On June 25th, 1950, the Korean War broke out when South Korea was invaded from the 38th Parallel by North Korea. By July 1950, American troops entered the war to defend South Korea. American officials worked anxiously to construct an armistice with North Korea; as far as they were concerned, it was a war against communism. They feared the alternative would be a war against Russia and China or the start of World War III. The Korean War ended in July of 1953 with a signed armistice. In the United States, the Korean War is best known as the “Forgotten War,” due to the lack of attention it received unlike the First and Second World War, and the Vietnam War.
After Japan’s surrender in World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union were given control of the Korean Peninsula and the decision of its fate. In August of 1945, Korea was temporarily divided in half along the 38th parallel; the Soviet Union occupied the north and the U.S occupied the south. Two new states were formed when the North refused to participate in plans to establish a national government. In the North, the Soviet Union set up a communist government, with Kim Il-Sung as the President of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). In the South, the U.S placed a military government under the rule of Syngman Rhee. Unfortunately, neither dictator wanted to stay on their side of the 38th parallel.
The invasion from North Korea came as a surprise to American officials; they were concerned that it was not a border dispute. On June 27th, 1950, President Harry Truman sent U.S forces to South Korea to fight back against North Korea’s invasion. Unfortunately, Syngman Rhee’s soldiers were terrified and wanted to elude the battlefield, while the North Korean army was disciplined, trained and well-equipped. A new set of aims was decided by President Truman and General Douglas MacArthur; to the allies, it was now a war to free North Korea from communists.
The Inchon Landing was a surprise amphibious landing made by U.S Marines forces led by General MacArthur. This pushed the North Koreans out of Seoul on September 8th, 1950. This allowed South Korea and its allies to go past the dividing line. Out of the panic of being protected from “armed aggression,” Mao Zedong, the founder and former President of the People's Republic of China, sent soldiers to North Korea. He also sent a warning, saying keep away from the Yalu River, the border between North Korea and China.
President Truman searched for a way to prevent war from breaking out with China, but MacArthur attempted to let it happen. In July of 1951, peace talks started to occur at Panmunjom, a village in central Korea. Both North and South Korea were willing to accept a truce. In 1953, an armistice was signed, which created a new border between North and South Korea after two years of negotiations. In December 2021, North Korea, China, South Korea, and the United States signed a formal armistice, having an official end. Although the Korean War lasted three years, it brought bloodshed. Nearly 5 million people died, with about 10% being civilians.
Nearly 40,000 U.S. soldiers, who were deployed, had died and over 100,000 had been wounded. Today, those who risked and lost their lives are remembered at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.
After Japan’s surrender in World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union were given control of the Korean Peninsula and the decision of its fate. In August of 1945, Korea was temporarily divided in half along the 38th parallel; the Soviet Union occupied the north and the U.S occupied the south. Two new states were formed when the North refused to participate in plans to establish a national government. In the North, the Soviet Union set up a communist government, with Kim Il-Sung as the President of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). In the South, the U.S placed a military government under the rule of Syngman Rhee. Unfortunately, neither dictator wanted to stay on their side of the 38th parallel.
The invasion from North Korea came as a surprise to American officials; they were concerned that it was not a border dispute. On June 27th, 1950, President Harry Truman sent U.S forces to South Korea to fight back against North Korea’s invasion. Unfortunately, Syngman Rhee’s soldiers were terrified and wanted to elude the battlefield, while the North Korean army was disciplined, trained and well-equipped. A new set of aims was decided by President Truman and General Douglas MacArthur; to the allies, it was now a war to free North Korea from communists.
The Inchon Landing was a surprise amphibious landing made by U.S Marines forces led by General MacArthur. This pushed the North Koreans out of Seoul on September 8th, 1950. This allowed South Korea and its allies to go past the dividing line. Out of the panic of being protected from “armed aggression,” Mao Zedong, the founder and former President of the People's Republic of China, sent soldiers to North Korea. He also sent a warning, saying keep away from the Yalu River, the border between North Korea and China.
President Truman searched for a way to prevent war from breaking out with China, but MacArthur attempted to let it happen. In July of 1951, peace talks started to occur at Panmunjom, a village in central Korea. Both North and South Korea were willing to accept a truce. In 1953, an armistice was signed, which created a new border between North and South Korea after two years of negotiations. In December 2021, North Korea, China, South Korea, and the United States signed a formal armistice, having an official end. Although the Korean War lasted three years, it brought bloodshed. Nearly 5 million people died, with about 10% being civilians.
Nearly 40,000 U.S. soldiers, who were deployed, had died and over 100,000 had been wounded. Today, those who risked and lost their lives are remembered at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.
Lu Caldara
Born in 1935 and raised in New York City, U.S Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Lu Caldara enlisted in the US Marine Corps during the final years of the Korean War. He was first assigned to the 3rd Service Battalion as a communications person to be deployed to Korea. However, the war had ended on their way to Korea. He was discharged from Active Duty in 1959, but continued to serve in the Marine Corps Reserves until 1979. In 1965, GySgt.Caldara helped create the Young Marines National Program and became the 2nd National Director in 1967. He continues to remain in the program as a Unit Commander to Rivertown’s Young Marines. |
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