September 1950. Chinhae (now Jinhae), South Korea. Chinhae is on South Korea's southern coast, about 25 miles west - as the crow flies - of the port of Pusan (Busan). This site represented the southernmost extent of the Pusan Perimeter, behind which U.N. forces made their last-ditch stand against encroaching North Korean Peoples Army. Korean civilians - mostly women and children - are seen here working with hand tools to repair a segment of road that has undoubtedly been pounded by military traffic. They may be locals from Chinhae, or refugees from someplace north, displaced by the invading NKPA. Language barriers not withstanding, a U.S. Army engineer has solicited these citizens' labor, probably in return for bags of rice. Note the Japanese truck to the far right. The viewer is left to admire the dignity of these long-suffering people. It is for the freedom of these individuals that Pvt. Philip Hughes made the ultimate sacrifice on September 12, 1950, in the shadow of Hill 300, north of Kyongju. Photo from the U.S. Army 8035 Signal Unit, courtesy of the great and growing photo collection of Doug Price.
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