Changes

On June 25, 1950, communists in nearby North Korea invaded South Korea.<ref>http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/kowar/kowar.htm</ref>  The United States was alarmed that the communists from China were expanding and would take over the entire Korean peninsula and its millions of people.  The United States reacted immediately by sending troops to defend against the invasion, and other countries in the United Nations also sent troops to a lesser extent.  But the North Korean army was quick and powerful, and the conflict took much longer to resolve than anyone expected.

On June 25, 1950, communists in nearby North Korea invaded South Korea.<ref>http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/kowar/kowar.htm</ref>  The United States was alarmed that the communists from China were expanding and would take over the entire Korean peninsula and its millions of people.  The United States reacted immediately by sending troops to defend against the invasion, and other countries in the United Nations also sent troops to a lesser extent.  But the North Korean army was quick and powerful, and the conflict took much longer to resolve than anyone expected.

The North Korean army quickly conquered South Korea's capital (Seoul), which fell in a mere four days.  Despite the disapproval of the rest of world and the mobilizing of troops by the United States and members of the United Nations, the communists made it clear that they were not going to back down.  The North Koreans continued to defeat and push back troops of the Republic of Korea (ROK, or South Korea) and the Americans.  By early September the ROK, American and United Nations troops were trapped into the southeastern corner of the Korean peninsula (where the town of Pusan is on the map on the next page).

The North Korean army quickly conquered South Korea's capital (Seoul), which fell in a mere four days.  Despite the disapproval of the rest of the world and the mobilizing of troops by the United States and members of the United Nations, the communists made it clear that they were not going to back down.  The North Koreans continued to defeat and push back troops of the Republic of Korea (ROK, or South Korea) and the Americans.  By early September the ROK, American and United Nations troops were trapped into the southeastern corner of the Korean peninsula (where the town of Pusan is on the map on the next page).

General Douglas MacArthur, who like George Patton had been homeschooled, was the leader of the American troops in the Pacific during World War II and remained in charge to handle this Korean War.  General MacArthur then made one of the most daring military decisions in world history.  All of his advisers were against it, thinking it was too risky.   

General Douglas MacArthur, who like George Patton had been homeschooled, was the leader of the American troops in the Pacific during World War II and remained in charge to handle this Korean War.  General MacArthur then made one of the most daring military decisions in world history.  All of his advisers were against it, thinking it was too risky.   

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 leaving 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 leaving mudflats that prevented landing.  MacArthur pressed ahead with his brilliant idea, and hydrographers informed him the best time would be on September 15th, between when the morning high tide was around 7 a.m. and the evening high tide around 7 p.m.

[[Image:Inchon Landing.jpg|right]]

[[Image:Inchon Landing.jpg|right]]