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The Korean War, also known as the forgotten war, is a war that is under the radar as far
as popularity goes. However those involved will never forget what they experienced. From the
U.S troops who lost their brothers in battle, to the Korean people who were in the middle of it all.
To some this war is a forgotten loss, to others it is a forgotten victory. Korea’s history is full of
trials and tribulation as well as growing and innovating to improve for the future. America on the
other side was continuing its growth and power while overcoming past tragic events. The Korean
War, full of pros and cons and mixed opinions and feelings about America being involved, either
way you feel the people of current South Korea are grateful for their country and the great
improvements they have made.
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The Korean War took place between the years of 1950-1953. Korea was being occupied
by the Japanese before World War II, and after World War II the Japanese left Korea due to the
Atom bomb in Hiroshima. Korea was dived in half by an imaginary line also known as the 38th
parallel. North Korea being maintained by Russia and the South being maintained by the United
States. This imaginary line is where communism and freedom collided. 2In theory Russia and the
U.S agreed to temporally occupy Korea as trustees. The United States were very worried of the
“domino effect” (the concern that if one state in the region were controlled by the Communists,
surrounding countries would soon follow), and made sure to keep an eye out and watch Korea
closely. 3In June 25, 1950, the line was crossed when the North Korean Army invaded the south
1
Millett, Allen R. “Introduction to the Korean War”. The Journal of Military History, 2001, Vol. 65, No. 4,pp. 921935.
2
Korea Reborn: A Grateful Nation Honors War Veterans for 60 Years of Growth.
3
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Seagull Third ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012.
in attempt to reunite the country in communist control. The North Korean Army sent more than
50,000 soldiers across the Imjin River, and another 54,000 attacked several cities along the way.
In three days North Korean troops now owned most of the peninsula. This event forced action
from President Truman and the United States. In September 1950, General Douglas MacArthur
led the U.S troops on a counter attack and eventually occupied North Korea. Things were
looking positive until the army was located close to the Chinese border where they were
surprised by thousands of Chinese soldiers, who drove back the U.S troops in a bloody battle.
General MacArthur wanted to push back and invade China and possibly use nuclear weapons,
but Truman feared an all-out war and refused. General MacArthur went public with his thoughts
and was let go as general. When he gave his farewell speech in April 19, 1951, he spoke about
how grateful he was for serving his country and he voiced his thoughts about Korea, 4 “Of the
nations of the world, Korea alone, up to now, is the sole one which has risked it’s all against
communism, The Magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the Korean people defies
description”.
Now being led by Lieutenant General Walton Walker he made his “stand or die” order
on July 29, which states 5“There will be no more retreating, withdrawal, or readjustment of the
lines or any other term you choose… I want everybody to understand we are going to hold this
line”. For six weeks U.S soldiers refused to quit and endured repeated attacks. In September 16,
U.S. troops were able to surprise and quickly capture Incheon city which is just 35 miles west of
Seoul. These events were known as The Battle of the Busan Perimeter and it finally came to an
4
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/douglasmacarthurfarewelladdress.htm
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Korea Reborn: A Grateful Nation Honors War Veterans for 60 Years of Growth. PP. 35.
end. A nurse by the name Bernadette Reider who was involved in Busan shared these thoughts,
“My most memorable experience was when another nurse and I took a train up country to pick
up the wounded….. when we got there, everyone was running around, and all we had time to do
was run from our train into another one, and then we took off. The North Koreans were almost
there and if we hadn’t gotten there when we did, we probably wouldn’t have gotten out”.
In March 1953, Joseph Stalin died, with his death the Soviet Union voted to end the war.
Without having Soviet support China would not continue the war as well. POWs would be
exchanged. On July 27, 1953, an Armistice Agreement was signed, but without a peace treaty.
Since the signing of the armistice, there was still issues of violence. With the Korean War there
was no official end, no official victory, just a stalemate.
The thoughts of the Korean War vary, many believe it was a success, while other believe
it was the opposite. First the positives. The United States were able to stop communism from
spreading by defeating the regime of China and North Korea. The United States were able save
South Korea from being owned and governed by North Korea as well as helping South Korea to
recover from the war and help them rebuild into the successful country they are today. 6The
images of what the country looked like before and during the war are dramatically different to
what the country looks like today. Another positive to the outcome of this war is that the United
States gained an ally in the East, which was needed so the U.S could gain access as well as
information on events in the Eastern Asia part of the world.
Now with the negatives of the war. When the war ended a total of 733,000 American
soldiers died, and with that many Americans believed that they shouldn’t have been there. Korea
6
Conversation with John R. Anderson. (My grandfather who served in the war).
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Seagull Third ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012.
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is a small country most Americans didn’t know a lot about at that time in history. With all wars it
cost money, and the Korean War was no different. Another idea is that there was no major
benefits for the United States.
In conclusion the Korean War resulted in the loss of many lives, whether it was good that
the United States and UN forces were there or whether it was bad, that fact remains. Current day
North Korea is still a communist country and South Korea a democracy governed country with
legislative branches, and judicial branches. North Korea and South Korea still have issues today,
and problems of war still lingers on.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anderson, John R. (Conversation with my grandfather, who was involved in the Korean War)
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. Seagull Third Ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012.
Korea Reborn: A Grateful Nation Honors war veterans for 60 years of growth.
Millett, Allen R. “Introduction to the Korean War”. The Journal of Military History, 2001, Vol. 65, No. 4,
pp. 921-935.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/douglasmacarthurfarewelladdress.