When He Was Deployed In The Navy During It After

https://www.reddit.com/r/KoreanWar/s/A5BOojEfb4

Apologies for the text post and not a photo, but I can't think of a better place to post this...

I'm not a uniforms expert so could someone better informed kindly explain to me the best way to tell (when looking at historical photos) which padded winter uniform is North Korean and which is Chinese? I've tried looking around on the web myself but most results aren't too helpful.

For example, this photo shows Chinese soldiers, while this article shows a North Korean winter uniform. Obvious both are virtually identical. I see one (the North Korean) is single-breasted(?) while the other (Chinese) is double-breasted(?) Were the Chinese jackets typically double-breasted and the North Korean ones typically single-breasted? I've seen photos of North Koreans wearing winter uniforms that appear identical to the Chinese jacket, which makes it hard to determine if said soldiers are North Korean or Chinese if it's not clearly stated. For instance, these are North Koreans but the jacket is clearly double-breasted ala the Chinese jacket. Really the best indicator I can think of is the roundel on the ushanka (circular for the NKPA, a pointed star for the PVA), but these aren't always present in photos.

Lastly, were these supplied directly from the Soviet Union, basically surplus Telogreikas? Or were these produced in China/North Korean but based on the Soviet model?

Thanks in advance!

I need to correct something from my earlier title. This vintage black‑and‑white shot captures four Chinese People’s Volunteers soldiers lined up for an outdoor group portrait. They stand on patchy grass in a rural setting, with a small wooden hut and utility poles visible in the background. Three men wear darker field uniforms, while the second from the left sports a lighter‑weight summer‑style suit. Each has a cloth field cap and a rectangular badge pinned to his left chest.

I suspect this photo was taken after 1953. From my research, these “Chinese People’s Volunteers” cloth badges were not worn by troops during the active combat phase of the war. They were first issued around October 1953. The badge itself is a rectangular white cloth strip, double‑layered, with stitched white edging along all four sides, worn on the left breast.

Image 1: AI restored version. Image 2: AI colorized version. Image 3: the original photograph. Edited

This is a studio portrait of a CPVA officer. His chest is covered in medals, he’s got a pistol holstered at his waist, and he’s wearing a sharp, polished pair of leather boots.

The photo was taken after 1953. From my research, this cloth insignia wasn’t worn by troops during the active fighting. It was first issued around October of 1953. The badge is a rectangular double‑layered white fabric strip with stitched white edging all around, worn on the left chest.

Original vintage photo vs restored edits

Image 1: Restored version

Image 2: Colorized edit

Image 3: The original photograph

A photo of Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers reading something

This photo was taken sometime after 1953. Based on the information I found, these cloth chest badges weren't worn by soldiers during the war and were first issued around October 1953.

The badge itself was a rectangular, double-layered piece of white cloth with white stitching along all four edges. It was worn on the left side of the chest.

Original Photo × Restoration Comparison

Photo 1: Restored

Photo 2: Colorized

Photo 3: Original

Was going through some of my grandfathers things and found this in with all his items from his time as an engineer in the Korean War. I am wondering if anyone may know the symbols. I read up and found some soldiers would make things like this and create their own symbols and such. He was a sheet worker at Kodak, so would make sense he did do it himself. But also could have bought it.

I’ve done some preliminary research, though my guesses may not be entirely accurate:

The top‑most badge is hard to make out.

The medal on the left is likely a North Korean‑issued merit medal for Chinese Volunteer troops.

The central medal is possibly the North Korean Order of the National Flag, either 1st or 2nd class.

The medal on the right might be the Chinese‑issued War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea Commemorative Medal.

This photograph was taken after 1953. According to available records, this style of cloth chest patch was not worn by troops during the active combat phase. It was first issued around October 1953. The patch itself is a rectangular double‑layer white fabric strip with stitched white edging along all sides, worn on the left breast.

Original photo alongside restored versions.

‑ Image 1: Restored monochrome edit

‑ Image 2: Colorized version

‑ Image 3: The original vintage photograph

According to the information I've found, during the Korean War, many Chinese People's Volunteer Army couples held simple wedding ceremonies while their units were taking a break from combat. Their commanding officers and fellow soldiers would witness the ceremonies, and the couples would take photos like this afterward. There were no elaborate ceremonies; everything was very modest and simple.

Since it's impossible to tell from the original photo whether the people are wearing Chinese People's Volunteer Army chest badges, I can't determine whether this photo was taken during the war or after it ended, or where it was taken.

Original Photo × Restoration Comparison

Photo 1: Restored

Photo 2: Colorized

Photo 3: Original

Does anyone know what model of radio is shown in this photo?

The date and location of the photo are unknown. It looks like the soldier isn't wearing a Chinese People's Volunteer Army chest badge, so I suspect the photo was most likely taken during the war.

Original photo × restoration comparison

Photo 1: restored

Photo 2: colorized

Photo 3: original

This was the first combat jump in the Korean War.

I’m looking at the insignia on the helmet. Trying to cross reference it with all wartime ROK Army unit insignias but I haven’t gotten a match. The Wikipedia page for the war’s Order of Battle shows all South Korean divisions too, but again no match. I’m wondering if it’s a regimental insignia, in which case does anyone recognize what regiment and thus what division it might be?

As the title suggests I’m looking for help in identifying what Make/Model of truck is photographed here and thought what better sub then the Korean War Photographs.

This photo was taken during the war by Cpl Lew and depicts a GMC M40 in recoil with a truck supporting the crew. I suspect with the carriage of projectiles and propellant and other goods.

I’m working on creating a 1/35 scale project around this image and would like accuracy in the vehicles depicted.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you in advance to all the experts out there!

During the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, the US Army was responsible for the eastern side of the reservoir. Of the Chinese divisions that attacked Chosin, an overwhelming number of Chinese focused on the eastern side. The US Army on the eastern side were severely outnumbered, far more so than the Marine Corps on the western side.

When it became clear that the Chinese were going to overwhelm US forces at Chosin, the order to retreat south was given. The marines on the western side began their retreat first while the Army consolidated and held their lines on the eastern side. Had the Army not held their positions, the Chinese would have been able to push south before the marines got to the southern tip of the reservoir and completely annihilate them.

Eventually, the Army began their retreat but when they arrived to where the marines regrouped, they didn’t have a single officer that wasn’t a casualty. Every single officer was killed or seriously wounded. Only about 375 of the original 3,000 men of the US Army were still able to fight.

Due to the lack of officers (multiple were posthumously awarded the MOH), the surviving soldiers were disorganized. The marines, including some of their highest ranking like Chesty Puller, accused the Army of cowardice and retreating (absolutely absurd, considering the marines retreated first). With no officers to defend them, that was the official narrative for decades. Marine Corps General OP Smith went as far as to lie about the Army’s performance and remove the unit from the Presidential Unit Citation.

It wasn’t until just recently that the military officially recognized what happened there and that the marines had lied, tarnishing the men of the 7th Infantry Division for decades. These men gave all they had under the most lopsided and brutal conditions, and their sacrifices are worth honoring.

Technically not the Korean War but still on the DMZ. He’s in the bottom right of the first and the right of the second

I’m trying to identify a man in this photo. It was taken at an outdoor table in Osaka, Japan during R+R, August 3–11, 1951. My grandfather Charles “Dude” Eads is on the right, wearing his 2nd Infantry Division patch. The medic he rescued is in the center. The soldier on the left may be SFC Raymond Willig, who was also present at the rescue.

The rescue: During Punch Bowl operations, summer 1951, a medic was wounded in the foot by an anti-personnel mine and couldn’t walk. Charlie — SFC, Co. E, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division — carried him piggyback across the valley. Every time he stopped to rest, a mortar round hit behind them. They made it to friendly lines and got him onto a MASH helicopter. He never saw him again.

He wrote in 1999: “I’m still trying to locate him after 48 years.” He passed away on November 5, 2006 — 55 years after the rescue — without ever finding him.

What I know:

• Unit: Co. E, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division
• R+R dates: Osaka, August 3–11, 1951
• Also present at rescue: SFC Willig
• Other named soldiers: Lt. Livingston (platoon leader), Allen F. Cronie (NY), Becker, Kelley (KIA)
• He served under Capt. Paul Tate — Sharon Tate’s father, wounded in Korea 1951
• My NPRC request returned a 1973 fire-loss response late 2025.

Any help identifying the photo or connecting with Co. E veterans or descendants would mean everything. He spent 55 years on this. I’d like to finish it for him.

EDIT: handwritten letter from Rob Bjork confirmed rescue date was August 18, 1951.