Korean War

When the Korean War started in June 1950, Truman called on General Douglas MacArthur, the hero of the Pacific in WWII, to lead the troops in Korea. MacArthur made a successful amphibious campaign, landing behind the enemy’s lines at Inchon. His invasion began on September 15, 1950 and by November the U.S. army had crossed the 38th parallel, taking control of the greater part of Korea. Although MacArthur’s actions were approved by Washington, the U.S. invasion northward provoked the Chinese. MacArthur assured President Truman prior to the invasion that China would not get involved, but when the Chinese roused their troops, MacArthur stood in error. The Chinese Army filled Northern Korea and MacArthur pushed for a counter-offensive, but Truman and those back home disagreed. Washington felt that Europe and the Soviet Union were the priority and not war with China. An enraged MacArthur publicly denounced the President’s orders and Truman had no choice but to remove him from duty. The loss of MacArthur sat badly with the public, and MacArthur came home a hero while Truman looked like a Communist appeaser. Without MacArthur, the war fell into a stalemate. For two more years the war raged while Washington tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a cease-fire with China and men died on the battlefield.