Battle of Kapyong
April 24th, 1951: The 700 Soldiers of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry are entrenched atop Hill 677 which controls the entrance to the Kapyong River Valley north of Seoul, modern day South Korea. Below them they watch thousands of Chinese soldiers preparing to attack. If the Canadians break, the road to Seoul will be open and the consequences could spell disaster for the United Nations. Lt. Hub Gray (22) witnessed the Battle’s heroism and horror.
Two Commonwealth battalions (Bn.) occupy the hills astride the south end of the river valley: 3rd Bn. Royal Australians and 2nd Bn. PPCLI. They anxiously watch the Korean army stream southward in chaotic retreat. The Chinese are coming in force. They hit the Australians first, eventually forcing them to retreat. Next up for the Chinese are the Canadians.
Lt. Colonel Jim Stone has carefully positioned his four rifle companies with commanding fields of fire but the Chinese attack at night and outnumber the Canadians 10 to 1. The fighting is intense: close quarters, grenades, bren guns and bayonets. 200 Chinese break the Canadian line but are stopped with heavy losses by heavy machine guns mounted on ten “half tracks”. Lt Mike Levy’s platoon was being overrun when this WWII hero coolly called in artillery fire on his own position. Hundreds of shells rained down and the Chinese were blasted back. By morning it is over and miraculously, Canadian losses are few. Result: The Chinese drive is blunted and the PPCLI receive a US Presidential citation. Five PPCLI soldiers received bravery medals but not Levy.
The PPCLI and Mike Levy in Korea before the Battle of Kapyong (Credit: Hub Gray).
Hub Grey was also an officer at Kapyong and years later still wondered why his good friend (Levy) did not receive a medal for his bravery that day. He would find what might be the reason when he stumbled across an ugly secret while writing a book on the subject. Levy was Jewish, and Stone had been over heard saying that “I will not award a medal to a Jew”.
In 2003 Levy’s bravery was recognized by Governor General Clarkson with a special award. Levy said he considered Stone an excellent leader and held no grudge.
Mike Levy passed away in 2007, a true Canadian hero.
The PPCLI monument in Kapyong (Credit: Danleo~commonswiki).
To learn more about Kapyong, check out the Canadian Encyclopedia’s Kapyong entry or our Canada in Korea articles.
Educators: Click here for a Lesson Plan that explores the Battle of Kapyong or here for a worksheet resource: Kapyong Q & A (Bloom’s Taxonomy).
“Night Action at Kapyong” (Credit: Katherine Taylor, CWM 19910216-004).
Main photo: Canadians at Kapyong (Credit: Radio Canada International).