June 26th, 2008 at 9:00 am

Remembering the Korean War in Pictures

» by GI Korea

With the success of the Incheon Landing Operation US and ROK forces on the Pusan Perimeter moved north to recapture land previously occupied by the North Koreans. Along the way bodies of captured US soldiers massacred in Daejon are discovered:

Besides executed US soldiers many South Korean civilians were also killed by the retreating North Koreans though Charles Hanley and the Korean Truth & Reconciliation Committee would probably agree that US soldiers are really responsible:

A month later and bodies of massacred South Korean civilians in Daejon are still being discovered:

As the allies moved north they found themselves with more and more North Korean POWs:

General MacArthur makes the decision to cross the 38th parallel and reunite Korea by force:

While advancing into North Korea an Australian soldier found time to use portraits of Kim Il-sung for target practice:

British troops also participated in the offensive into North Korea most notably during the Battle of Kunu-ri which saw the Chinese enter the war:

The US Air Force conducts a bombing operation against a North Korean freight train:

This picture of the North Korean masses cheering the allies entering Pyongyang is probably one that Kim Il-sung was none too happy to see:

Here is a picture for all you airborne types out there:

General Milburn confers with ROK 1st Division Commander General Paik Sun-yup:

The casualties against civilians during the war was just as deadly north of the 38th parallel as it was in the south:

With the Chinese entry into the war the Marines and the 7th Infantry Division fought a desperate battle to escape a Chinese trap in brutal winter weather at the Chosin Reservoir:

This bridge was destroyed to delay the Chinese advance on Hamhung:

After the Marines and the 7th Infantry Division escaped the Chinese trap, they conducted an amphibious withdrawal which included many North Korean civilians from the port city of Hungnam:

If you read most popular histories of the Chosun Reservoir campaign you would have no idea the Army was just as critical in the operation as the Marines, but receive little credit for their part in the campaign. The Army fought just as hard and withdrew just as orderly as the Marine Corps:

After the withdrawal from Hungnam the port city was completely destroyed:

As the Chinese forces advanced south more young conscripted ROK soldiers were committed to the front lines:

Captured Chinese soldiers pleading to a South Korean soldier:

South Korean civilians once again flee Seoul as refugees as the Chinese army prepares to capture the city in January 1951:

ROK soldiers cross the Han River to recapture Seoul as part of an allied offensive in March 1951:

Seoul destroyed even further after the battle to retake the city from the Chinese:

US & ROK soldiers battle to retake the city of Munsan north of Seoul:

Korean Service Corps personnel transport ammunition for the allies:

ROK Army soldiers advance into Hwachon in March 1951: