Korean War Ends, 1953, National Korean Veterans Armistice Day

Today, 27 July, marks the end of the live fire hostilities of the Korean War. Flags are to be flown at half-staff until sunset.

The Korean War began on 25 June 1950 when North Korean attacked South Korea.

And ended in a stalemate.

And a lesson. During the negotiations, the UN forces in US Army jeeps would drive the delegates under a flag of truce to the North Koreans.

The flag of truce was flying from the front fenders — it was, of course, a white flag.

The white flag was reported by the Communists as a flag of surrender. A tremendous propaganda victory. It took the UN Forces a few days to catch on to the ‘misinterpretation’ that gave aid and comfort to the enemy.

Which is what will happen today if liberal Democrats have their way and retreat and withdraw from our current war in Iran. It will not be ‘misinterpreted.’

It will be more than a white flag. It will not be a stalemate. It will be a surrender.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Your Business Blogger’s father fought in the Korean War.

The citation reads, in part,

Pearl Harbor, March 20 [1951]…Boatswain’s Mate Yoest received this medal for, “meritorious service as a member of a motor whale boat crew on board the USS CONSERVER, a rescue and salvage vessel, during the sinking of an allied mine sweeper in densely mined areas, subjected to enemy gun fire off Wonsan, Korea on 17 October 1950. He volunteered and took his boat on two successful trips at great personal risk, into the mined areas to rescue survivors, thereby minimizing the loss of life and contributing to the successful clearance of mine free channels and anchorage off Wonsan…

Chief Yoest now rests in Arlington National Cemetery.

End of the Korean War

During his first Presidential Campaign General Eisenhower had promised to bring an end to the Korean War if elected. Once elected, Eisenhower set to work on this promise even before he took office.

On November 29, 1952, President-elect Eisenhower secretly flew to Korea. The trip was planned with the utmost security to guard against any assassination attempts. Aides to accompany him were quietly picked up at obscure locations scattered throughout New York City.

During his absence various dignitaries and staff members made “visits” to his home pretending to see him in his office. While in Korea Eisenhower revived the stalled peace talks and visited American soldiers near the front lines. It was not until December 6th, when Eisenhower was on his way home that the public learned of the trip. As a result of his peace seeking mission an armistice was signed in July 1953, eight months after his return. Under the terms of the Armistice signed in Panmunjom, the two Koreas were separated by a demilitarized zone at the 38th parallel, roughly the same border that existed prior to the war.

The war was seen as proof that the United Nations could be counted on to resist aggression and that modem warfare could be conducted without resort to nuclear weapons.

Ending the war was also of a personal interest to Eisenhower since John Eisenhower, the President-elect and Mrs. Eisenhower’s only living child was serving as an officer in Korea. Casualties for the war totaled some 150,000 Americans, including 34,000 killed in action, 900,000 Chinese, and two million Koreans.