THE FORGOTTEN WAR: KOREA 1950 - 1953
The true story of a brutal and bloody war

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SUMMARY:
In June of 1950, the North Korean Army initiated a massive attack on its neighbor to the south, beginning a see-saw war that would engulf the entire Korean Peninsula. For the next three years, until the historical Armistice Treaty in 1953, the United Nations and the Communists waged a bloody and brutal war. Though the Korean conflict is often referred to as the “Forgotten War”, those who fought and sacrificed for freedom will never forget.

PRODUCED BY: Norm Anderson
DOCUMENTARY / MILITARY WARS, 7 x 60 Minutes, 1996

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES :
• 3 hour DVD version available
• Color / B&W

DETAILED SYNOPSIS:
In this informative seven volume video set, you will witness through U.S. Government footage and newsreel cameramen the dramatic moments from the earliest days of the U.S. intervention in 1950 to the historical Armistice Treaty in 1953.

1950, the first year of combat, was bloody and brutal, which often surpassed even the toughest battles in United States history.

Watch from the first unsuccessful days of battle to the advance on the Manchurian Border; through the bloody retreat from the Chosin reservoir in North Korea, onward to the "real" battle against the Red Chinese Army. History tells us that almost 150,000 American servicemen were killed, wounded , or missing during this "police action."

Korea is often called America's forgotten war. Join with us as we explore this brutal and bloody conflict. The Korean War may have been forgotten by some...but it will never be forgotten by those that were there.

I. The First Forty Days - Approx. 33 Minutes

On June 25th, 1950, North Korean forces attacked South Korean positions south of the 38th parallel. Immediately, the United Nations adopted a resolution calling for the withdrawal of the North Korean troops.

In the U.S., President Truman ordered air, sea, and land armed services to give support to the overrun south Korean army and people.

The first encounter with the North Koreans led to a quick retreat, to which Truman responded by naming General Douglas MacArthur to the position of Supreme commander of the Allied Forces.

U.S. troops and supplied arrived to find a stubborn, well equipped enemy. Any hope of a fast resolution was quickly dismissed in a trail of retreating GI's.

It was to be a bitter and bloody siege...a war we could not win.

II. The Turning of the Tide - Approx. 37 Minutes

After six weeks of holding the last position of Korea, the Pusan Perimeter, the 95,000 men defending this important piece of real estate were looking for a way out.

A break out began...first, a combined air and land attack in the center of the perimeter. On a second front, an Army, Navy and Marine invasion of the northwestern coastal island of Wolmi had begun.

This action lead to the capture of the strategic port city of Inch'on and the eventual re-taking of the capital city of Seoul.

Breaking out of the Pusan pocket and going on the offensive sent the enemy into retreat and appeared to turn the tide of the war.

III. The New War - Approx. 39 Minutes

The Communists had reached far out for an easy victory in South Korea and came close to achieving it. Yet, when the will of the United States was tested, and shown to be strong, the enemy was forced to regroup.

After many delays and controversies, permission to follow the North Koreans across the 38th parallel was granted and the advance up the peninsula was on. Ahead lay a bitter cold winter, retreating Communist armies, a frozen Yalu river and the Marchurian border.

After a Thanksgiving meal on the Yalu, the most savage experience of the Korean War began.

Hundred's of thousands of Red Chinese troops came quietly across the border. The Allied retreat was on with thousands of U.S. Marines being encircled by the Communists at the Chosin reservoir.

We were facing a Korean 'Dunkirk,' with the port city of Hungnam as the only way out.

IV. Retreat and Dig In - Approx. 43 Minutes

With the Communists in full pursuit, reports from the front were grim. "This is a sight that hasn't been seen...men of the United States Army fleeing from a battlefield, abandoning their wounded, running for their lives." The withdraw was of such a scale that it became know n as "the Big Bugout."

In the sky, the Saber and Panther jets were still beating the MIG's in critical air battles.

In the bone-chilling winter weather, the allied forces made it below the 38th parallel and started to dig in...

The rear guard delaying action paid off and the regrouped armies began the task of fighting for key hills that overlooked the surrounding territory.

V. The 38th Parallel - Approx. 52 Minutes

Under orders from Field Commander U.S. General Ridgway, the beaten and battered UN forces were able to turn the tables on the Chinese.

The Communists started the New Year with a problem that had affected the Allies only a few months earlier, a long and vulnerable supple line.

Communist casualties had been enormous. There were believed to be over five hundred thousand Chinese and North Korean troops in combat against three hundred and sixty-five thousand soldier carrying the United Nations banner.

With superior resources, and deadly air power, the advance back to the 38th parallel, the on-going war of words between MacArthur and Truman culminated in the President firing the General and promoting Matthew Ridgway to Supreme Commander.

MacArthur's greeting stateside was nothing short of a hero's welcome home and concluded with his now famous "old soldiers never die" speech before Congress and a sea of ticker-tape in New York City.

VI. Ridgway's War - Approx. 43 Minutes

With what now is believed to be eight hundred thousand enemy troops slowly retreating, and the U.N. forces slowly advancing, General Ridgway ordered the Allies to keep pace with the Communists. This time, there was to be no race for the Yalu river...the General's objective was to simply reach the 'Iron Triangle' - the heart of the Communist supply and communication network north of the 38th parallel.

With F-86 Saber jets winning the air battles in MIG alley, attacks on the Communist held hills in central Korea continued.

One of the most spectacular nighttime bombardments took place during this time.

VII. The Peace Saga - Approx. 47 Minutes

On July 10th, 1951, Communist and U.N. delegates met for the first time in the town of Kaesong to begin cease-fire negotiations.

Few would have believed that two more years of bloodshed lay ahead...

Word from the Pentagon was that "arranging for an armistice during the progress of actual fighting is one of the most delicate negotiations in human affairs and must be conducted in strictest secrecy."

After agreeing to hold the meetings in Communist held Kaesong, the Allied representatives discovered that the Chinese and North Koreans were not seeking a permanent peace and had only come to the table to score a propaganda victory.

Meanwhile, the names of "Heartbreak Ridge" and "Bloody Ridge" entered our vocabulary as these hills changed hands many times while the talks remained stalemated.

The beginning of the end began when all parties agreed with the Red Cross to exchange sick and wounded prisoners as a "gesture of peace."

When Joseph Stalin died, the Allies were convinced that at long last, the Communists were looking for a peaceful solution.

The armistice was signed on July 27th, 1953 after thirty seven months, two days of war. The cost to the American forces: 33,629 dead, 103,284 wounded.

We must never forget...

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