Korean Tales

Melvin B. Voorhees

• Publisher: Barakaldo Books
• Year: 2020
• eBook ISBN: 9781839745096
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Central Asian History
• Index: History

This book is a first-hand account, based on personal experiences and observation, of a war unique in history and vital for the future of our civilisation. Part of the book is written in the form of fictional stories, each closely based on actual events, which reveal vividly the reactions of the fighting men and of the natives of a war-torn country.
"THIS is a blessed event. At last the United States Army has given birth to a top-grade writer. From the Korean war has come finally one thin volume of prose which is apt to be remembered long after we have forgotten the heroisms of Heartbreak Ridge and the frustrations of Panmunjom."—NY Times

A CHRONOLOGY

June, 1950

25TH—An invading North Korean Communist Army of 60,000 crossed the 38th Parallel into South Korea at five o’clock of a Sunday morning. Five hours later Kaesong fell.

27TH—President Truman ordered U.S. air and sea forces to aid South Korea and the Seventh U.S. Fleet to protect Formosa. United Nations Security Council called on all member nations to aid in repelling aggression in Korea.

29TH—North Korean Army seized Seoul, capital of South Korea. Britain ordered her Far Eastern Fleet to join in fight.

30TH—Truman ordered U.S. ground troops to Korea; ordered naval blockade of Korean coast and authorized U.S. Air Force to bomb North Korea.

July, 1950

1ST—First U.S. combat troops arrived in Korea. Major-General William F. Dean, commander 24th Infantry Division, placed in command of U.S. forces in Korea.

4TH—U.S. troops first met enemy just north of Osan; forced to retreat.

6TH—B-29s began bombing North Korea.

7TH—General Douglas MacArthur named Supreme UN Commander.

13TH—Lieutenant-General Walton H. Walker, commander of Eighth Army, assumed command of ground forces in Korea. (EUSAK was born.)

15TH—North Koreans crossed Kum River.

18TH—First Cavalry and 25th Infantry Divisions reached Korea.

21ST—Twenty-fourth Division troops fought way out of flaming Taejon. General Dean missing in action.

August, 1950

1ST—Second U.S. Infantry Division reached Korea.

2ND—First U.S. Marine Brigade reached Korea.

7TH—In Masan sector task force launched first UN counterattack.

8TH—North Koreans breached Naktong River perimeter line, but failed to reach Taegu, where EUSAK was headquartered.

15TH—UN troops beat off two Communist attacks along Naktong.

29TH—Twenty-seventh British Brigade arrived from Hong Kong, first troops to join Americans and South Koreans in war.

September, 1950

3RD—Communist offensive threatened Taegu.

4TH—U.S. 25th Division inflicted 12,000 enemy casualties in winning three-day battle at Masan.

7TH—General Walker declared “our lines will hold.”

10TH—General Walker said “worst is over.”

15TH—U.S. X Corps made amphibious assault on Inchon, port of Seoul.

16TH—Eighth Army “jumped off” from perimeter lines and began shattering of North Korean Army.

19TH—X Corps began encirclement of Seoul; Eighth Army swept north and west in South Korea, with Communists captured or in full flight. Filipino troops reached Korea.

26TH—Seoul fell to U.S. Australian troops reached Korea.

October, 1950

1ST—South Korean troops crossed 38th Parallel. MacArthur called on Reds to surrender.

7TH—Eighth Army pushed northward; X Corps withdrawn from battle.

10TH—U.S. troops crossed 38th Parallel; ROKs took Wonsan on east coast.

15TH—Truman and MacArthur met on Wake Island.

17TH—Turkish troops arrived in Korea.

18TH—ROKs occupied Hamhung and Hungnam.

19TH—Eighth Army took Pyongyang, capital of North Korea.

20TH—US. paratroopers in first drop 25 miles north of Pyongyang.

25TH—Eighth Army spearhead within 34 miles of Manchuria.

26TH—U.S. Marines landed at Wonsan; 1st and 6th ROK Divisions captured first Chinese Communist Forces prisoners of the war. Prisoners said 40th CCF Army units crossed into Korea about October 19, and 56th CCF Army crossed Yalu River about October 12. Sixth ROK Division reached Yalu.

29TH—X Corps halted by Chinese in northeast Korea.

30TH—Eighth Army’s 6th ROK Division overwhelmed by Chinese counterattack at Yongdu.

November, 1950

3RD—U.S. 25th Division withdrew 50 miles from Yalu area; 1st Cavalry hard hit.

6TH—M...

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• MAP
• DEDICATION
• BY WAY OF EXPLANATION
• THIS IS HOW IT WAS
• THE END IS THE BEGINNING
• DEATH OF THREE TANKS
• THE GENERALS
• UNITED NATIONS
• THE PRESS
• MILITARY CENSORSHIP
• THE PRIEST
• THE ENEMY
• ROKS AND KMAGs
• KOREA’S KING HORN
• THE AIR FORCE
• POTPOURRI
• A GLANCE BACKWARD
• A CHRONOLOGY
• About the Author