The Coldest Winter : America And The Korean War

The Korean War was an influential event that started in 1950 and caused a lot of controversy among Americans and Koreans. The war was caused by the US trying to preserve the Democratic side of Korea, the south side. The Koreans were not happy, however, and the Viet Kong and North Korean soldiers fought tooth and nail to get the Americans out of the country. There was eventually an end to the war of course but not without lots of casualties on both sides and a hostile environment around the border of the two countries.

"To what extent can the Korean War be regarded as a Cold War proxy war?"

The Korean War begun far before North Korea had launched their first assault upon South Korea. Nearing of the end of the Second World War, the Korean Peninsula had been under Japanese control. Soon enough it was liberated by both American and Soviet forces, the Soviets occupying the country north of the 38th Parallel, and the Americans south of it. After the war, neither the Koreans, Soviets, nor the Americans could agree on the country's government. This resulted in the foundation of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the south and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north (Ohn Chang-Il, 23). The fact that neither the States nor the Soviets were willing to compromise on anything was a prime factor in the separation of the Korean Peninsula.

In America we always remember the importance of the wars we fought. For some reason most people always forget or skip the Korean War. Korea was a small colony that was taken over by Japan in 1910. When World War II ended Japan’s government was falling apart and could no longer support Korea. This left the colony to anyone who wanted it, and Russia answered the call. Russia successfully conquered the north when the south contacted the U.S. to stop them. War broke out on June 25, 1950 which had sealed the fate of the Korean Peninsula. The Korean War was mostly a coalition with communist values and capitalist values. The outcome of this war has shaped the way works.The Korean War was very important to the world because it showed that America was unprepared, the Korean Peninsula was divided, and the countries who were involved.

MacArthur approached the situation in Korea in a stronger, more confident manner. He saw that there was also a risk in not engaging Asian communism: an alliance between the USSR and the PRC. He acknowledges that the communist threat is a global one. Its successful advance in one capitalist sector threatens the destruction of the other sectors, and you can?t appease communists in Asia

After the war, when 1.5 million Americans returned home, they found the US filled with peace and prosperity as if a war never took place half a world away. The memorial was built a year later, and is located on 2.2 acres of land and took 9 years to build. In addition, the memorial cost them 18 million dollars to build. Once they had raised all the money, they started building. The war became known as the Forgotten War because the Korean War was the last thing the Americans wanted to memorialize. This made the memorial a huge step to remembering and honoring the war and its veterans.

Over the course of the 1950s, no event captured the tension of the infamous Cold War more than the Korean War. Fought to prevent the spread of communism in Korea, the Korean War was a bold political victory for the United States because America sent a clear message to the entire world, as it was the first military action of the Cold War, that the spread of communism will not be tolerated by the strongest military in the world, the United States. In addition, the Korean War was an economic benefit for the United States due to the increase of military spending and preserved the freedom of the South Korean people. However, the Korean War is often labeled as the “forgotten war” due to the failure of the United States to eliminate communism in

Michael D. Pearlman’s, Truman & MacArthur Policy, Politics, and the Hunger for Honor and Renown, written in 2008, reflects on the relationship of President Truman and General MacArthur during the Korean War. Pearlman reexamines their public confrontation, discovering the political and military perspectives, and the decisions that were made that impacted the role of the presidential administration. Pearlman provides insight into the different ideologies and methods that were used that determined the outcome of the war. Pearlman gives an objective and comprehensive account of events that occurred with the Korean War. He reflects on the partisan competition in Washington and the political power of military officers. Pearlman makes the point

Not surprisingly that the Chinese and the North Korean began to spread the rumors that the United States was defeated and was kicked out of Korea. Furthermore, the Chinese described their action in assisting the North as “revolting Americans, supporting North Koreans,” “protecting North Korea from the ‘invasion’ of United States.” While they might have their own perspectives but it is obvious that the truth was twisted and the neutrality of tone was distorted.

According to Robert, without Korean War there would be a huge difference in the world’s history. In addition to that Robert also stated “the Korean war shaped the course of the cold war by both resolving the incoherence which characterized U.S. foreign and defense efforts in the period 1946-1950 and establishing important new lines of policy”(1980). The Korean War led to the changes of policy through three processes in changes on the domestic political situation, defense budget and NATO. The domestic policy changes let the leader of the country to do whatever they wanted to do before (Robert,

The Republic of Korea (ROK) and US troops were pushed back to the “Pusan Perimeter”

America's Involvement in the Korean War The USA emerged from WWII as the dominant Western, democratic superpower. She quickly established for herself a role as world policeman, and defender of the "free world". When, on June 25th 1950, Communist North Korean forces invaded the South of the country, the USAwas quick to step in, and with UN support and approval, sent in military forces to restore the balance. However, it is questionable whether moral principles were the only reason for America's involvement in the Korean War, or whether perhaps the Truman administration had other validation for such a huge scale military campaign.

For many people, especially the younger ones, the history of the No 1 Battalion Colombia and its involvement in the Korean War is unknown. Many countries do not even know that Colombia took important part in the Korean War. It remains part of the United Nations history. According to General Valencia Tovar, the Korean experience marked a hard and violent lesson learn to teach us how to fight, changing in a short time a completely Colombian operational design scheme to make the Armed Forces more professional and efficient. Their learned lessons from the Korean War serve as the foundation for the new operational design. Once the Colombian Battalion returned home, the experienced warriors were immerse in counter guerrilla operations because Colombia was under the communist guerrilla violence; this problem was spreading through the country. Only the protagonists, the Korean Veterans remember exactly that on July 27, 1953, when the United Nations and the North Korean part sigh the armistice that would end the Korean War, they understood that it was the key to go back home. A year after the No 1 Colombian Battalion began the demobilization of the contingent of warriors who fought in the largest military battle between communist and democratic powers. It was a great match after World War II. In this remote corner of Asia to more than 10,000 kilometers from their home, many soldiers from different nations gave their lives in order to guarantee the freedom for the South

The Korean War began on June 25th, 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea. On June 27th, 1950, American United Nations forces intervened to stop the advance. This action has positively and negatively affected both the United States and Korea. Deciding to aid South Korea in the Korean War has drastically changed the lives of many people.

“Men joined the Marine Corps for many reasons . . . I’d joined up to dodge the draft and ended up being sent to war” (Brady 8-9). This brief yet poignant statement begins the story of how James Brady ended up serving in the Korean War. As a young adult the draft was being reinstated and Brady did not feel the desire to fight in a war. He and a few of his friends decided instead to join the Platoon Leaders Class with the Marines, which had students spend two summers at the marine Corps Schools in Quantico, Virginia. After these two summers, graduates would become Lieutenants, but they could not be drafted. Shortly after Brady graduated, the war began in Korea and his class learned they