Aftermath Chaplain–Medic massacre

the chaplain s hill monument in arlington national cemetery, felhoelter memorialized

american troops able recover bodies of 3 of victims of massacre due chaos of battle , subsequent american withdrawal, , unable capture north korean troops participated in massacre. actions in volunteering stay behind wounded, herman g. felhoelter posthumously awarded distinguished service cross, second highest decoration valor awarded u.s. military. first chaplain of war receive award valor. received brief obituary in time magazine in december 1952. felhoelter first of twelve chaplains killed or missing @ point in war, including emil j. kapaun, second chaplain of war awarded distinguished service cross.

u.s. response

the incident 1 of first of series of atrocities u.s. forces accused north korean soldiers of committing. after chaplain–medic, hill 303 , bloody gulch massacres, u.s. commanders established commission on july 27 investigate allegations of war crimes , collect evidence.

in late 1953, united states senate committee on government operations, led joseph mccarthy, conducted investigation of 1,800 reported incidents of war crimes allegedly committed throughout korean war. chaplain–medic massacre 1 of first investigated, , here incident got name. buttrey, lone survivor of executions, called testify before committee, , u.s. government concluded north korean army violated terms of geneva convention, , condemned actions.

in 1981, united states erected series of monuments in arlington national cemetery in arlington, virginia, listing names of chaplains killed in various wars including world war ii, korean war , vietnam war. felhoelter s name among engraved in memorial.

north korean response

generally subsequent research has found north korean command did not directly order troops mistreat prisoners or unarmed wounded during phase of war. chaplain–medic massacre , similar atrocities believed have been conducted uncontrolled small units, vindictive individuals, or because of unfavorable , increasingly desperate situations confronting captors . more north korean troops suffered worsening conditions on front lines, more mistreated american wounded , prisoners. t. r. fehrenbach, military historian, wrote in analysis of event north korean troops committing these acts accustomed torture , execution of prisoners due decades of rule oppressive armies of empire of japan until world war ii.

a july 28, 1950, order general lee yong ho, commander of north korean 3rd division, intercepted un intelligence. document signed kim chaek, commander-in-chief, , choi yong-kun, commander of advanced general headquarters of north korean army, , stated killing prisoners of war strictly prohibited . lee directed individual units cultural sections inform division s troops of rule. higher-profile hill 303 massacre next month prompted north korean division commanders issue sterner orders on treatment of prisoners of war.