Tootsie Rolls Saved US Marines
As the temperature reached -38°C during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in late November 1950, weapons began to malfunction. Tank fuel pipes froze and cracked.
Running out of mortar rounds, the US Marines requested more mortar shells (codenamed “Tootsie Rolls”) by airdrop.
With the next airdrop that’s what they actually received – boxes of Tootsie Rolls.
Ingenuity transformed a potential disaster into success. The solid lumps of chocolate toffee that melted in your mouth could also be applied to seal cracked fuel lines.
With the tanks up and running again the Marines were able to continue their perilous escape from overwhelming Communist Chinese forces.
Source: How Tootsie Rolls Saved US Marines In The Korean War – HeadStuff
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Enemy in the Mirror
I began by posting events around the turn This website www.enemyinmirror.com explores the consciousness, diplomacy, emotion, prejudice and psychology of 20th Century America and her enemies in wartime.
I began by posting events around the turn of the 20th century as I was researching my first novel about the Pacific War. I continued through WWII for my second novel about the Battle of the Atlantic. Now I am beginning to look at the Cold War as I gather information for my next novel about the Korean War. ...more
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