Korean War | War History

Seven American Soldiers Have Defected to North Korea Since the Korean War

Rosemary Giles
North Korean soldiers standing in front of the Military Demarcation Line between North and South Korea

Since the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement, seven Americans have made the unprecedented decision to defect to North Korea. These men weren’t any ordinary…

The Purple Heart and Letter That Forever Haunted Harry Truman Following the Korean War

Harry Truman sitting at his desk + Purple Heart

The president of the United States makes a lot of tough decisions. It’s hard to order troops into battle and even more difficult to notify…

The Bravery and Dedication of US Army Chaplains During the Korean War

US Army Chaplain performing a funeral service with several soldiers in attendance

The above image, captured during the Korean War, shows one of the many roles chaplains filled during wartime: honoring the dead during burial services. Taken…

Baldomero López Daringly Leads Troops Over a Seawall During the Battle of Inchon

Baldomero López leading his men over a seawall

The Battle of Inchon – or the Inchon Landing – occurred during the Korean War. It marked a pivotal turning point in the conflict and…

24th Infantry Division Bazooka Team Taking On the Enemy During the Battle of Osan

24th Infantry Division soldier manning a Bazooka while another crouches beside him

The Battle of Osan was one of the opening engagements of the Korean War. It was the first time the United States faced the North…

M20 Recoilless Rifle: While Not Effective Against Tanks, It Obliterated Enemy Pillboxes

US Army soldier firing an M20 Recoilless Rifle while others cover their ears

The M20 recoilless rifle saw limited service at the end of World War II and was used extensively in Korea. It was only capable of…

The USS Oriskany Was Purposefully Sunk In the Gulf of Mexico to Form An Artificial Reef

USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34) sinking into the Gulf of Mexico

Laid down in the middle of World War II, the Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34) didn’t see action until after the conflict. She was…

How An American GI Grieving During the Korean War Became Known Worldwide

Grieving American GI being comforted by another during the Korean War

Above is a photo of a grieving American GI whose friend was killed in action (KIA) while fighting the Korean War. He was a radio…

The M18 Recoilless Rifle Obliterated Enemy Machine Gun Nests In Korea

Group of men standing near an M18 recoilless rifle in the snow

The M18 is a 57 mm shoulder-fired, anti-tank recoilless rifle the US Army equipped troops with during the Second World War and in Korea. The…

A US Marine Rescued a Kitten That Survived the Fighting at Bunker Hill

Frank Praytor feeding an orphaned kitten with a dropper following the fighting at Bunker Hill

Amid the chaos and devastation that defined the Korean War, a small glimmer of hope emerged in the form of an orphaned kitten rescued from…

Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star: The Only US Jet Fighter to See Action In WWII – During Secret Operations In Italy

Lockheed P-80A-1-LO Shooting Star in flight

The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, also known as the F-80, was the first jet fighter used operationally by the US Army Air Forces (USAAF). While…

USS Wisconsin (‘Temper, Temper’): How the BB-64 Battleship ‘Lost Her Temper’ in Korea

USS Wisconsin (BB-64) docked at port

The USS Wisconsin (BB-64) was an Iowa-class vessel that served with the US Navy on and off from 1944-91. She was the second-last of her…