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start of war
North Korea invades South Korea with 135,000 men, initiating the Korean War. -
U.S. deploys troops
President Harry S. Truman deploys the 7th Fleet to the waters off Taiwan to prevent the spread of the conflict in Korea to other Far East waters. -
First U.S. ground action
Battle of Osan. First U.S. ground action of the war: Task Force Smith (406 infantrymen and 134 artillerymen) engages and delays advancing North Korean People's Army (NKPA) units. -
U.S. troops invade at Inchon
In surprise landing behind enemy lines, US forces push North Korean army back north of the 38th parallel -
Pyongyang falls to UN forces
North Korean capital now in UN control -
Chinese divisions enter fighting
With increased opposition, UN offensive stalls and then collapses. Chinese troops push UN forces back across 38th parallel and capture Southern capital of Seoul -
MacArthur declares "There is no substitute for victory"
In message to House Republican leader Martin, MacArthur expresses his frustration with the limited war U.S. is fighting against communists -
Truman relieves MacArthur of command
Following several warnings about insubordination, Truman angers public (69% support MacArthur) by firing the US commander -
MacArthur addresses Congress after being away from the U.S. since 1935
In emotional speech, MacArthur declares "Old soldiers never die, they merely fade away". -
Negotiations begin at Panmunjon
Talks drag on until 1953 and war is settled with the establishment of a DMZ (demilitarized zone) on each side of the 38th parallel -
Korea becomes campaign issue in 1952 presidential election
Eisenhower pledges to go to Korea to end the war. VP candidate Nixon contends Democrats had caved in to communists in Korea and that Democrat presidential candidate Stevenson should be called "Adlai the Appeaser" -
Armistice formally re-established the division of Korea
Formal peace treaty never signed. Over 1,000,000 Koreans and 54,000 Americans killed in conflict plus thousands who die as prisoners of war