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Chapter Five - Korean Summer (June-July 1950)
North Korea invades South Korea
'Last night soldiers from the North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th Parallel (the border between North and South Korea) into South Korea. North Korea, abbreviated as the DPRK, is a communist country based in the half of the Korean peninsula liberated from Japan by the Soviet Union in 1945. The recently formed People's Republic of China (PRC) also backs North Korea, and their leader Kim-Il Sung.'
The Washington Post, June 1950
America at War with North Korea
'Yesterday President Dewey uttered the following words on national television. "Korea has committed an act of war against the peaceful nation of South Korea. As the President of the United States, I believe that it is our duty, given by God, to ensure peace and justice on the world. Earlier today, an emergency session of Congress was held, and it voted in favour of a declaration of war against North Korea". Others were not in favour of such a move. Senator Taft of Ohio, a noted isolationist and critic of the President told the Post yesterday "It is not our God given duty to seek war and get tangled up in such petty conflicts, it is, however, our God given duty to rise above such small internal issues".'
The Washington Post, June 1950
Seoul captured by the North Koreans
'It has been confirmed by Secretary Marshall that North Korean troops have captured Seoul, former capital of Korea and current, or at least until today, capital of South Korea. No further information is currently available.'
The Washington Post, June 1950
'I was sitting at my desk in the Pentagon, listening to ABC on the radio when the call from Dewey came through. He said "Ike, you all but won us the War in Europe 5 years ago, can you help us win another?
Then I said "Mr President, you've not just said what I think you've just said have you?
He replied "Look, Dwight it was either you or MacArthur and I can't stand him, well no one can. How about this, we'll give you a promotion to Pershing's rank and after you’ve served your country one last time, you can retire." I thought about this offer for a moment, then I accepted. I was going to have one last hurrah in Korea, then back to Gettysburg with Mamie for me.'
A Soldier Man (1965)
General of the Armies Dwight D. Eisenhower
'In the summer of 1950 I was a Major and had been assigned to Japan to work under General MacArthur. When the news came through that not only Eisenhower had been appointed to lead the military expedition in Korea, but that he had been promoted by Dewey to General of the Armies, a Six Star rank, MacArthur was seething with rage. He yelled at me "Major! You are getting on that Goddamn phone and you are calling Dewey, Bradley and Marshall. You're gonna tell them they will recall Eisenhower and replace him with me. Do you understand!"
I was so scared by the General's outburst I could only meekly say "Yes, Sir."
Carolinian General (1989)
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur
MacArthur appointed Co-Leader of the Korean Taskforce
'President Dewey and General Omar Bradley, recently appointed Chairman of the General Staff, announced that General Douglas MacArthur will be appointed Co-Leader (with General Eisenhower) of the Korean Taskforce. General Bradley told us that "General MacArthur has done extremely commendable service in the Philippines and in Japan. He has made a request to join the Korean Taskforce, so the President, Secretary Marshall and I granted it".'
The Washington Post, July 1950
'They put MacArthur and Field Marshall Harding, leader of the British and Imperial forces, in charge at Taejong. They lost the city to the North Koreans, but Harding managed to set up a perimeter around Pusan. They called it the Pusan Perimeter and it seemed like our position would hold for now. Meanwhile, I was preparing for a major counterattack being planned for August or September.'
A Soldier Man (1965)
Chapter Five - Korean Summer (June-July 1950)
North Korea invades South Korea
'Last night soldiers from the North Korean People's Army crossed the 38th Parallel (the border between North and South Korea) into South Korea. North Korea, abbreviated as the DPRK, is a communist country based in the half of the Korean peninsula liberated from Japan by the Soviet Union in 1945. The recently formed People's Republic of China (PRC) also backs North Korea, and their leader Kim-Il Sung.'
The Washington Post, June 1950
America at War with North Korea
'Yesterday President Dewey uttered the following words on national television. "Korea has committed an act of war against the peaceful nation of South Korea. As the President of the United States, I believe that it is our duty, given by God, to ensure peace and justice on the world. Earlier today, an emergency session of Congress was held, and it voted in favour of a declaration of war against North Korea". Others were not in favour of such a move. Senator Taft of Ohio, a noted isolationist and critic of the President told the Post yesterday "It is not our God given duty to seek war and get tangled up in such petty conflicts, it is, however, our God given duty to rise above such small internal issues".'
The Washington Post, June 1950
Seoul captured by the North Koreans
'It has been confirmed by Secretary Marshall that North Korean troops have captured Seoul, former capital of Korea and current, or at least until today, capital of South Korea. No further information is currently available.'
The Washington Post, June 1950
'I was sitting at my desk in the Pentagon, listening to ABC on the radio when the call from Dewey came through. He said "Ike, you all but won us the War in Europe 5 years ago, can you help us win another?
Then I said "Mr President, you've not just said what I think you've just said have you?
He replied "Look, Dwight it was either you or MacArthur and I can't stand him, well no one can. How about this, we'll give you a promotion to Pershing's rank and after you’ve served your country one last time, you can retire." I thought about this offer for a moment, then I accepted. I was going to have one last hurrah in Korea, then back to Gettysburg with Mamie for me.'
A Soldier Man (1965)
General of the Armies Dwight D. Eisenhower
'In the summer of 1950 I was a Major and had been assigned to Japan to work under General MacArthur. When the news came through that not only Eisenhower had been appointed to lead the military expedition in Korea, but that he had been promoted by Dewey to General of the Armies, a Six Star rank, MacArthur was seething with rage. He yelled at me "Major! You are getting on that Goddamn phone and you are calling Dewey, Bradley and Marshall. You're gonna tell them they will recall Eisenhower and replace him with me. Do you understand!"
I was so scared by the General's outburst I could only meekly say "Yes, Sir."
Carolinian General (1989)
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur
MacArthur appointed Co-Leader of the Korean Taskforce
'President Dewey and General Omar Bradley, recently appointed Chairman of the General Staff, announced that General Douglas MacArthur will be appointed Co-Leader (with General Eisenhower) of the Korean Taskforce. General Bradley told us that "General MacArthur has done extremely commendable service in the Philippines and in Japan. He has made a request to join the Korean Taskforce, so the President, Secretary Marshall and I granted it".'
The Washington Post, July 1950
'They put MacArthur and Field Marshall Harding, leader of the British and Imperial forces, in charge at Taejong. They lost the city to the North Koreans, but Harding managed to set up a perimeter around Pusan. They called it the Pusan Perimeter and it seemed like our position would hold for now. Meanwhile, I was preparing for a major counterattack being planned for August or September.'
A Soldier Man (1965)
- King_Arthur
- Word Count: 690