Whaling participated in the Battle of the Punchbowl in August–September 1951, which was one of the last battles of the movement phase of the Korean War and during which 1st Marine Division killed over 3,000 of North Korean troops. The rest of the year and early 1952, spent division on the Jamestown Line, the UN's Main line of resistance and saw only occasional fighting. Upon the detachment of General Thomas in January 1952, Whaling remained with 1st Marine Division under new commanding general John T. Selden, another comrade from Cape Gloucester, until the end of March when he was succeeded by Merrill B. Twining and ordered back to the United States under rotation policy. For his service in Korea, Whaling was decorated with Army Distinguished Service Medal and Air Medal for participation in the reconnaissance flights over enemy-lines.