Utah 213th and the Miracle at Gapyeong, 1951
We're making a documentary!
What is the story?
Seventy years ago, in the spring of 1951, just over 600 National Guardsmen of southern Utah's 213th Mobile Field Artillery Battalion fought a critical battle against more than 5,000 Communist Chinese soldiers in the Gapyeong Valley, Korea. The men of the 213th fought fiercely and admirably to protect each other; their neighbors, family members and fellow members of their church. Artillery units like the 213th would have normally operated far from the front line--out of direct contact with the enemy. But on this night, May 26th, 1951, elements of the 213th found themselves surrounded and behind enemy lines. Much of the fighting on that fateful night was done with small arms, personal weapons, as the 213th was completely surrounded and overrun. Remarkably not a single man was lost during the battle and all returned from deployment.
Why is it important?
Today the Korean War is a distant memory, stuck between the Second World War ("the last good war") and the Vietnam conflict. Now on the seventieth anniversary of the battle at Gapyeong, most of the men of the 213th have passed away, their stories potentially lost. However, twenty years ago video interviews were shot with dozens of these veterans. Hear in their own words what it was like to join this fight quickly after the end of the Second World War, work with their Korean counterparts, fight the North Korean and Chinese--and all come home alive.
How much will it cost and what do we need?
The film has a total estimated budget of $75,000. We have raised $12,500 to get started. We have additional commitments of $27,500. We are looking to raise $30,000 more from Go Fund Me and other sources.
Why support this film?
One objective of this documentary film will be to archive the photos and film taken by the Guardsmen themselves, preserving this moment in both the Utah and American experience. Another purpose of the film is to capture the memories and perspectives of the remaining veterans and their children in high definition, while remastering existing footage to tell this story in a quality way for current and future generations.
