Korean War

The Korean War began after South Korea declared itself an independent state in 1948 and North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950. The U.S., as part of a 16 nation United Nations force, entered the war allied with South Korea after the invasion was called a breach of international peace, while China entered the war allied with North Korea, and the U.S. never declared war against North Korea. In 1951, peace talks at Kaesong and Panmunjon failed over the issue of voluntary repatriation. In 1953, the U.N., North Korea, and China signed an armistice agreement, and a demilitarized zone was established at the 38th Parallel, the dividing line in place before the war began, but a permanent peace treaty between South Korea and North Korea has never been signed. The war ended in a stalemate. It was the first war in which the U.N. played a military role and marked the first battles between jet aircraft. U.S. military service personnel participants totaled 1,789,000, with 36,576 in theater deaths, 17,678 deaths in service, 103,284 wounded in service, and 8,100 missing in action. Illinois deaths totaled 1,744, Illinois missing in action 417, Kane County deaths 32, and Kane County had four missing in action. Among major campaigns and deaths were Pusan Perimeter, 3,603; Chosin Reservoir, 1,641; Kunu-Ri, 1,194; Naktong Breakout, 834; Hoengsong, 773; Taejon, 638; Heartbreak Ridge, 616; Kum River, 490; Unsan, 454; Soyang River, 406; Triangle Hill, 393; Seoul, 382; Pork Chop Hill, 342; and Bloody Ridge, 341. South Korea sustained estimated military and civilian casualties of more than 1,300,000, United Nations forces other than the U.S. totaled over 10,000 casualties including more than 3,000 dead, and estimated North Korean and Chinese casualties were more than 1,500,000.

Geneva, Illinois · United States