Last Tank Crosses the Han River as U.N. Evacuates Seoul, Korea: 1951

This photo was taken 4 January 1951 by a U.S. Army photographer as the last tank of the U.N. forces holding Seoul, Korea evacuated the city by crossing to the south of the Han River. The pontoon bridge in the photo was the last one across the Han and was demolished as soon as the M4 Sherman tank cleared off.

The Chinese Communists entered the Korean War on 25 October 1950 with over 300,000 troops. Allied forces were overwhelmed and the Communists advanced southward towards Seoul, capturing it on 4 January 1951, the date of this picture. The Allies were pushed back to a point 25 miles south of Seoul by 10 January. From that low point, the Allies fought back, slowly moving north again. Seoul was recaptured on 14 March and by July discussions for establishing a truce were in the works, although combat did not end for another two years.

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