Page 8 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2023 - Online Magazine

HONORING VETERANS

Why the Korean

War Matters

by Larry Williams

allies to come to the aid The Korean War was relatively
Korean War - Inchon Landing September 15, 1950 of the South Koreans. short but was very costly in terms
North Korea had the of human lives. Nearly five million
n this edition, we are specifically
honoring the men and women support of the Soviet Union and China. people perished. More than half of the
Iwho served during the Korean By September 1950, the North Koreans casualties were civilians, about 10%
War Era. July 27, 2023, marked the had nearly pushed UN troops off the of the Korean population—a higher
peninsula at the critical southeastern
70th anniversary of the signing of the percentage than in either WWII or the
armistice ending hostilities. port of Pusan. Vietnam War.
The era ran from June 25, General Douglas Statistics from the U.S. Department of
1950, to January 31, 1955. McArthur, the Veterans Affairs:
Congress extended the commander of the
period due to the uneasy Asian theater, never • 6.8 million American men and
peace negotiations after expected that the women served from June 27, 1950,
the armistice was signed. Russians or Chinese to January 31, 1955.
Unlike other wars, the would enter the
Korean War fostered many war. While the • 54,200 Americans died in service
names. It is often called Russians provided during the hostilities that ended on
the “Forgotten War” or a military equipment July 27, 1953. Of these, 33,700 were
“Police Action.” The conflict General MacArthur and and advisors, they battle deaths.
sandwiched between WWII President Harry S. Truman did not engage
and the Vietnam War is full-scale in the • 7,140 American POWs were
often overlooked. war. However, in the fall of 1950, the captured. Of these, 4,418 were
The war began on June 25, 1950, when Chinese sent 250,000 troops across returned to the U.S., 2,701 died, and
21 refused repatriations.
North Korean forces stormed across the Yalu River into North Korea. The
the 38th parallel dividing North and UN advance at that time was pushed • 131 Korean War veterans received
South Korea. Their goal was to take back to the 38th parallel. In April the Congressional Medal of Honor.
total control of Korea. President Harry 1951, President Truman relieved
S. Truman responded to the invasion General MacArthur of command for
with a so-called “police action” by insubordination. In July 1951, truce
assembling a group of international talks began in Kaesong.

8 Lubbock Senior Link