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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