Navy Cross for Korean War Pilot

The Soviets did deploy a number of squadrons to fly against the US in the Korean War, but their numbers weren't great. Red China, in contrast, from November 1950 to July 1953 had anywhere from 300,000 to 400,000 troops deployed directly in the war, suffering horrible casualties in the process. China's "Volunteer Army" (not really volunuteers at all) were handsomely equipped with Soviet weapons, all paid for in cash by the Chinese government whereas the US armed & equipped its South Korean allies for free. Mao was under the impression that Stalin would supply troops, tanks, artillery, etc. but they never did. This was the begining of the Sino-Soviet split which occured by the end of the deacde. For the next 30+ years the Chinese & Russians were de facto enemies. Nixon picked up on this and went to China in 1972, effectively aligning the two nations together vs. the Soviet Union for the last 20 years of the Cold War.

Let's hope the past repeats itself regarding Sino-Russia relations.
 
The Soviets did deploy a number of squadrons to fly against the US in the Korean War, but their numbers weren't great. Red China, in contrast, from November 1950 to July 1953 had anywhere from 300,000 to 400,000 troops deployed directly in the war, suffering horrible casualties in the process. China's "Volunteer Army" (not really volunuteers at all) were handsomely equipped with Soviet weapons, all paid for in cash by the Chinese government whereas the US armed & equipped its South Korean allies for free. Mao was under the impression that Stalin would supply troops, tanks, artillery, etc. but they never did. This was the begining of the Sino-Soviet split which occured by the end of the deacde. For the next 30+ years the Chinese & Russians were de facto enemies. Nixon picked up on this and went to China in 1972, effectively aligning the two nations together vs. the Soviet Union for the last 20 years of the Cold War.

Let's hope the past repeats itself regarding Sino-Russia relations.

Over 1.5 million US troops that served during that war were also “not really volunteers” since they had to be drafted to serve during a time of war .
 
Over 1.5 million US troops that served during that war were also “not really volunteers” since they had to be drafted to serve during a time of war .

True but Harry Truman never labelled them as a "People's Volunteer Army", eager to rush off to war, as did Mao's regime.
 
True but Harry Truman never labelled them as a "People's Volunteer Army", eager to rush off to war, as did Mao's regime.
Labels?

I am sure the 1.5 million Americans that had to be drafted to serve in our military felt better about the labeling.

Eager?——the American troops were there long before the Chinese troops were.

Maybe we should have stopped when the president told the US Army to stop, and they did not listen , and then maybe the Chinese Army might never have “volunteered” to fight us.

Thank the gods of war for having Oliver Smith on our side.. The absolute best. Saved our butts.
 
Is it true that the Army units located on the other side of the Chosin Resovior (from the Marines) were wiped out & only the Matines were able to get out?
 
Is it true that the Army units located on the other side of the Chosin Resovior (from the Marines) were wiped out & only the Matines were able to get out?
No. There were actually more Marine casualties than Army.
 
Labels?

I am sure the 1.5 million Americans that had to be drafted to serve in our military felt better about the labeling.

Eager?——the American troops were there long before the Chinese troops were.

Maybe we should have stopped when the president told the US Army to stop, and they did not listen , and then maybe the Chinese Army might never have “volunteered” to fight us.

Thank the gods of war for having Oliver Smith on our side.. The absolute best. Saved our butts.

US enterend the Korean War in June 1950.
China entered the Korean War in October 1950.

Not much of a difference time-wise. Three months?

The average Korean, Chinese, American or any other soldier in the war was never "eager" to be there. But Mao was certainly eager to send his troops into battle, calling them "volunteers" to pretend that they were not there under order from above. He tried to portray Chinese troops in the Korean War as no different than anti-facists in the Spanish Civil War, i.e.foreigners volunteering to fight in another country's war.

Had MacArthur not pushed for the UN forces under his command to advance to the Yalu, and stop at the pre-war border on the 38th parallel, it is likely China would not have interevened. But to MacArthur's credit (and I'm not a big fan of his, partucularly in the Korean War) there was no way to be certain of this at that time (September-October 1950).Where MacArthur was defnitiely wrong was his refuals to listen to intelligence (Army & CIA) which reported hundreds of thousands Chinese troops being built up on the Sino-Korean border in the late fall of 1950 and later when large numbers of Chinese troops were reported moving, usually by cover of night (they had no air support at that time), into North Korea. MacArthur dismissed these reports offhand, and nearly lost his entire command as a result. The joint Chinese-North Korean offensive swept the UN forces out of North Korea and re-captured Seoul. MacArthur blamed everyone but himself, taking zero responsibility. The winter of 1950-1951 was a nadir in the Korean War for the UN forces.

Seoul was eventually liberated for a 2nd time (and stayed that way), but not under MacArthur, whom Truman had fired & forced to retire.

General Oliver Smith was a magnificent Marine Corps general whom never took much time and effort to seek publicity. His direct commander, US Army General Ned Almond, was a MacArthur sycophant whom almost got the entire USMC 1st Division wiped out by the Chinese. Almond ordered the Marines to the Yalu, ignoring Smith's warnings of a Chinese intervention. Without Smith's leadership from the Chosin southward, the Marines may not have have made it out of the encirclement. That, and a few tough Marines, that is. And GIs, too, of course.
 
I watched a YT video where Smith had supplies & airports prepositioned during the advance because he knew they would be needed.
 
The Last Stand of Fox Company is a good read about the combat at the Frozen Chosin in The Freezen Season
 
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