G.I. JOE "Invasion of Inchon" September 15, 1950

This week the United States and South Korea commemorated the 60th Incheon Landing Operations.

The Battle of Inchon (Korean: 인천 상륙 작전, Hanja: 仁川上陸作戰, Incheon Sangnyuk Jakjeon; code name: Operation Chromite) was an amphibious invasion and battle of the Korean War that resulted in a decisive victory and strategic reversal in favor of the United Nations (UN).

The battle began on September 15, 1950, and ended around September 17. Through a surprise amphibious assault far from the Pusan Perimeter that UN and South Korean forces were desperately defending, the largely undefended city of Incheon was secured after being bombed by UN forces. The battle ended a string of victories by the invading North Korean People's Army (NKPA). The subsequent UN recapture of nearby Seoul partially severed NKPA's supply lines in South Korea.

The majority of United Nations ground forces involved were U.S. Marines, commanded by General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur was the driving force behind the operation, overcoming the strong misgivings of more cautious generals to a risky assault over extremely unfavorable terrain.

This is the G.I. Joe 1:6 Scale Invasion of Inchon, Sept 15, 1950 (Delta Assortment) military action figure. This 12-inch G.I. Joe is a USMC Marine from the Korean War who landed at Inchon in 1950. He comes with M1 helmet with camouflage cloth cover, dog tags, USMC uniform consisting of jacket and pants, boots wth leggings, web belt with ammo pouches, canteen, backpack with entrenching tool and bed roll, Browning Automatic Rifle, K-bar knife with sheath, ammo clips and scaling ladder with grappling hooks.

Close-up pictures of the G.I. Joe 1:6 Scale Invasion of Inchon 12-inch USMC Marine figure

Marine backpack with entrenching tool and bed roll

What was amazing was that Hasbro could pack the 1/6 scale climbing ladder with grappling hooks into the standard G.I. Joe box packaging!

The un-assembled scaling ladder with grappling hooks

One of the famous pictures of the Battle of Inchon is this photograph of Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez of the US Marine Corps scaling a seawall after landing on Red Beach (September 15, 1950). Minutes after this photo was taken, Lopez was killed after smothering a live grenade with his body. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. You can also see the scaling ladders the Marines had constructed for their assault.

And here's G.I. Joe 12-inch USMC Marine figure climbing the scaling ladder with grappling hooks for the Invasion of Inchon which happened on September 15, 1950.