"South Korea marks 70th anniversary of first US ground" Topic

… battle in Korean War.

"It was raining 70 years ago when American soldiers engaged in their first ground battle against North Korean forces, just over a week after the Korean War began.

That meant the Air Force couldn't provide cover as the 540 members of Task Force Smith fought more than 5,000 North Koreans armed with Soviet-made tanks.

More than 150 Americans were killed or went missing in the fighting on July 5, 1950, known as the Battle of Osan. But the unit accomplished its mission to help delay the North Korean advance while U.S. reinforcements arrived on the divided peninsula…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Yeah it didn't good so well for TF Smith. But they did delay the North at high losses to themselves. The US was not prepared for a war and as we see they cost the US in blood & treasure. We had to learned again to always be prepared to go to war.

About 10 years after the Korean War we started to get involved in SE Asia. And we all know how that ended up.

Why not prepared… ? since WW2 there were only five years…

Amicalement
Armand

Tango the US government went out of it way to not bring stuff back from overseas after the war. What war stocks in the US were sold for pennies on the dollar(then bought back at the dollar rate) to Balance the budget and pay for shiny new Jets. The Budget was 20% for the Army, 40% for the Navy & Air force. Most Combat ready forces were in Germany.

There was no place large enough to really train In Japan and no really reason. Also there was a feeling that the North Korean would stop when they contacted US forces.

The Small size of TF Smith was due to a shortage of Transport planes, which limited there size. Also there Supplies were on a train the US Air force decided to Bomb and totally destroyed. There was only 3 AP rounds for the Artillery and No ammo for the Recoilless rifle.

Exactly!

Yes just like with WWI, everyone, well as most everyone, thought that "was the war to end all wars". As we know they were wrong …

So again we learned we must be prepared. But again it is all about the $. USD Generally those making those decisions won't have anyone directly involved on the frontline if in the military at all. When the next war starts out.

Ah!… thanks!… remember me my war time… (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

It's what democracies do. With no direct threat we disarm in the hope peace will be the norm.

Sad to say, it never is the norm.

Yes, sooner than later you will be involved in a war. In some cases you have no choice after being attacked, e.g. Pearl Harbor and 9/11. In both cases those that had attacked us suffered greatly with our response.

Just in case we have forgotten :

US losses in Korean War –

54,000 + KIA

103,000 + WIA

8000 + MIA