Korea: The Forgotten War

“Freedom is not free.”Inscription on the Korean War Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Korean History

• Inhabited by nomads nearly 9,000 years ago• Before imperialism by neighboring

countries- ruled by Dynasties• Koreans depend on the sea- sea food in

every meal, including breakfast• Korean proverb: When whales battle the

shrimp is crushed between them

Geography

• 70% of Korea is covered by mountains• Seas surround Korea• The North is full of resources• The South has excellent areas for

agriculture

Geo…Continued

• Understanding the size/climate is best related using comparisons -

• Korean Peninsula is about the size of Utah• South Korea is about the size of Oregon• Oregon has 3 million people, SK has 50

million people• DENSE populations

Geography…Cont

• 70% of Korea is covered by mountains• Two major ranges encompass the eastern

seaboard from the south clear into Russia

Geography…Seas

• Koreans depend on the sea• To the East and North: Sea of Japan (East Sea

from Korea)• South: Korean Strait, or South Sea (Where the two

major seas meet, it creates a unique environment) – Outside of Korea – called the East China Sea

• West: Yellow Sea (West Sea it is referred to in Korean)

Road to War

• Chinese Imperialism• Russian Imperialism• Japanese Imperialism – until 1945

Post WWII

• Two Zones (Spheres) of Influence:– Russian North– US South

Division: 38* N – Dividing line in comparison: Divide North and South Virginia (USA)

North and South

• After the war the North and South take on the political characteristics of their “overseers”

• North – becomes Communist, ruled by Dictator Kim Il Sung

• South – becomes a questionable democracy, ruled by Syngmon Rhee

• Each ruler wanted to unite Korea in their own way!

North Korea

South Korea

Catalyst for War:

• June of 1950, Northern Troops invade- crossing the 38th

• Seoul – capitol of South Korea, precariously placed

• General MacArthur is on the ground in Korea, calls for Truman to send troops- NOW!

• Police Action begins

                                                 

Vocabulary to know

• Cold War• Containment Policy• Domino Theory• Truman Doctrine• Bamboo Curtain/Iron Curtain

Security Council – Free To Act!

• The Security Council – the main decision making body of the UN

• Soviets boycott the Security Council…Good for the US

• US is standing firm on their intent to help/ aid Korea.

• Security Council – majority vote!

Let the fighting Begin:

• MacArthur pinned in the south• UN declares its blessing- grants assistance• Once the first wave of troops arrive,

MacArthur plans Inchon landing• Such success!

Go North!

• MacArthur allowed to push North• His Goal: Reunify the nation, secure

democracy, retake the peninsula, drive the nail in the heart of the communists

Trouble for MacArthur?

• Thanksgiving Day 1950 – MacArthur figured the war was about over…

• Chinese enter with 1 million Chinese troops • Push UN forces back into South Korea

Chinese are coming!

• “Our” Forces consisted of (majority):• United States Army and Marines• South Korean regiments• And UN assistance (minority): Great

Britain, Turkey, France, Netherlands, Philippines and Australia

• Easily capture Pyongyang – Northern Cap.

The Chinese are coming!

• Just before 1951, Chinese “volunteers” struck at the UN forces

• Siberian Winter: Troops face 40 below conditions- oil, blood plasma freeze at these temps

• Chinese hold up in hillsides, waiting to go in for the kill

Deadly Winter ‘50-51

• UN troops begin to retreat, surrounded by Chinese

• Battle of the Chosin Reservoir- one of the bloodiest battles, highest military medals awarded- most in any conflict (Navy and Army)

• Shortly after, the day before Christmas, Seoul was again taken by the North

Battle for Seoul

• New commander: Ridgway• January offensive, retake the capitol by

March• Communists continue to attempt its

recapture• UN troops are “dug in”… stalemate ensues

Stalemate

• UN leaders, happy with control over the 38th and Seoul

• Truman has had enough – No talk of unifying Korea - looking at a limited war??

• Look for an honorable escape – term that will be all too familiar in Vietnam – Limited War?

• Beyond the 38th was now seen as unwinnable• MacArthur: UNACCEPTABLE!

Goodbye General

• MacArthur insisted that the use of a nuke or two would end the war and allow the North to be captured

• MacArthur soon over steps his boundaries making public announcements that were going against the government

• Truman fires him for his open questioning of the President’s decision

" . . . old soldiers never die they just fade away. And like the old soldier of the ballad, I

now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the right to see that duty.

Goodbye."

Stalemate drudges on…

• Ridgway grinds on• Small battles fought, no ground was lost or

gained• Peace was in the works, but America was

busy electing its first Republican President in 19 years

It’s Eisenhower

• He’s got the power from ’53 to ’61• Republicans retake the White House• Nixon becomes the VP• First order of business: Resolve Korea• Second order: beat down McCarthy and the

Red Scare propagandists

MASH

• A television series depicting the war was names after the mobile hospital units first used in Korea- M.A.S.H.

• What went on there? One doctor said- “Oh sex and liquor, what else is there”

(Mobile Army Surgical Hospital)