Video Description

On the harsh winter day of February 7, 1951, Captain Lewis Millett crouched at the foot of Hill 180 near Han River. The icy wind bit at his face as he surveyed the brutal landscape ahead. Company E was readying for an assault. Suddenly, sniper fire cracked alive. Bullets whizzed past Millet and his men. One of his platoons got pinned down by the fire. Cowering in defense, many soldiers began saying silent goodbyes to their mothers, wives, and girlfriends back home. Not Captain Millet. Without hesitation, he moved swiftly to support the remaining platoon. Assembling the men, he readied the charge uphill against the rainstorm of bullets. Bayonets poised. Hill 180 had to be taken. The success of Operation Thunderbolt depended on it. Then, the enemy finally revealed themselves. Chinese soldiers rose up at the top of the hill, their silhouettes sharp against the gray sky. Millet looked up at the enemy. He saw their hands reaching for their belts and the unmistakable glint of metal reflecting in the cold light: Grenades, a volley of grenades. Fingers slipped through pull rings; safety pins yanked out. Meanwhile, Company E, having never put their bayonet training to the test, waited on Millet’s orders, unsure if he’d lead the charge or order a retreat. Many hoped for the latter. - As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Docs sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect. I do my best to keep it as visually accurate as possible. All content on Dark Docs is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas. -