At a meeting of the UN Security Council, a unanimous decision to render assistance to South Korean was made, and to help repel communist spread. President Harry Truman feared that the South Korea invasion was just a distraction, and that the communist master plan was to spread Soviet influence by invading Western Europe. To aid South Korean armies, they appointed Task Force Smith- 540 men to stop North Korean advance. Unfortunately, this aid proved unsuccessful, as the men were untrained and lacked anti-tank weapons. Of those 540 men, there were 155 casualties and many more injured.

To the UN, it was important to maintain influence over south Korea, as it is a very strategic location, sitting between Japan, the soviet union, and communist giant china.

At the same time, Mao made the same mistake MacArthur had by moving his army too far, too fast, stretching his supply lines. His troops were cold and hungry, and replacements were ill-equipped and untrained. The Chinese army, though far outnumbering the US, lacked firepower and artillery, as well as aircraft in Korea.

On the field, US troops were involved in the longest retreat in US history, 120 miles from the Yale river to south of the 38th parallel in less than 1 and a half weeks. An accident turns the war when Matthew Ridgeway replaces Walton walker after a car accident. Matthew was appointed to lead the 8th army. Within weeks he had revived the fighting spirit and urged the troop to take offensive against China once again.

To this day, Korea is still split at the 38th parallel, and the war ended with no proof that the war was even worth fighting. The tolls for the US were 50,000 soldiers, and the tolls for China was hundreds of thousands.

Some topics in this essay:
MacArthur Truman, North Korean, Chinese POWs, Pusan MacArthur, North Korea, South Korean, London Allies, Christmas Inspired, South Korea, North Koreans, south korean, north korean, 38th parallel, south korea, north korea, american troops, chinese soldiers, killed execution-style, nuclear weapons, macarthur truman,