Korea -- 50 years ago this week, Nov. 29-Dec. 5

[Brooke Rowe <global-national-security@pacbell.net>]

Korea -- 50 years ago this week, Nov. 29-Dec. 5

(EXCERPT) Cease-fire not in effect despite media reports, by Jim
Caldwell

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Nov. 26, 2001) -- Due to only a few
incidents of fighting between U.N. and communist forces, media reports
announced there was a cease-fire in place, 50 years ago this week. In
fact, no cease-fire orders had been issued by either side as armistice
talks continued.

Nov. 29, 1951 -- The first all-jet bomber, the eight-engine XB-52 is
rolled out of a Boeing plant in Seattle, Wash., to a nearby hangar in
early morning darkness. Air Force Secretary Thomas K. Finletter asks
reporters to keep details "from any potential enemy as long as
possible."

Nov. 29-Dec. 5 -- At the beginning of the week, the U.N. and communist
delegations are still arguing about which has the better formula for
ensuring hostilities will not break out after the armistice is signed.
The U.N. team insists that the point of not building up its forces and
facilities must be adhered to maintain the status quo. That is a
maneuver to keep the communists from building airfields in North Korea
and moving their fighters and bombers closer to the front. The Reds
charged that the U.N. negotiators were trying to prevent the
rehabilitation of North Korea and were meddling in their internal
affairs. On Dec. 3, the communists throw a surprise at the U.N.
negotiators. They agree to expand their five-point program to seven to
match the United Nations'. Their sixth point suggests that no new
forces and weapons be introduced into the area around the
demilitarized zone for any reason. That means that U.S. troops can't
be rotated in and out. In their seventh point they propose that
neutral nations can send observers to ensure that truce terms are
being followed. Caught off guard, the U.N. team takes a recess. When
they return they ask questions to clarify the additional points. They
then suggest that a subcommittee deal with Item 3, Military Armistice
Commission. The next day the communists agree to let the subcommittee
work out the details. That afternoon, Maj. Gen. Howard M. Turner and
Maj. Gen. Henry Hodes meet with Chinese Maj. Gen. Hsieh Fang and North
Korean Maj. Gen. Lee Sang Cho. On Dec. 5 Lee makes it clear that his
side will not agree to the United State rotating troops, nor will they
accept restrictions on building facilities. Hodes also learns the
communists have not thought out which neutral countries would serve as
inspectors or how they will be organized. He doesn't think that point
is worth spending time on because he figures the Reds simply won't
cooperate anyway.
 Gen. James Van Fleet, Eighth Army commander, is taking heat for
ordering his command on the Kansas and Wyoming lines not to initiate
fighting unless to regain lost ground. News media write that he has
already initiated a cease-fire, as long as the communists cooperate.
One newsman writes that Van Fleet's order has "brought Korean ground
fighting to a complete, if temporary, halt." Another news outlet
suggests President Harry Truman issued it. Van Fleet responds quickly
to change the tranquility along the front. Big guns resume firing and
patrolling becomes more offensive-minded. On Dec. 1 the Republic of
Korea government declares martial law in southwestern Korea. Lt. Gen.
Paik Sun Yup, commanding the Capital and 8th divisions, goes hunting
for guerrillas behind U.N. lines. They have been a thorn in Eighth
Army's side almost since the war began. Guerrillas, operating out of
the rugged mountains in the Chiri-san area, were very active in
November. Van Fleet figured now was a good time to get rid of them. In
the middle of the month he ordered the ROK Army to take the two
divisions and wipe them out. Paik begins phase one of the operation,
with the National Police acting as a blocking force when army troops
flush the guerrillas.

Nov. 30 -- In response to an Associated Press story on a "false
cease-fire" in Korea, Truman makes public a previously classified
message to his troops from Gen. Matthew Ridgway, U.N. commander.
Ridgway told them, "Hostilities will continue until the signing of an
armistice agreement."

Dec. 3 -- A B-29 making an emergency landing at Lowry Air Force Base
in Denver, Colo., crashes into five houses near the base. Eight of the
14 crewmen are killed. A woman in the neighborhood was injured.

Dec. 3 & 5 -- MiGs fly over Seoul for the first time in the war on
Dec. 3. On Dec. 5 the Reds put up 230 fighters.

Dec. 4 -- Marine Sgt. James E. Johnson, missing since Dec. 2, 1950, is
awarded the Medal of Honor. He was last seen wounded but fighting the
Chinese to cover the retreat of his fellow Marines from the Chosin
Reservoir.

Dec. 5 -- A U.N. report says that North America, with only 9 percent
of the world's population, produces 45 percent of the world's income.
Asia, with more than 50 percent of the world's population, produces 10
percent of the income earned by all nations. (Editor's note: Jim
Caldwell is a writer for the TRADOC News Service.)

---------------------------
   Brooke Rowe
   Associate Librarian
   The American War Library
   http://www.americanwarlibrary.com