Pork Chop Hill is a movie about an unnecessary battle and a complete waste of life. This battle took place during the Korean war. Gregory Peck does a superb job playing the young courageous Lieutenant Joe Clemons. The movie was anti-war but factual very much like the movie and actual account of Hamburger Hill that took place in Vietnam. Both of these battles were referred to as meat grinders. Battles such as these have a large loss of life in a short amount of time and for no apparent reason. There was absolutely no strategic value to either of these battles. The only reason our soldiers had for attacking was “that is where the enemy is”. Robert E. Lee tried that theory too, it doesn’t work.

PORK CHOP HILL (1959)

Gregory Peck as Lieutenant. Joe Clemons
Rip Torn as Lieutenant Walter Russel

Pork Chop Hill was one of the last battles of the Korean war. While the diplomats were in their meetings pretending to negotiate peace, both sides were throwing men at this hill. Sounds crazy, eh? It doesn’t make a lot of sense. The part that is really insane are the numbers of U.S. soldiers that were sent to do the job. The only thing that the attacking U.S. soldiers had was friendly artillery that was useless. The Chinese were entrenched and dug in. A separate company was to attack the flank of the enemy on a running ridge then join up with Lieutenant Clemons company. Lieutenant Clemons and his company were able to take the first trench. His casualties were extremely high. The flanking company that he was supposed to hook up with still was no where to be seen. Then to compound the seriously deteriorating situation, the radios go down.

With no friendly support flanking the enemy his companies flank was left wide open. Lieutenant Clemons placed a machine gun on his flank and kept moving forward, up the hill. He had one platoon of men at the bottom of the hill that he would use as reinforcements when things got to tough. Then he met up with the Lieutenant from the flanking company. He said, “where are your men?” All but nine of his soldiers were casualties while attempting to flank the ridge. The nine men joined Clemons and they headed to the crest of the hill. Clemons also sent word to his platoon of reinforcements to get up there. Furthermore he sent a runner on foot to get the word to headquarters that he was low on ammunition, out of water in need of medical supplies and immediate reinforcements.

Headquarters responded by sending up a cameraman to take pictures of what was thought to be a mop up. When in reality it was just a handful of men fighting for their lives. Now is when it goes from stupidity to insane. Out of the blue a platoon of soldiers shows up from the rear area to assist with the so called mop up. Then headquarters orders them off the hill while in the same breath orders Clemons to hold the hill. Clemons sends word that if he can’t get reinforcements he must withdraw. His request for both were denied and the much needed platoon left.

Lieutenant Clemons took what few men he had left alive and held the crest in the worst of battle conditions. Lieutenant Clemons was down to no water, no ammo and 28 men. Reinforcements showed up at the last minute. The whole thing was nuts! Sadly it was based on a true story.

Conclusion

I believe the movie Pork Chop Hill will do what it was intended to do, have you shaking your head in disgust. To stir ones emotions, to have you consider the insanity and stupidity that will inevitably occur in every war. The character development and cinematography were top notch for that period in time.

Similar Movies
Hamburger Hill
The Thin Red Line
McMasters Top Ten War Movies

Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes

Thanks for the read,
~Mac

©2004 Joe McMaster

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older