“The Forgotten War”

The Korean War 1950 - 1953

MAPS

• 1945 – Korea controlled by Japan• After WWII, Soviets occupied the NORTH,

US the SOUTH• Korea was divided at the 38th Parallel

• 1947 – elections held, both sides claimed victory

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Test of “Containment”

• North Korea invaded the South – June 25, 1950; Truman pledged support .

• N. Korea pushed

the Pusan Perimeter;

August, 1950

• South Korea asked UN for help; Soviets absent from meeting (no veto)

• General MacArthur led UN troops from 15 countries into Korea at Inchon, thus beginning the Korean Conflict.

Inchon Landing, Sept. 15, 1950

Korean firsts:

• First time we fought under another flag besides our own…UN flag.

• First time we used jet warfare.• First time we used helicopters to transport

men to and from the battlefield.

• M*A*S*H

Korea Map

Pusan

Inchon

Yalu River

General MacArthur surprise landing

38th Parallel

• N Koreans pushed back into N Korea

• Oct. 1950, Chinese invaded N Korea

• UN troops pushed back to S Korea

• 1950-51 – STALEMATE around 38th Parallel

• April 1951 – MacArthur removed from position – replaced by General Omar Bradley

Truman Fired MacArthur

Power of President over the military

THE FORGOTTEN WAR

A grief stricken American infantryman whose buddy has been killed in action is comforted by another soldier. In the background a corpsman methodically fills out casualty tags, Haktong-ni area, Korea. August 28, 1950. Sfc. Al Chang. (Army)

• Atrocities were committed on both sides.

Americans paid little attention to what was going on in Korea, that is why it is often called “the forgotten war”. This was a prosperous time and Am. were tired of war after WWII. Korean War soldiers did not come home to a winner’s welcome because the war technically did not end. The boundary is still the most fortified in the world.

• Fighting continued until 1952

• 1952 – Truman replaced by Eisenhower

• 1953 – Stalin died

• July 1953 - Armistice signed

WHO WON????

• S KOREA REMAINED ‘FREE’• Containment had worked• Korea badly damaged• The human cost was great• Still two separate states today• Still US troops in Korea

THE COST IN HUMAN LIFE

Casualties in the Korean War

780,000500,000

70,000

30,000

4,500

NK & Chinese soldiersand civilians

SK civilians

SK soldiers

USA soldiers

Other UN soldiers

38th

Parallel

“FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.”