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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 send 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 send 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, 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.

The North Korean army quickly conquered South Korea's capital (Saigon), 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).

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.