2. The Korean War
Major Rascon

5. Cont. The UN was in it’s infancy
There was constant small-scale fighting at the 38th Parallel
No one thought that the war was actually beginning when it did.
January 1950 – Sec. of State Dean Acheson states that the Western Defense perimeter stops short of South Korea

6. The Invasion Begins
June 25 – Early morning – N. Korean begins invasion of S. Korea.
NK hopes to force reunification as one Communist nation
The UN calls for an end to N. Korean Aggression
June 27 – UN calls an emergency meeting of the security council and asks members to aid S. Korea
June 28th-29th – Seoul is captured
June 30 – Pres Truman orders ground forces into Korea and authorizes the bombing of N. Korea

7. Chinese Involvement
Chairman Mao Tse Tung is watching American forces closely
He has 500,000 troops waiting in Manchuria for the arrival of American Forces
As the NKPA is pushed back across the 38th parallel, Washington gives MacArthur permission to cross the parallel
Stop at any sign of Russian or Chinese intervention
DO NOT cross or even fire in the direction of the Yalu River

8. Meeting at Wake
Pres. Truman is getting nervous and summons MacArthur to Wake Island For a Face-to-Face.
MacArthur is upset that he is interrupted and has to leave during his campaign.

9. Wake Cont.
Truman Concerned about the possibility of Chinese intervention
MacArthur’s arrogance abounds
MacArthur claims that the war will be over by Thanksgiving and the men will be home by Christmas

10. China Attacks Oct 15, 1950 – Mao sends in 1st wave of troops
Despite what he is hearing, MacArthur believes that it is nothing more than a handful of Chinese volunteers, not Army regulars
“In order to hook a big fish, you must let the fish taste your bait.” – Chairman Mao Tse Tung
MacArthur orders his men north

11. Further Devastation All UN forces now south of the 38th Parallel
American forces now faced with total and humiliating defeat
Once again in this war the tables are turned
MacArthur wants to use as many as 50 atomic bombs against the Chinese
US supporters against the idea
Nov

12. Peace?
June 25th, 1951 – News circulates of Chinese offer for peace talks
It is 2 yrs before Armistice
During which 12,000 more Americans lose their lives
Main bone of contention = POW’s
March 1953 – Stalin dies
Op Little Switch
Op Big Switch (Aug)

14. W or L? Ended almost as it began
territorially
But our involvement was to remove the N. Koreans from S. Korea
did that
Almost really two different conflicts
complicated to name a winner

15. Conclusion > 5 million people die in Korea from 50 - 53
America – 54,000 KIA
Chinese – 148,000 KIA
Remainder – N & S Korean troops and civilians
Main Lesson Learned – If you go to war, go to win.
Vietnam will serve to reinforce that point