

    242

    Jul 13-20, 1953

    Pork Chop Hill

    ** 232

    Jul 6-10, 1953

    Outpost Harry

    186

    Jun 10-16, 1953

    Nevada Cities

    156

    Mar 26-30, 1953

    Koto-Ri

    143

    Dec 12, 1950


    * This includes killed in action, died of wounds, died while POW and MIAs later declared KIA.

    **In the first Battle of Pork Chop Hill on April 16-18, 1953, 112 Americans were KIA.

    Source: Korean War veteran Dick Ecker compiled these statistics from a database he has developed. No known list of Korean War combat fatalities by battle previously existed.

    As reported in the August, 2001 edition of VFW Magazine.


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