This bibliography documents the primary and secondary sources used in researching and writing the account of Corporal Norman A. Heuring's service at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. The sources include official military documents from the National Archives, scholarly historical works, personal accounts from survivors, and contemporary military records. Many of these documents were classified for fifty years and only became available to researchers in the early 2000s.
This account would not have been possible without the decades of work by military historians, archivists, and survivors who refused to let the truth about RCT-31 remain buried. Special recognition is due to:
The historical vindication of RCT-31, culminating in the Navy Presidential Unit Citation awarded in 2000, stands as a testament to the power of historical truth and the importance of preserving accurate military records.
The majority of official military records cited in this account remained classified as "Secret" for fifty years following the battle. The declassification of these documents beginning in the late 1990s and early 2000s fundamentally changed the historical understanding of what transpired at Chosin Reservoir. Earlier accounts, including official Marine Corps histories, were written without access to these critical Army records and thus provided an incomplete—and often inaccurate—picture of RCT-31's role in the battle.
Personal accounts from survivors, while invaluable for understanding the human experience of the battle, must be read with the understanding that these men experienced extreme trauma, sleep deprivation, and hypothermia during the events they describe. Where possible, personal accounts have been corroborated with official unit records and multiple witness testimonies.
For Researchers: Researchers interested in accessing the original documents cited in this account should contact the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in College Park, Maryland. Many documents are now available through NARA's online catalog. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, also maintains relevant materials in their Korean War collections.