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Korean War Begins
On 25 June 1950, the young Cold War suddenly turned hot, bloody and expensive. Within a few days, North Korea's invasion of South Korea brought about a United Nations' "police action" against the aggressors. That immediately produced heavy military and naval involvement by the United States. While there were no illusions that the task would be easy, nobody expected that this violent conflict would continue for more than three years. -
U.S. troops invade at Inchon
North Korea started with a very successful invasion in the summer of 1950 where UN forces were trapped in the small pennisula. Douglas MacArthur began advocating for a daring strike on the peninsula's west coast at Inchon. Then he argued that he would catch the NKPA off guard, while landing UN troops close to the capital at Seoul and placing them in a position to cut the North Korean's supply lines. ONce he gained apporoval from Washington D.C., he had the US Marines lead. With a great victory. -
Defense of Pusan Perimeter
The Battle of Pusan Perimeter was a large-scale battle between United Nations and North Korean forces lasting from August 8 to September 18, 1950. The Eighth Army had assumed command of all U.S., ROKA, and other nations’ ground combat units fighting to defeat the North Korean invasion. As reinforcements from the United States and several other nations arrive at the port, The Eighth Army directed the successful defense of the perimeter against major NKPA attacks in August and September. -
American Victory at Inchon
General Douglas MacArthur leads an invasion into South Korea at the city of Inchon. From there, the United Nations troops go to Seoul and take it back from North Korea. -
Truman Authorizes Advance
President Truman authorizes General MacArthur to order his forces to go forward across the 38th parallel, into North Korean territory. This decision marks a huge fundadmental error in American war arms, now expanded from merely rescuing South Korea to rolling back the Communist regime in North Korea. Truman's orders direct MacArthur to keep pushing northward as long as he does not encounter Soviet or Chinese enemies and he remains confident that he will win -
American Troops Reach Capital of North Korea
U.S. troops push their way into Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. Soldiers believe that the war will be over soon and start to take bets on what day the war will officially end. -
The United Nations forces launch the "Home by Christmas" offensive.
General MacArthur orders the United Nations forces to move to the Yalu River, the border between North Korea and northeast China. MacArthur said the UN troops would be home by Christmas, but they are attacked by 180,000 Chinese soldiers and have to retreat. -
China Enters Korean War
Chinese leader Mao Zedong, fearful of the consequences of American forces taking up positions along his country's border at the Yalu River, orders hundreds of thousands of Chinese soldiers into battle in Korea. The huge Chinese army into the Korean conflict catches American military leaders off guard, leading to a series of crushing defeats. American people in the Korean War deteriorate rapidly, as hopes of victory go away. -
Peace talk
With the Korean War seemingly settling into a bloody stalemate, the United Nations passes a resolution calling for a negotiated end to the conflict. The first peace talks between American, Chinese, North Korean, and South Korean negotiators will begin in August 1951, but will drag on for nearly two years. More than half of the 36,000 American soldiers killed in the Korean War will lose their lives after the beginning of the peace talks. -
MacArthur Rebukes Truman
General MacArthur is frustrated by the Truman administration's strategy of limited war in Korea, which may lead him from attacking China directly or making use of nuclear weapons makes an unauthorized public statement threatening the Chinese with destruction if they do not withdraw from Korea. In Washington, President Truman and his Staff conclude that MacArthur has become dangerousl, liable to do or say something so provocative it. -
General Douglas MacArthur Fired
After General MacArthur publicly disagrees with President Truman about whether or not to bomb China, MacArthur is fired. Truman believed that bombing China would have led to a much bigger war. -
Battle for Outpost Old Baldy
Anericas 2nd infantry division loses the outpost toa chinese attack. There were five battles that took place for Outpost Old Baldy. Old Baldy was important to fight for because it dominated terrain in three directions. The Battle for outpost Old Baldy was very costly. The United Nations had lost 357 men in the battle for the hill and the Chinese lost more than 1,100. -
Truman Speaks to Nation
In a statement broadcast nationally on radio and television, President Truman explains why he has relieved General MacArthur of his position as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. He does not discuss the General's comments or the constitutional issues pertaining to MacArthur's insubordination, but instead stresses the American goal in Korea to avoid a third world war, and states that "a number of events have made it evident that General MacArthur did not agree with -
Armstice agreement
AN armistice agreement finally was signed at P'anmunjom in the DPRK. The Korean war was finally ended, however, the destruction on the war was amazing, which brought human suffering and much destruction. 1,300,000 military casualties, including 415,000 combat deaths, for the ROK alone. The war made the pennisula even more divided and a military line separated what was now North and South Korea. An internation conference tried to unify the two countriess but were successful and now remain apart. -
Armistice signed at Panmunjom
The Korean War armistice talks lasted over a year. As the talks continued, the battles and the deaths increased. it was a signing paused the Korean War. Though the armistice was signed, there was no peace between North and South Korea.
