American involvement in the Korean conflict was reminiscent of the countries involvement in last two world wars in that it was not prepared to fight in a full-scale conflict. When President Truman declared that America and other United Nations countries would support South Korea on June 27 19501 American occupational forces stationed in Japan were the first units to be sent over. These troops were designated “Task Force Smith.” Under-strength and in need of equipment they suffered hard against the first North Korean pushes to the South2. Suffering heavy casualties at every engagement, retreating American and Republic of Korea soldiers were able hold the North’s armies at the Pusan Perimeter until other American troops and equipment could arrive. Following a build up of American and U.N troops in the southern regions of Korea and General MacArthur’s effective landing at Inchon, the push north began. To the surprise of the allied troops there was only weak resistance

The question heard with the greatest frequency in the trenches was simply, "Why are we here?" There seemed no purpose to this static war - other than to kill and wait to be killed.8

Though sending troops to a country under the banner of the U.N seemed moral, using it to circumvent congress was not. That is exactly what Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon did. Both presidents refused to ask congress for approval to wage war in Vietnam comparing it directly to what America had done in South Korea13, though not calling it a police action. Johnson called the Americans being sent to the Southeast Asia military Advisors. Combined with the American Military Advisory Command, (MAC found its beginning during the Korean war) These troops eventually became Americas fighting force in Vietnam, not just supporting the South Vietnamese Army, but fighting along side them. In the end not excepting defeat or victory, America withdrew from the Vietnamese conflict scared and tired of war. Leaving South Vietnam open to invasion America had spent billions of dollars, and sacrificed the lives of thousand of soldiers fighting a lost cause, a cause few Americans believed in. Vowing not to make this mistake a second time America became involved in the Persian Gulf War. Its involvement again under the command of the U.N was to stabilize the region by expelling Iraq’s forces, which had recently invaded Kuwait. This time against suggestions that he follow the precedence of Korea14, George Bush asked the congress for a declaration of war. Appearing to have proven responsible leadership Bushes war began. For lack of a better word American and other allied forces virtually Obliterated Iraq’s military. With Iraq’s forces either destroyed or retreating Bush had a decision to make, contain Iraq’s forces in Iraq, making the Persian Gulf War another limited war, or invade and occupy Baghdad, removing any further threat from the region. Bush chose not to invade against his general’s better judgment. Like the Presidents before him Bush upheld Americas policy of limited war.

Vietnam, Kosovo, Bosnia, and even the Gulf War indicate that America’s policy on how their wars will be fought has been ever changed. President Truman’s actions in Korea have been repeatedly embraced by his successors. It was these acti

Some topics in this essay:
MacArthur Truman, Gulf War, Korea Vietnam, Replaced Ridgeway, Seoul Wonju, American President, North Korean, President Truman, Chinese Truman, Vietnamese Army, gulf war, american troops, un troops, persian gulf war, united nations, north korean, war korea, iraq’s forces, persian gulf, communist forces, president truman, congress declaration war,