The Korean War was one of the first conflicts after World War II and this war is often referred to as the “Forgotten War” because it is overshadowed by World War II and the Vietnam War. It was fought between North Korea, supported by China and Russia, and South Korea, supported by the United Nations (UN). The U.S. provided air support and naval ships during this conflict.
The U.S. involvement in this war was controversial at home because President Truman did not seek congressional approval before sending troops overseas or declaring war on North Korea (it was technically a UN operation). Many Americans did not believe that another war would be necessary after World War II ended so soon after its conclusion. Others were concerned about getting involved in another unpopular war like Vietnam later on down the road if we stayed involved in Korea for too long.
The United Nations authorized member states to provide military assistance to South Korea, and nearly 15,000 U.S. troops were sent to help defend South Korea’s capital city of Seoul against North Korean forces. The U.N. forces suffered heavy losses, but they eventually managed to push back the North Koreans and their Chinese allies after President Harry Truman ordered U.S. troops into battle around Thanksgiving 1950 — just six months after he took office following Franklin D Roosevelt’s death in April 1945!
