Compared to Gettysburg or the Arden­nes, the battle for Pork Chop Hill is hardly more than a skirmish. But to the men of the 7th Infantry Division, it contained all the heroism and sacrifice which characterized the bloody mountain fighting of the Korean War. The action began on April 16,1953 and lasted 48 hours. Faced with human wave attacks by a determined and skilful Red Chinese force many times its size, the defenders fought a brutal hand to hand battle. The enemy controlled the high ground, artillery fire rained on the reserve forces and it was only exceptional courage which held the line.