6/25/2010:
The Korean War began on this date in 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea along the infamous 38th parallel. It marked the first armed conflict of the bitter Cold War. In September of 1950, President Truman ordered a National Guard mobilization; including three battalions in North Dakota - the 231st Engineer, 164th Infantry, and 188th Artillery. More than 2,600 North Dakota Guardsmen would serve during the Korean War, 800 overseas.
Nearly 200 North Dakotans would give their lives while serving during the Korean War - 148 in the Army, 16 Marines, 16 Guardsmen, five members of the Air Force, and three Navy men. Often referred to as "the Forgotten War," the Korean War's place in history continues to be debated. It began as a civil conflict between North and South, but quickly escalated into an international conflict involving twenty countries from around the world.
The tensions began after World War II, when the Korean peninsula, formerly under Japanese rule, was divided at the 38th parallel. The northern half was occupied by Soviet troops, and the south by the democratic Allies. Separate governments formed, and attempts at reunification reached an impasse. Raids and skirmishes along the border were common occurrences, leading up to the 1950 invasion.
The United Nations quickly condemned the north's invasion and called on member countries to aid in repelling the attacks. For three years, U.N.-backed South Korea and Chinese and Soviet-backed North Korea engaged in active combat. Neither side, however, was able to make significant territorial gains, resulting in a military stalemate. Finally, in July of 1953, an armistice was signed ending the conflict. However, on May 27, 2009, North Korea withdrew from the 1953 armistice, essentially returning to a state of war. As of 2009, there were still over 8,000 soldiers missing in action from the Korean conflict.
In 2000, Senator Byron Dorgan initiated and passed legislation creating the North Dakota Veterans History Project, which seeks to gather and record interviews from North Dakotan veterans. A number of these interviews have since recorded first-hand accounts of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Gulf Wars. On this date, let us remember these brave North Dakotans, and their immeasurable sacrifices.
Dakota Datebook written by Jayme L. Job
Sources:
http://dorgan.senate.gov/services/features/vhp.cfm
http://www.coulthart.com/koreawar.html
http://legacy.inforum.com/specials/century/jan3/week25.html
http://www.aiipowmia.com/koreacw/kwkia_northdakota.html
http://www.archives.gov/research/korean-war/casualty-lists/nd-by-town.html