Quiz Question! Was the Korean War Really a War?

The Korean War, which lasted from June 1950 to July 1953, was never technically a war as Congress never actually declared it as one. Despite the terminology, it was a full-fledged military operation in which almost five million people died. Sadly, over half of those who perished were Korean civilians. According to the American Legion and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs -

·         54,200 Americans died in service during the conflict,

·         33,700 died in battle, and

·         7,140 soldiers became POWs, of which 4,418 returned to the United States, 2,701 died, and 21 refused repatriation.

Despite these numbers, the Korean War is known as the “Forgotten War,” as it was between and overshadowed by World War II and the Vietnam War. It is also considered the first conflict of the Cold War. Most Americans did support President Harry S. Truman’s decision to send ground troops to South Korea in June 1950 as a part of a joint United Nations effort to stop the spread of communism. According to Gallup, 78% of Americans approved. Public opinion shifted up and down throughout the conflict.

Whether it was officially a war or not, it is still called the Korean War today, and we should never forget the men and women who fought bravely for freedom and lost their lives in it.    

Victoria dropped the dishtowel she was folding back into the basket and threw up both hands.

“Not another war!”

“Hopefully, it won’t get to that, but Truman has to do everything in his power to stop the spread of communism before another war does start,” Sheffield replied, himself not perplexed and unsurprised by the news story.    

The Final Song, Chapter 28  

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