Hold at All Costs: The Story of the Battle of Outpost Harry (2010) - The A.V. Club
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Hold at All Costs: The Story of the Battle of Outpost Harry

2010
1h 25m
Documentary
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Cast

Newt Gingrich (Self)Oliver North (Self)Richard Lugar (Self)Charles Rangel (Self)John S.D. Eisenhower (Self)Michael Batts (Charlie Johnson)Sam Buck (Self - 15th Infantry, Outpost Harry survivor)Kim Do (Re-Enactor)Edward Herrmann (Narrator)Allan Millett (Self - WWII War Museum Director)

Director

Glenn Palmedo-Smith

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Synopsis

The Battle of OP Harry, Korea. The Story of Forgotten Soldiers, in a Forgotten Battle of a Forgotten War. By the end of the Korean War the US 3rd Infantry Division had orders to hold OP Harry at all costs -- the Chinese intended to seize it. On 10 June 1953, 3,500 Chinese assaulted that position, defended by King Company, 15th Infantry Regiment -- of about 200 US soldiers. Massive artillery fire -- 90,000 US and 30,000 Chinese shells -- decimated both sides. K Company and then reinforcing units of about a hundred -- at terrible human cost -- ejected the attackers from the trenches in close combat, with only about 20 US soldiers walking off the mountain unscathed the next morning. But the Chinese, suffering 90% loses, would return again and again for eight subsequent nights, with more then 10,000 troops, no one knows for sure. The film depicts interviews with these aging American, South Korean, Greek and Chinese veterans -- in addition to introducing three Generals, MASH nurses, the South Korean Prime Minister, noted scholars and political commentators Newt Gingrich, US Sen. Richard Lugar, US Con. Charles Rangel, S. Korean Honorable Hwang, US Historian Allan Millett, Michael Slater and author Oliver North. By dedicating an entire program to the buildup, battle and its aftermath, while endearing the audience to these soldiers, a unique perspective is given to the greater Korean War itself. These combatants -- who are so proud of their service -- are grateful that before their generation is gone, a document is finally procured to preserve the memory of the soldiers who fell attacking and defending OP Harry to HOLD AT ALL COSTS. As the new world order was imminent, the term "Hold At All Costs" is ultimately what the Korean War or Cold War was all about. It is hopeful that these stories represent all soldiers of that era and perhaps all soldiers everywhere, throughout warfare. Narrated by Edward Herrmann.

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