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General MacArthur devised a plan to bait the North Koreans into the peninsula while he secretly attempted a massive amphibious operation that would land further north at Inchon, from where he could drive inland to Seoul and trap the North Koreans in the southern peninsula.  His advisers felt the sea was too treacherous for this, with 30-foot tides there among the highest anywhere and with low tides leading mudflats that prevented landing.  MacArthur pressed ahead with his brilliant idea, and hydrographers informed him the best time would be between on September 15th, when the morning high tide was around 7 a.m. and the evening high tide around 7 p.m.

General MacArthur devised a plan to bait the North Koreans into the peninsula while he secretly attempted a massive amphibious operation that would land further north at Inchon, from where he could drive inland to Seoul and trap the North Koreans in the southern peninsula.  His advisers felt the sea was too treacherous for this, with 30-foot tides there among the highest anywhere and with low tides leading mudflats that prevented landing.  MacArthur pressed ahead with his brilliant idea, and hydrographers informed him the best time would be between on September 15th, when the morning high tide was around 7 a.m. and the evening high tide around 7 p.m.

MacArthur called on the U.S. Marines to execute his plan.  They landed on September 15th, overcoming enormous obstacles, and then quickly defeated 2,200 North Korean troops that formed the outermost defense of Seoul.  Fighting intensified against stronger defenses on September 16th, but by September 28th the Marines had defeated the communists around and in Seoul, and liberated the city.  MacArthur then personally escorted the Republic of Korea President Syngman Rhee to return to the cheers of throngs of Seoul residents.  Meanwhile, the North Korean army was trapped on the southern peninsula, and their lines of communication and supplies were cut off by the Marines.

MacArthur called on the U.S. Marines to execute his plan, now known as the "Inchon Landing" (see the U.S. military diagram at right).  They landed on September 15th, overcoming enormous obstacles, and then quickly defeated 2,200 North Korean troops that formed the outermost defense of Seoul.  Fighting intensified against stronger defenses on September 16th, but by September 28th the Marines had defeated the communists around and in Seoul, and liberated the city.  MacArthur then personally escorted the Republic of Korea President Syngman Rhee to return to the cheers of throngs of Seoul residents.  Meanwhile, the North Korean army was trapped on the southern peninsula, and their lines of communication and supplies were cut off by the Marines.

But communist China then intervened openly, with communist Soviet Union also lending support to the North Koreans.  In early 1951, General MacArthur and the American troops had contained the Chinese army and it was in retreat.  By mid-1951, freedom for South Korea would be restored to where they existed before the war started:  the 38th parallel.

But communist China then intervened openly, with communist Soviet Union also lending support to the North Koreans.  In early 1951, General MacArthur and the American troops had contained the Chinese army and it was in retreat.  By mid-1951, freedom for South Korea would be restored to where they existed before the war started:  the 38th parallel.