II

Sept - Nov 1950

On 15 September, the American General MacArthur led a UN amphibious landing 240km in the enemy rear at the port Inchon (which was near Seoul) behind the NKPA . Out of the 300,000 UN troops, 260,000 were Americans.

Their communications were cut off, and under heavy aerial bombardment, the North Koreans (NKPA) broke and retreated back north. The American General MacArthur ordered his troops to drive them back. On 7 October 1950, his pursuit led across the 38th parallel and deep into North Korea. Thus the Americans were able to recapture South Korea. They also took 125,000 NKPA as prisoners.

As the UN forces, which appeared victorious at that instant, drew near to the Manchurian (Chinese) border, there were ominous signals from Peking that communist China would intervene to defend its territory.

In mid-October, MacArthur met President Harry Truman on Wake Island in their first encounter to boast to him that a massive UN offensive was about to end the war, and that the Americans would be victorious and be "home by Christmas". No sooner had this been launched in November than the Chinese unleashed their armies.

-Sharmila.