Transcript The Forgotten War”

“I Am Not Forgotten”
By Richard L. Kirk (USA C/58AFA/3DIV)
I have walked these Korean hills before,
crossed these rivers
I have passed through these fields,
heavy with the odor of growth
My presence is here… and elsewhere
In the pages of a letter, yellow with age
At the edge of a photograph,
on a torn dance program
I am by love begotten
I am not forgotten
I am here in the hearts of those
who were with me
On the perimeter, at Inchon, at The Reservoir and
The River
And in the hearts of those who waited
In their thoughts I walk again
And I wait at the curb in my car on a soft summer
evening
The sounds of crickets, of passing automobiles
And the muted songs of the city are near
I am a tear in the eyes of mothers, sisters, fathers,
Brothers, wives, friends, lovers
I am by love begotten
I am not forgotten
I am black, white, Jewish, Gentile, red, yellow
I speak English, Korean, Chinese,
Turkish, Greek, Spanish
I am known in many countries and by many people
I have heard the rush of summer seas
and the fist of thunder
I have known a distant star
on a cold December night
And I have known the love
of a friend who would die for me
And I for him
I am by love begotten
I am not forgotten
“The Forgotten War”
Korean Conflict
1950-1953
TV
Series:
1972 –
1983
Mobile Army
Surgical Hospital
Pool of Remembrance
The South
The North
Formal
Name
Republic
of Korea
Democratic
People’s
Republic of
Korea
Political
Leader
Syngman
Rhee
Kim Il
Sung
South
Korean
Flag
North
Korean
Flag
Capital
Economy
The South
The North
Seoul
Pyongyang
agriculture industry
Climate/
Landscape
Warm,
Typhoons Plains
Colder,
less rain –
mountains
Population
Two-thirds One-third
Background Information
A. The End of WWII
• Japanese in South K. surrendered to
U.S.* 1949- US LEAVES, 500 advisors
• Japanese in North K.surrendered to
S.U.*1948-SU leaves but leaves weapons
• Both governments claimed right to rule
entire country, minor attacks across
DMZ happened
Background Information
B. Acheson’s Statement
U.S. Secretary of Defense
• “The U.S. would help if…. An attack was
made to the east of defense line from
Alaska to Japan to the Philippines.
Korea and Vietnam were located to the
West- outside the perimeter.”
* This was the green light that the SU
wanted.
C. Reasons for Soviet Involvement
• US believed SU pressured NK to invade*
• SU got involved b/c of this Acheson &
China
D. U.S.’s (non) interest in Korea
• Military hated Korea- weather,
people, just had gotten home from
there
• Our citizens hated it too- not ready
Truman was interested though,
why?
He wanted containment and
ordered air and naval support to
Senator Taft said “no way”- you
need congressional approval for
war. BUT…..
• Executive Privilege:

“the president does not have to disclose information to congression or the Supreme
Court. Claims of executive privilege are usually invoked to protect confidential
military or diplomatic operations or the private discussions/debates of the president
with close aides”
Truman commits troops under the auspices of
the United Nations.
This will set a precedent for Vietnam and Iraq.
The Soviet Union boycotted the UN
• Two possible reasons:
- Communist China was not accepted into UN
- Wanted to reveal the UN as a tool of the US
(propaganda)
- * The SU is one of the 5 permanent members of
the Security Council
- * They were not present when the vote was
taken to support SK in the conflict
- * Many UN countries were contributing troops,
arms or money.
The Fighting
A. The North
Invades the
South
• NK captures
Seoul*
• Push to Pusan
Peninsula
• SK prepares an
offensive strategy
B. MacArthur Clears the South
• Vice-Grip/Hammer and Anvil strategy*
• Land behind enemy at x
Inchon and push down
Same time Pusan held
• SK recaptures Seoul
• Now what?*
 Containment…
 … or Roll-back?
B. MacArthur Clears the South
• Communism was contained but…
the main goal was to
reunite Korea.
C. The South Enters the North
• US and SK capture Pyongyang
D. Chinese Involvement
• Chinese threatened to enter if…Yalu
approached
• China also asked for weapons from
SU and air support for cover.
• Chinese began to infiltrate NK lines*
D. We didn’t believe that the
Chinese would really enter the
war but they begin to infiltrate
N.Korean lines and we start to
capture them.
D. In a short period, over
300,000 Chinese were
identified.
There was an increase in
defectors too!
US and SK were pushed back,
Seoul lost. Return to
containment?
E. MacArthur is Demoted
• Conflict with Truman over China*
Here’s Why?
MacArthur Gets Fired

MacArthur
wanted to bomb
southern China
and send in
troops.
But, China and
SU had a pact to
back each other
up.


Truman was
afraid that the
SU had the
bomb and it
would begin
WWIII.
He rejects
MacArthur’s
idea.
MacArthur Gets Fired

MacArthur began
to solicit support
for his ideas
from the media
Truman feared
he couldn’t trust
MacArthur and
removed him
from post


MacArthur
welcomed back
to the US with
open arms and
gave his famous
speech
Gave a speech
to Congress:”old
soldiers don’t
die, they fade
MacArthur Gets Fired

Matthew
Ridgeway took
his place
US regained SK
land up to about
the 38th parallel
again (including
Seoul)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 1951
ORDER TO GENERAL MACARTHUR FROM THE PRESIDENT
I deeply regret that it becomes my duty as President and
Commander in Chief of the United States military forces to
replace you as Supreme Commander, Allied Powers;
Commander in Chief, United Nations Command;
Commander in Chief, Far East; and Commanding General,
U.S. Army, Far East.
You will turn over your commands, effective at once, to Lt.
Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway. You are authorized to have
issued such orders as are necessary to complete desired
travel to such place as you select.
My reasons for your replacement will be made public
concurrently with the delivery to you of the foregoing order,
and are contained in the next following message.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 1951
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
With deep regret I have concluded that General of the Army Douglas
MacArthur is unable to give his wholehearted support to the policies of the
United States Government and of the United Nations in matters pertaining to
his official duties. In view of the specific responsibilities imposed upon me by
the Constitution of the United States and the added responsibility which has
been entrusted to me by the United Nations, I have decided that I must make
a change of command in the Far East. I have, therefore, relieved General
MacArthur of his commands and have designated Lt. Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway
as his successor.
Full and vigorous debate on matters of national policy is a vital element in the
constitutional system of our free democracy. It is fundamental., however, that
military commanders must be governed by the policies and directives issued to
them in the manner provided by our laws and Constitution. In time of crisis,
this consideration is particularly compelling.
General MacArthur's place in history as one of our greatest commanders is
fully established. The nation owes him a debt of gratitude for the distinguished
and exceptional service which he has rendered his country in posts of great
responsibility. For that reason I repeat my regret at the necessity for the action
I feel compelled to take in his case.
The Aftermath
A. Cease-fire Terms
• Talks held at Panmunjom
• Armistice, but no treaty 1953
 Established cease-fire line
 Developed demilitarized zone*
 Set terms to release POWs*
The Aftermath
A.
Cease-fire Terms
DMZ- buffer zone four miles wide
1990s over one million troops there
• Set terms to release POWs
• Released at Kaesong
• 50000 Chinese and NK did not
want to return to their countries
• Placed in neutral condition for 3
months
The Aftermath
-Nk and China demanded their POWs;
Rhee simply let them go (escape)
US decided that Rhee could not be trusted
and made plans to overthrow him which
didn’t happen.
NK mistreated POWs – Mr. Milantoni’s
story
B. 2 Final Communist Offensives
• U.S. response… we damaged irrigation
dams for NK hence water interrupted.
C. Statistics
• U.S. = 54,000 dead; 100,000 wounded
$15 billion
• Korea = 14 million dead; 2/3 civilians
• China = 390,000 dead
• Japan = supplied materials for both
sides; post WWII economic boost
• “Korea was Japan’s Marshall Plan”
D. Present Day
•
•
•
•
•
Demilitarized zone between N & S
U.S. involvement
1991 and 2000 Olympics
North Korean and Chinese border
North Korea and nuclear weapons