The Forgotten War Essay Research Paper Patrick

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The Forgotten War Essay, Research Paper Patrick Houston Forgotten No More The Korean War is something not to be forgotten. Many great men fought and died during that war. Yet it was never classified as a war, but only as a conflict. My grandfather served in the war as a paramedic. He has shrapnel in his leg from a mortar round that went off in his trench as he was caring for other soldiers. The war is also called the Forgotten War, since no one remembers or has herd very much about it. Heroes of the Forgotten War have had to endure a lack of respect for their many achievements that were made during the war. “the Korean War, from 1950 to 1953, saw 54,246 American casualties. It was the first war in which the United Nations played a military role and one of the bloodiest in

history. Killed were about a million South Korean civilians, 580,000 U.N. and South Korean troops and 1.4 million communist troops from North Korea and China. The United Nations and North Korea signed an armistice agreement to end the war, but there still is not a permanent peace treaty between South Korea and North Korea.”(Allen). By the end of the three-year war, 54,000 Americans died and more that 103,00 were wounded. Yet, the Korean War has often be referred to as the “Forgotten War,”(Tyrell). Falling between WWII and Vietnam, nearly 1 million Koreans, along with 54,256 Americans service personnel, died in Korea between 1950 and 1953. It has come to be called “America’s Forgotten War,” but technically it never was declared a war. It was 40 years ago on June 25,

1950 “when North Korean troops, backed by China and the Soviet Union, poured across the border near the 38th parallel in a all-out invasion of South Korea.”(Henion). President Truman immediately committed the U.S. forces to South Korea to fight the communist invaders. On July 7 the United Nations recommended that member nations also come to South Korea’s aid. Other Nations entering the conflict under the U.N. banner were Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, India, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, and South Korea that carried the brunt of the defense. The war produced many great dramas like the destruction of Task Force Smith, the defense of the Puson Perimeter, Inchon landing, the

drive to the Yalu River, and the shattering winter advance of the Chinese army and the epic fight by allied troops out of a trap at Chosin Reservoir. By early August 1950, the Koreans occupied the entire Korean peninsula except for a small pocket at Puston. “General Douglas MacArthur’s surprise landing on Inchon has been called one of the century’s most remarkable military feats.”(Henion) The invaders retreated back across the 38th parallel. Despite the threat of Chinese intervention, U.N. forces pursed the attack. On Nov. 25, 1950 China turned loose its military manpower in an all-out attack. The Chinese sent 120,000 soldiers encircling about 10,000 marines and soldiers near Chosin Reservoir. The marines defeated all but 10 Chinese divisions. “Korea remains the only

conflict since 1945 in which the armies of two great powers, the United States and China had met in the battle field.”(Henion) The communist counter offensive was halted January 1951. Once again the U.N. command halted its advance and sought a cease-fire. MacArthur wanted to drive once again into North Korea and was publicly vocal in his disagreement with the decision to not continue the offence. On April 10, weary of MacArthur’s outspoken resistance to government policy, Truman relieved the WWII hero of his command. The allied troops dug in and resisted human wave attacks by the Chinese for more than two years. By the spring of 1952, both sides had entered negotiations to end the conflict. Eisenhower forced the hand of the communists by implying that the U.S. might use