In June 1950, North Korean troops invaded South Korea and initiated the on-going Korean War. The United States along with the United Nation forces came to the aid of South Korea by sending troops to push back the North Korean soldiers. In November 1950, the 1st Marine Division of the 10th Corps, along with other units, were advancing up the Chosin Reservoir on its east side mountains far inside North Korean territory. With -36 degree weather on a high elevation, the Marines were soon overwhelmed by the advancing Chinese forces that had recently joined the conflict along the side of the North Korean army. The Marines were ordered to move south. As they traveled through the high mountains with enemies surrounding them, their equipment and vehicles froze, ammo was depleted and they suffered from frostbite due to the extreme weather conditions.’
“TOOTSIE ROLLS” came through to the United States Air Force Operator. It was a code the Marines used to get 60mm mortar rounds, which they desperately needed at the moment to push back the advancing Chinese forces.
Outnumbered and out of ammo, the 1st Marine Division at Chosin Reservoir received a shocking airdrop. Actual Tootsie Rolls. When the code was sent through, the radio operator on hand did not have the correct code sheet, making him believe the Marines were asking for the actual candy, not motor shells. According to Historian Todd DePastino, the Tootsie Rolls may have not come down from parachutes, but really boxes that were delivered to the soldiers by trucks.
Not letting anything be wasted, the Marines started using the candy to help keep their equipment running. 1st Marine Veteran Clifford Mayer describes the scene:
“Unable to build a fire to heat our rations, the men were close to starvation. Destroying non-essential equipment, we discovered boxes and boxes of Tootsie Rolls, frozen solid from the sub-zero temperature. The Tootsie Rolls were issued to all the men. The sugar gave us energy and the candy satisfied our hunger. Ask any man that served at the Chosin, to be good a Tootsie Roll must be frozen!”
The Marines also used the Tootsie Rolls to patch bullet holes in their armored vehicles and fix leaking radiators, giving them the ability to safely move their vehicles and soldiers out of harm’s way. “Tootsie Rolls were our main diet while fighting our way out of the Reservoir. You can bet there were literally thousands of Tootsie Roll wrappers scattered over North Korea” recalls 1st Marine Veteran Edward M. Szymciak.
The Tootsie Roll Company has established a strong relationship with the veterans of the 1st Marine Division ever since their time together in Korea. To this day, the Tootsie Roll company supplies the 1st Marine Division veterans across America with the candy through a package they send. “Tootsie Rolls salutes the Chosen Few. We are proud to have been with you” is written on the package. The Tootsie Roll Company also regularly attends the 1st Marine Divisions reunions.
The Tootsie Rolls support is remembered at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia. The ‘Chosen Few’ exhibit has Tootsie Roll wrappings placed on the ground in remembrance.
Sources
- The Candy that Saved the Marines
- Photograph of 5th and 7th regiments of 1st Marine Division
- Honoring the ‘Chosin Few’ reunion in 2022
- My Turn: How Tootsie Rolls saved Marines during the Korean War
- The National Museum of the Marine Corps (NNMC): Tootsie Rolls
- The Myth of the Tootsie Roll Airdrop at Chosin