The Korean WarThe Korean WarCold, Bloody, and Cold, Bloody, and

ForgottenForgotten

25 June 1950 – 27 July 195338 months

They divided Korea at the 38th parallel, with the

Soviet Union taking control in the north

and the United States in the south.

Both sides also armed the Koreans and erected new governments

friendly to each respective superpower.

JUNE 1950

The North Koreans attacked.

They were very successful.The North

Korean People’s Army (NKPA)

easily defeated the Republic of

Korea’s army (the ROKs).

They captured most of South

Korea.

Pusan

Seoul

The Americans were alarmed.

On 27 June they persuaded the United Nations

to pass a resolution supporting

South Korea.       

The Americans sent troops to

Korea to reinforce the

ROKs at Pusan. 

Inchon

38th Parallel

Sept – Nov 1950  

China

Inchon

38th

Parallel

River Yalu

In danger of being cut off,

the North Koreans

(NKPA) had to retreat.  

The Americans drove them back across the 38th and recaptured

South Korea.

ChinaNov 1950 – Feb 1951  

38thParallel

Stalemated once again short of the 38th parallel – well into South Korea …

February – March 1951  

Panmunjom 38th Parallel

China

The Americans drove the Chinese back, but

54,000 American soldiers died doing so.

 The Chinese admitted to losing 390,000 men

dead - UN sources put the figure at up to a

million Chinese and half a million North

Koreans dead.

                               

      

“I deeply regret that it becomes my duty as President ... to replace you as Supreme Commander, Allied Powers.”

      

                         

                                         

                               

      

”Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.”

Douglas MacArthur

      

                         

                                         

27 July 1953.

136,935 casualties33,651 KIA

Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country

they never knew and a people they never met.

National Korean War Memorial