USS Chosin (CG65) is the first U.S. Navy warship named in commemoration of the First Marine Division's breakout from the Chinese Communist encirclement at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War.  Historians term the Battle of the Chosin reservoir as the most savage battle of modern warfare.  It is compared to Tarawa, the bloodiest battle of World War II.

The Battle of Chosin was fought in the mountains of North Korea, near Manchuria.  It pitted about 15,000 allied troops, mostly elements of the First Marine Division and a regimental combat team of the U.S. Army's Seventeenth Infantry Division, against 120,000 Chinese Communists in 10 Divisions who had been ordered to annihilate them "to the last man."  Following the landing at Inchon and the seizure of Seoul, Korea, in September 1950, the First Marine Division embarked on amphibious ships and transferred to the east coast of Korea.  Landing at Wonson, the Fifth and Seventh Marines were sent to Hamhung to prepare for the advance of Yalu.  The First Marines initially remained near Wonson.  In November 1950, eight of those Chinese Divisions struck the First Marine Division.  Major General Oliver P. Smith ordered the Marines to reverse direction and overcome the Communist roadblocks.  The attack in the new direction--the breakout--continued for 13 days until Marines linked with Army Troops in Hungnam perimeter.  By December, the division had closed Hungnam with a deliberate and calculated withdrawal that cost the enemy an estimated 25,000 dead while only 730 Marines were fatally wounded.  Skillful troop leadership and stubborn determination enabled the Marines to avert disaster that at first seemed inevitable.