Korean War

Many momentous things occurred during the 1950’s. It was indeed a marvelous decade. But one very important event took place that not many people remember as all that big. This would be the Korean War, a war that determined the lives of thousands of U.S. troops, not to mention the millions of people in Korea and China. The Korean War deserves to be taken seriously and its history should be known.

The war began because both the North and South Korean governments claimed that they ruled all of Korea. Serious border incidents, precursors to the actual war, began in the fall and winter of 1949 and kept on into the spring of 1950. On June 25, 1950, at 4 A.M. Far Eastern time North Korean infantry and tanks crossed the 38th parallel, which separated North and South Korea. The main attack came along the Pochon-Uijongbu-Seoul corridor. There were simultaneous attacks in the Ongjin Peninsula and at Chunchon in the eastern mountains.

On June 27, President Harry S. Truman of the United States ordered that U.S. air and naval forces into South Korea to aid the Korean troops there. Then on July 8, President Truman assigned General Douglas MacArthur to command the UN forces in Korea. By July South Korean Forces (R.O.K. or Republic of Korea) had been forced back behind the Kum River. This line was broken on July 17, and Taejon, the temporary South Korean capital, fell on July 21.

In early August the UN had established a somewhat stable defense line along the Naktong River from Chinju to about 20 miles above Taegu and eastward to just north of Pohang. Despite the fact the Chinju and Pohang were later captured and the North Koreans advanced to within ten miles of Taegu, the Pusan perimeter defense held, though there was bitter fighting in August and September. North Koreans also threatened to take Masan, but never did. And Although the Naktong was crossed many times, the UN forces were able to reestablish the defense line by counterattacks. While this severe fighting was going on, the United States made use of the excellent port facilities in Pusan to gradually build up the strength of its own forces.

On September 5 the North Koreans achieved their maximum penetration, breaking through along the east coast into Pohang, reaching Kyongju, and endangering Yongchon. This attack, however, was pushed back by the U.S. Twenty-fourth Division, and North Koreans were incapable of launching another serious drive.

UN forces made an amphibious landing on September 15 at Inchon. Quickly occupying the city, they were able to push inland toward Seoul. Two days before a UN counteroffensive had been launched along the Pusan perimeter, and on September 26 the First Cavalry Division had captured Chonju. That same day, General MacArthur declared the capture of Seoul. South Korean troops continued to push steadily northward above Seoul, finally crossing the 38th parallel on October 2. By October 19 the Pyongyang (the North Korean capital), Hamhung, and Hungnam had been taken by the U.S. First Cavalry Division. UN troops drove further northward toward the Yalu River and the Manchurian border. For some time they encountered no important opposition until November first when 25 miles from the Yalu River and some 60 miles from the border powerful resistance was encountered.

The full force of four Chinese Communist armies, about 200,000 men, hurled against the UN forces on November 26. After successive night attacks, the UN forces were forced back, allowing Chongju to be recaptured on November 28. U.S. troops attempted a defense at the Chongchon River, but the line was outflanked by a powerful enemy column that had reached Songchon by December first. The U.S. made a successful evacuation by sea that started on December 11 and was completed on December 24. U.S. and South Korean troops, numbering 105,000, and 91,000 Korean civilians were taken to South Korean ports by sea.

On New Year’s Eve of 1950, Chinese Communists launched an offensive toward Seoul and Wonju. UN forces were able to make an orderly withdrawal to behind the Han River. The UN then tried a new defensive front from Pyongtaek to Wonju. Communist penetration in the center of the defense made a good deal of progress, and during January 7th through the 17th of 1951, Wonju changed hand several times. The defense was, however, successful and the line stabilized marking the end of the UN retreat on January 24.

January 25 saw the launching of Operation Thunderbolt by UN forces. In 18 days the UN had moved the front up to the Han River. On February 5, Operation Roundup commenced, but the Communists counterattacked and on February 11 forced UN forces to withdraw to Wonju. The UN counterattacked on February 21, making some gains to the north and east of Wonju. Operation Ripper, which was a general attack by UN forces along the whole front, launched on March 7th. On March 15, Seoul was reoccupied. The end of March again saw the passing of UN forces beyond the 38th parallel.

The Communists offensive was launched on April 22. By April 29, the Eighth Army’s (of the UN) front was well south of the 38th parallel, pushed there by Communist forces. The enemy launched its second phase on May 16th. The troops on the eastern sector of the front suffered from this assault, but by rapid counteraction by the U.S. the movement was contained. On May 22, the Eighth Army counterattacked along the entire front. The move gained ground and moved the UN forces again over the 38th parallel.

At this point in time, the Korean War slowed down during its last two years. This time became known as the “Battle of the Hills.” Aerial battles were fought between the U.S. F-86 Sabre jets and the Soviet-built MIG-15’s. These were the first clashes fought between jet aircraft.

On June 24, 1951, the conflict seemed to be nearing settlement. Truce talks began on July 10 at Kaesong and were later moved to Panmunjon. The two sides eventually worked out agreement defining the neutral zones and setting regulations for investigating infringements. It was also agreed that on a military demarcation line and demilitarized zone be set between the two sides. This provisional truce line which was based on military positions at the time, was signed on November 27th.

On January 2, 1952, UN delegates proposed the repatriation of war prisoners according to voluntary choice. The Communists immediately rejected the proposal, and because of their refusal the UN broke off truce discussions on October 8th. On March 28, 1953, the Communists announced that they would accept the UN’s proposal to exchange sick and wounded prisoners. On April 11 the agreement was signed and the prisoners were exchanged.

The UN and the Communists resumed truce talks again on April 26, 1953 at Panmunjon, and the Communists finally gave into the UN’s demand that no prisoner should be forced to return to his homeland against his own volition. An actual truce agreement was signed on July 27, 1953, creating a 2 1/2 buffer zone across North and South Korea’s border (that is a mile and a quarter on each side). The final borderline ended up giving South Korea about 1,500 more square miles than they had before the war. To supervise the truce a neutral nations commission was created. The commission included Sweden, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, and Poland.

The number of participants during the war at peak times are as follows:

As you can see by the numbers above, the Korean War effected a good many people, leaving more than 2,500,000 South Koreans homeless and killing 1,000,000 civilians. And U.S. troops were significantly devastated as well, losing 33,647 men in battle, while 103,259 men were wounded. These are tremendous numbers and the people who served during this war should always be remembered, for theirs was as tough a battle as any other war in history.

Back to History Essays.