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1950 – President Harry S. Truman announces that he is ordering U.S. air and naval forces to South Korea to aid the democratic nation in repulsing an invasion by communist North Korea.
The United States was undertaking the major military operation, he explained, to enforce a United Nations resolution calling for an end to hostilities, and to stem the spread of communism in Asia. In addition to ordering U.S. forces to Korea, Truman also deployed the U.S. 7th Fleet to Formosa (Taiwan) to guard against invasion by communist China and ordered an acceleration of military aid to French forces fighting communist guerrillas in Vietnam.
At the Yalta Conference towards the end of World War II, the United States, the USSR, and Great Britain agreed to divide Korea into two separate occupation zones. The country was split along the 38th parallel, with Soviet forces occupying the northern zone and Americans stationed in the south. In 1947, the United States and Great Britain called for free elections throughout Korea, but the Soviets refused to comply. In May 1948 the Korean Democratic People’s Republic–a communist state–was proclaimed in North Korea. In August, the democratic Republic of Korea was established in South Korea. By 1949, both the United States and the USSR had withdrawn the majority of their troops from the Korean Peninsula.
At dawn on June 25, 1950 (June 24 in the United States and Europe), 90,000 communist troops of the North Korean People’s Army invaded South Korea across the 38th parallel, catching the Republic of Korea’s forces completely off guard and throwing them into a hasty southern retreat. On the afternoon of June 25, the U.N. Security Council met in an emergency session and approved a U.S. resolution calling for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” and the withdrawal of North Korean forces to the 38th parallel. At the time, the USSR was boycotting the Security Council over the U.N.’s refusal to admit the People’s Republic of China and so missed its chance to veto this and other crucial U.N. resolutions.
On June 27, President Truman announced to the nation and the world that America would intervene in the Korean conflict in order to prevent the conquest of an independent nation by communism. Truman was suggesting that the USSR was behind the North Korean invasion, and in fact the Soviets had given tacit approval to the invasion, which was carried out with Soviet-made tanks and weapons. Despite the fear that U.S. intervention in Korea might lead to open warfare between the United States and Russia after years of “cold war,” Truman’s decision was met with overwhelming approval from Congress and the U.S. public. Truman did not ask for a declaration of war, but Congress voted to extend the draft and authorized Truman to call up reservists.
On June 28, the Security Council met again and in the continued absence of the Soviet Union passed a U.S. resolution approving the use of force against North Korea. On June 30, Truman agreed to send U.S. ground forces to Korea, and on July 7 the Security Council recommended that all U.N. forces sent to Korea be put under U.S. command. The next day, General Douglas MacArthur was named commander of all U.N. forces in Korea. In the opening months of the war, the U.S.-led U.N. forces rapidly advanced against the North Koreans, but Chinese communist troops entered the fray in October, throwing the Allies into a hasty retreat.
In April 1951, Truman relieved MacArthur of his command after he publicly threatened to bomb China in defiance of Truman’s stated war policy. Truman feared that an escalation of fighting with China would draw the Soviet Union into the Korean War. By May 1951, the communists were pushed back to the 38th parallel, and the battle line remained in that vicinity for the remainder of the war.
On July 27, 1953, after two years of negotiation, an armistice was signed, ending the war and reestablishing the 1945 division of Korea that still exists today. Approximately 150,000 troops from South Korea, the United States, and participating U.N. nations were killed in the Korean War, and as many as one million South Korean civilians perished. An estimated 800,000 communist soldiers were killed, and more than 200,000 North Korean civilians died. The original figure of American troops lost–54,246 killed–became controversial when the Pentagon acknowledged in 2000 that all U.S. troops killed around the world during the period of the Korean War were incorporated into that number. For example, any American soldier killed in an car accident anywhere in the world from June 1950 to July 1953 was considered a casualty of the Korean War. If these deaths are subtracted from the 54,000 total, leaving just the Americans who died (from whatever cause) in the Korean theater of operations, the total U.S. dead in the Korean War numbers 36,516.
https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2005/06/27/june-27/
The United States was undertaking the major military operation, he explained, to enforce a United Nations resolution calling for an end to hostilities, and to stem the spread of communism in Asia. In addition to ordering U.S. forces to Korea, Truman also deployed the U.S. 7th Fleet to Formosa (Taiwan) to guard against invasion by communist China and ordered an acceleration of military aid to French forces fighting communist guerrillas in Vietnam.
At the Yalta Conference towards the end of World War II, the United States, the USSR, and Great Britain agreed to divide Korea into two separate occupation zones. The country was split along the 38th parallel, with Soviet forces occupying the northern zone and Americans stationed in the south. In 1947, the United States and Great Britain called for free elections throughout Korea, but the Soviets refused to comply. In May 1948 the Korean Democratic People’s Republic–a communist state–was proclaimed in North Korea. In August, the democratic Republic of Korea was established in South Korea. By 1949, both the United States and the USSR had withdrawn the majority of their troops from the Korean Peninsula.
At dawn on June 25, 1950 (June 24 in the United States and Europe), 90,000 communist troops of the North Korean People’s Army invaded South Korea across the 38th parallel, catching the Republic of Korea’s forces completely off guard and throwing them into a hasty southern retreat. On the afternoon of June 25, the U.N. Security Council met in an emergency session and approved a U.S. resolution calling for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” and the withdrawal of North Korean forces to the 38th parallel. At the time, the USSR was boycotting the Security Council over the U.N.’s refusal to admit the People’s Republic of China and so missed its chance to veto this and other crucial U.N. resolutions.
On June 27, President Truman announced to the nation and the world that America would intervene in the Korean conflict in order to prevent the conquest of an independent nation by communism. Truman was suggesting that the USSR was behind the North Korean invasion, and in fact the Soviets had given tacit approval to the invasion, which was carried out with Soviet-made tanks and weapons. Despite the fear that U.S. intervention in Korea might lead to open warfare between the United States and Russia after years of “cold war,” Truman’s decision was met with overwhelming approval from Congress and the U.S. public. Truman did not ask for a declaration of war, but Congress voted to extend the draft and authorized Truman to call up reservists.
On June 28, the Security Council met again and in the continued absence of the Soviet Union passed a U.S. resolution approving the use of force against North Korea. On June 30, Truman agreed to send U.S. ground forces to Korea, and on July 7 the Security Council recommended that all U.N. forces sent to Korea be put under U.S. command. The next day, General Douglas MacArthur was named commander of all U.N. forces in Korea. In the opening months of the war, the U.S.-led U.N. forces rapidly advanced against the North Koreans, but Chinese communist troops entered the fray in October, throwing the Allies into a hasty retreat.
In April 1951, Truman relieved MacArthur of his command after he publicly threatened to bomb China in defiance of Truman’s stated war policy. Truman feared that an escalation of fighting with China would draw the Soviet Union into the Korean War. By May 1951, the communists were pushed back to the 38th parallel, and the battle line remained in that vicinity for the remainder of the war.
On July 27, 1953, after two years of negotiation, an armistice was signed, ending the war and reestablishing the 1945 division of Korea that still exists today. Approximately 150,000 troops from South Korea, the United States, and participating U.N. nations were killed in the Korean War, and as many as one million South Korean civilians perished. An estimated 800,000 communist soldiers were killed, and more than 200,000 North Korean civilians died. The original figure of American troops lost–54,246 killed–became controversial when the Pentagon acknowledged in 2000 that all U.S. troops killed around the world during the period of the Korean War were incorporated into that number. For example, any American soldier killed in an car accident anywhere in the world from June 1950 to July 1953 was considered a casualty of the Korean War. If these deaths are subtracted from the 54,000 total, leaving just the Americans who died (from whatever cause) in the Korean theater of operations, the total U.S. dead in the Korean War numbers 36,516.
https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2005/06/27/june-27/
Military History
Korean War
China
Cold War
Posted >1 y ago
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Just to add. My uncle was there in that war.
A few tidbits.
The first true jet on jet dog fights happened at this time. We used the F80 Shooting star when the MIG 15 appeared outclassing it. Imagine as example, P40 Warhawk vs Zero.
The MIG 17 came later to be faced with the american Sabre. Aircraft that were about equal with slight differences. Speed, maneuverabilty, ceiling but not enough to give one an advantage over the other.
It was the first time Soviet and American piolets went head to head. The soviets were told that if shot down you go with the bird cause capture means a bigger war. These were WWII allies fighting each other to see who was best. The Soviets lost.
The P51 and B29 were still in use successfully even though outclassed.
The chinese did surprise and push us back but they were later beaten back where they said basically we quit.
We went in overcofident and out of shape. Still feeling good about WWII.
MacArthur wanted to hit China even if they didnt jump in on the north. It may have ended in disaster if he did. Truman never liked Mac. Too arrogant and a political General similar to what was seen in the civil war. He was the wrong general for the mission. Like his father, Arthur, cocky overconfident , arrogant, loved war and attention, was an army Cheif of Staff in 1922 where he called the army on his fellow WWI vets who wanted their promised bonuses. Think Taylor Swift and her practises.
MASH was not a joke. Medicine and field Hospitals advanced in just 5 years, survival rates were higher than in WWII due to advances. These were the examples for the rest of the world's Medical Profession in the field.
Korea was a precursor to Vietnam. Many young leaders of Korea did not learn. Many WWII men were still riding on that Victory looking at Korea as meee and it continued.
Lastly. The american military did not lose or ask for an armistice, militarily as would happen in Vietnam it was a victory. China was out, the Soviets backed off, the north Koreans were exhausted , defeated and could do no more. What happens? Political maneuvering.
Korea should not be forgotten. Its an example of when the "Sleeping Giant" is led by those out for there own name and glory and alows politics and initial nonchalance to take over.
A few tidbits.
The first true jet on jet dog fights happened at this time. We used the F80 Shooting star when the MIG 15 appeared outclassing it. Imagine as example, P40 Warhawk vs Zero.
The MIG 17 came later to be faced with the american Sabre. Aircraft that were about equal with slight differences. Speed, maneuverabilty, ceiling but not enough to give one an advantage over the other.
It was the first time Soviet and American piolets went head to head. The soviets were told that if shot down you go with the bird cause capture means a bigger war. These were WWII allies fighting each other to see who was best. The Soviets lost.
The P51 and B29 were still in use successfully even though outclassed.
The chinese did surprise and push us back but they were later beaten back where they said basically we quit.
We went in overcofident and out of shape. Still feeling good about WWII.
MacArthur wanted to hit China even if they didnt jump in on the north. It may have ended in disaster if he did. Truman never liked Mac. Too arrogant and a political General similar to what was seen in the civil war. He was the wrong general for the mission. Like his father, Arthur, cocky overconfident , arrogant, loved war and attention, was an army Cheif of Staff in 1922 where he called the army on his fellow WWI vets who wanted their promised bonuses. Think Taylor Swift and her practises.
MASH was not a joke. Medicine and field Hospitals advanced in just 5 years, survival rates were higher than in WWII due to advances. These were the examples for the rest of the world's Medical Profession in the field.
Korea was a precursor to Vietnam. Many young leaders of Korea did not learn. Many WWII men were still riding on that Victory looking at Korea as meee and it continued.
Lastly. The american military did not lose or ask for an armistice, militarily as would happen in Vietnam it was a victory. China was out, the Soviets backed off, the north Koreans were exhausted , defeated and could do no more. What happens? Political maneuvering.
Korea should not be forgotten. Its an example of when the "Sleeping Giant" is led by those out for there own name and glory and alows politics and initial nonchalance to take over.
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