The Korean War, better known as the Forgotten war, got it's name because it happened soon after World War II without a sudden impact on the U.S. The fact that the war didn't end conclusively (at all), also it meant it didn't register the same way as the other wars.
What was the Korean war? We all know the bombing of Pearl Harbor initially started WWII, but what started this one? Once upon a time Korea was ruled by Japan from 1910 until the end of World War II. In 1945, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, because of an agreement with the United States. This broke the country into two separate governments, both claiming to be the legitimate government of Korea; but, neither accepted the border as permanent.
The Forgotten War escalated into open warfare when North Korean forces, who were supported by the Soviet and China, moved to unite the country. On June 25,1950. On that day the USNC (United States National Committee) recognized this North Korean act as invasion and called for an immediate cease fire. On June 27th, the committee adopted S/RES.83; complaint of aggression upon the republic of Korea and decided to dispatch the UN (United Nations) in Korea. The United States provided 88% of the military personnel.
After the first two months of the conflict, South Korea forces were almost defeated and forced back to the Pusan Perimeter. In September 1950, a counter offensive was launched by the UN, that counter attack cut off many North Korea troops, captured troops were sent back to the China boarder at Yalo River. In October 1950, the Chinese entered the war, this intervention pushed UN forces until mid 1951.
The last two years of conflict became a war of attrition, with the front line close to the 38th parallel. North Korea was subject to bombing, jet fighters confronted each other in air-to-air combat for the first first time in history. The soviet Union's pilots converted their route and flew in defense of their communist allies.
It all ended on July 23, 1953 when an armistice was signed. The agreement created the Korean Demilitarized Zone, to separate North and South Korea. With no peace treaty signed the two sides are still at war. Clashes, some deadly, still happen today. After the war, South Korea was "anti-american" because of the American presence and behavior of American military soldiers; but soon became one of the most pro-american counties in the world. North Korea followed in Hitlers footsteps and created concentration camps with a total death count of over 400,00 people. It was marked as one of the bloodiest conflicts in U.S History, 10,000 people died.
So why bring world history that happened in the past up again? We have men who fought in World War II, be shipped back to Korea and came home to nothing. No one thanked them, because it was marked as a political mark in the newspapers. No one hugged them, showed them they were forgotten. Why is the U.S just now honoring these vets? They deserve all the respect and honor our vets get today. Why are people still close-minded about war? These men fought in a war we gained freedom and the privilege to just be forgotten. They could of been our grandparents, neighbors, doctors, etc. No war vet of that time wants to talk about it, so you would have never known.
There's a beautiful organization called Honor Flight that flies vets of WWII and the Korean War to the D.C memorial that took over 65 years to build for these people. Please donate to: www.honorflight.org. Time is of the essence, over 900 WWII vets die a year, they all deserve a chance to see the memorial built in their honor.
