The small village of Chatkol (Korean: 잣골, sometimes "Chat-kol") lay in the centre of the zone known as the Iron Triangle between Chorwon and Kumhwa in the south, and Pyonggang in the north.

[4] specifically, Cheorwon County, Geunbuk-myeonl [ko], Backdeok-ri (38°-19′-39.7″N / 127°-24′-13.0″E) Chatkol was viewed as a decisive communications hub by both the UN and PVA owing to its proximity to the railway running north-east through the triangle.

The Belgians could not react to the loss of the outpost immediately as they came under heavy and accurate artillery fire from nearby PVA positions.

By 06:00, a wounded soldier, the survivor of Outpost Alice, was seen crawling towards the front line and was evacuated to a MASH hospital by helicopter.

Realizing that a PVA breakthrough was a distinct possibility, Corporal Raymond Beringer of the Luxembourg Platoon, A Company moved his .30 caliber machine gun to the roof of his bunker to enable a broader field of fire.