Elderly American veterans of the Korean War celebrated the groundbreaking Monday for a memorial commemorating "Changjin Reservoir Battle," one of the fiercest battles in the war that also helped make a massive evacuation operation possible.

The November-December 1950 battle, also known as the "Battle of the Chosin Reservoir," came as the U.S.-backed South Korean forces began retreating from North Korea after China sent massive numbers of troops to fight alongside the communist neighbor.

In the battle, the 1st U.S. Marine Division fought against seven Chinese divisions. The Marines are credited with stopping the Chinese from moving southward during the battle so as to buy time for what is known as the "Heungname evacuation" that saved the lives of nearly 200,000 troops and civilians.

More than 900 U.S. Marines were killed and thousands others went missing in the battle. The battle drew fresh attention this year as the Heungnam evacuation operation was included in a South Korean box-office hit, "Ode to My Father."

Those who fought in the battle are also called the "Chosin Few," meaning they were far outnumbered by enemy troops.

On Monday, survivors of the battle, South Korean officials and other supporters gathered at the U.S. National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia, for a ceremony to break ground for a memorial commemorating the battle.

Recalling the harsh conditions at the time, one survivor, retired Lt. Gen. Richard Carey, said it was "one of the most vicious, difficult and historic battles in military history, not just in the Marine Corps history, but in military history."

"We ... consisted of about 18,000 people. A raid against us were as many as 120,000 and they were trying to wipe us out. As a matter of fact, the Chinese leaders said that 'if you annihilate, destroy all of the 1st Marine Division and its attached units ...then the United Nations will abandon Korea,'" he said during a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony.

"What would have happened to the Republic of Korea had that occured? It would be nothing like it is today," he said.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Monday, the 62nd anniversary of the armistice that ended the three-year war. The truce has never been converted into a peace treaty, which means that the divided Korean Peninsula is still technically at war.

The $600,000 project calls for erecting a memorial shaped like a shining star, which has been a symbol of the battle as U.S.

Marines broke through the siege of Chinese troops on a night when a bright start was up in the sky over the village of Kodo-ri.

South Korea's Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs provided 150 million won ($128,447) for the project and the National Unification Advisory Council also offered $150,000. The project organizers plan to make up the rest through voluntary fund-raising.

The memorial is expected to be completed around May next year.

"I'm very, very happy, believe me. We've been working on it now for over three years. So, this is really a culmination with this last donation that we have -- it's really in fact that we now have a full construction capability. Anything in addition is going to be to make it even better," Carey said.

Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Stephen G. Olmstead also said he was "elated and very happy."

"We need a monument of remembrance. The monument, it should not be just for Marines, and it isn't. It's for all the allied people that fought under the United Nations at that time," said Olmstead, who as a private first class fought in the Changjin battle.

Hyun Kyung-dae, executive vice chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council, said the council's donation is an expression of South Korea's gratitude to some 4,500 U.S. Marines killed in the battle and other troops that fought alongside South Korea during the war.

"Though we will build the Changjin Reservoir Battle memorial here today, we all wish that unification of the Korean Peninsula will be realized as early as possible," Hyun said. "If unification happens, we will erect an even greater memorial on the shore of the Changjin Reservoir."

Rep. Kim Jung-hoon of South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party said he will work with other members of the National Assembly to raise funds for the project.

"I will give my best efforts to find donations for the remaining funding," Kim said during a speech. "I will continue to find ways to support American veterans of the Korean War and to celebrate their legacy ... I hope this memorial teaches the noble meaning of your sacrifice to our future generations." (Yonhap)