By the spring of 1950, only five short years after the last shots of world war ii had been fired, the United States army has been reduced to an active force of 600,000. A great number of these were scattered about the world on occupation duty. But the armed forces of the communists, soviet russia and red china, remained on a strong born time playing and in belligerent posture. Aggression was soon to come. America would be fighting against tyranny for the third time in 32 years. Korea. The crowded finger of land of the crowded finger of land of key importance to the free world in the far east. What happened here opened the next major chapter in the history of the United States army. The war began here at the 38th parallel. Just how does this imaginary line become the fuse for three years of explosion. Before the japanese surrender in world war ii, we made an agreement with the russians who were then our allies. When surrender came on the asian mainland, Russian Troops would accept the surrender of Japanese Forces north of the 38th parallel. And we would do the same south of it. The 38th parallel was chosen because it divides the Korean Peninsula roughly in half. It was also agreed free elections would be held in the government of korea returned to the korean people. In august of 1948, free elections were held in south korea, supervised by United Nations inspectors, establishing the republic of korea. Elections in north korea from three weeks later, communist controlled elections in north korea from which un inspectors were barred established the communist regime and divided the korean nation. Not long afterward, the communists decided their moment for conquest had come. In early summer 1950, life was good. There was peace, time for living in the quiet ancient way. Then suddenly in the predawn darkness of june 25, 1950 [explosions] South Koreans were jarred awake by a living nightmare. Unprovoked and unannounced, the communists latest war of conquest had begun. Many thought it was the beginning of world war iii. It might have been, if we had not taken immediate action. President truman ordered our navy and air force to provide cover and support through the republic of korea. Then the United Nations, United States delegate Warren Austin spoke for the indignant people of free nations everywhere. The armed invasion of the republic of korea continues. The republic of korea has appealed to the United Nations for protection. I am proud to report that the United States is prepared to furnish assistance to the republic of korea. Four days after the invasion, the capital city of seoul fell to the communists. Small elements of the United States army were airlifted from japan to help check the red advance. They were greeted with cheers. But the cheering was soon forgotten. Our small forces found themselves outnumbered by communist troops trained and equipped by the russians. Our handful of troops bought precious time until reinforcements would arrive. We showed the communists we had the will to fight aggression wherever and whenever it occurred. On july 10, president truman appointed douglas macarthur, commanderinchief of the United Nations forces, which were beginning to assemble. For the outnumbered troops, it was fight, pullback, and fight again. [explosions] more United States forces arrived. Not nearly enough, but it was a beginning. Field commanders like general walker found their task, a Holding Action with no time and too few men. But American Military leadership had only recently been bloodied and honed to professional keenness in a greater war. Korean force and compliments of hardcourt leaders hardcore officers and listed men. [gunfire] through july and august of 1950, our forces were being pushed to a corner, the perimeter. We rushed more troops from japan. Again, we were faced with an emergency build up to fighting strength. We drew on our citizen soldiers, reserves, and inductees. Within the year, our army would grow from 600,000 to more than a million and a half men. [gunfire] other United Nations forces began arriving in korea. British troops of the southern lands and argyle highlanders. The International Army was beginning to take shape. It was none too soon. Again, time was running out. The nacton river provided a natural defense line. It was here the guts and stamina of the american soldier and his republic of korea allies, and a protective wall of artillery fire, held the communist forces at bay. [gunfire] [explosions] the buildup of allied strength was rapidly gaining momentum. September 15, 1950, the United Nations suddenly took the offensive. [explosions] general douglas macarthur, the supreme commander, had conceived this daring strike along the coast of the yellow sea west of seoul. The Marine Landing force secured the island in just 58 minutes. And pushed on into incheon itself, kicking in the back door to the enemys defenses. Additional army forces poured in. Simultaneously a breakdown of the pusan perimeter got underway in the south. In a week of heavy fighting, our forces drove 20 miles inland to seoul. More than 10,000 north korean troops were dug in. Waiting in every Street Corner with orders to fight to the death. Communist force, sweeping the United Nations offensive rolled back the communist force, sweeping northward past the 38th parallel. First kusan fell. Then, the east coast. Then pyongyang, the north korean capital itself. Psychological warfare played an important part. Loudspeaker messages and safe conduct passage inviting north korean troops to surrender met with success. Often entire units stacked their weapons and awaited the arrival of u. N. Forces. Our army units pushed on toward the yellow river, koreas northernmost boundary. But there were signs of trouble ahead. Some of the prisoners in the north war the quilted uniform of the communist chinese army. November found elements of the 10th corps on the frozen banks of the yalou river. While they ate their thanksgiving dinner, they could look across the river and see communist china. Victory seemed assured. There was talk of wars end by christmas. But on the other side, chinese armies were amassing. A whole new war was about to begin. Late in november, the chinese filled army attacked, splitting u. N. Forces and rolling them back. What president truman had called a faction had become a major war. Our forces in the west pulled back to the south. Elements of the First Marine Division and the seventh Infantry Division 10th corp, along with republican of korea troops, cut off in the northeast, fought their way in subzero weather toward evacuation by sea. 100,000 fighting men and their machines were loaded onto ships. More than 90,000 refugees fled from their homes in north korea rather than live again under communist rule. We gave transportation to freedom to as many as we could. By sea, the massive withdrawal moved southward toward forks ports where the units could land. In the west, elements of the eighth army withdrew south of the 38th parallel. The Chinese Forces followed up with their massive new years offensive. Thousands of koreans choke to took to the roads leading south. They had seen communism in practice. Any hardship was preferable. Once again, seoul changed hands as we pulled out, blowing up the bridges behind us. Far to the south, our units were regrouping. In late february, we made a fresh start, any operation whitfield called operation killer. The chinese armies held a superiority of numbers. Cut down the odds. [gunfire] operation killer did just that. The enemy lost 10 men for every United Nations casualty. What had begun as an attempt to inflect personnel losses on the enemy developed into a ground gaining operation. On march 15, seoul, again, changed hands. South korean troops entered the deserted streets unopposed. The enemy had pulled out to the north. But not for long. Spring brought with it still another crisis, another massive communist offensive. [explosions] general vanfleet fortified the city of seoul, determined not to lose it again. The enemy was met by fire. By a storm of fire. They lost tens of thousands, but still they came on. Then, suddenly, they faltered, broke, and started pulling back, pursued by our armor. Again, the communists had run afoul of two things, the mens immense firepower of the eighth army and the principles of logistics. They were unable to supply a sustained offensive. June 2, 1951, again, we crossed the 38th parallel. The badly battered enemy withdrawing before us. [gunshots] a soviet u. N. Delegate proposed truce talks, suggesting a cease fire could be discussed. On july 10, preliminary truce talks were opened in the red held city. They would drag on for two years while the bloodshed continued. The lines of the fighting front became virtually stabilized. After 12 days, the talks were deadlocked over the issue of a cease fire line. Then, the communists broke off. Broke off the talks. In the fall, they would resume. [explosions] the fighting continued. Materials were expended daily and nightly in prodigious amounts. Massive supply by air was a new military concept that came to full development in korea. Airlift and airdrop techniques became a means of supply in a largescale, combat situation. Winter 1952, found the talks deadlocked over the principle of prisoner exchange. While back and forth along the main line of resistance raged the bitter hill battle. [explosions] in march, 1953, the communist world was shaken by the death of joseph stalin. His successor launched what he termed a worldwide peace offensive. Its influence would soon be felt in korea. Within a month, the communists suddenly took us up on our standing offer to exchange sick and wounded prisoners. This was operation little switch. It indicated a cease fire might come soon. Battle weary men listened for word that the shooting was to end. On july 27, 1953, at the u. N. Base camp, general mark clark signed the cease fire agreement. A few miles away, the communists did the same. By august 5, operation big switch was underway. Some 13,000 u. N. Soldiers returned from red prison camps. General william dean, captured tejon early inor , the war, returned with his thousands of comrades in arms. It was then that the world image of communism received a telling blow. For two thirds of the chinese prisoners refused to return to red china. 35,000 North Koreans decided they would rather live in south korea. An armistice however is only a cease fire, not peace. And in this divided nation, the need is for constant watchfulness, unending preparedness remains and may continue for years to come. This is true anywhere on earth where people face an aggressor. The communists had miscalculated in korea. They could not bring themselves to believe we would spend so much of material, and of effort, and of pain so far from home. That lesson was an important one for all concerned. Once again, the United States army, the american soldiers, had stood for most in a massive military force on foreign soil, but not for conquest. As the years passed, we began to see that our preparedness would have to be largescale, constant, flexible, and adaptable. They were to be years of menace, bringing into being a new phrase, the cold war. [drumroll]