GI JOE - Remembering the Korean War - 70 Years Later

70 years ago today, on June 25, 1950, the North Korean army crossed the 38th Parallel and invaded South Korea. The peninsula had been split into two halves of influence at the end of WW2, with the Soviets controlling the North and the US controlling the South.

It would be a savage war that cost the lives of over 54,000 US soldiers with almost 8000 still MIA.

The Korean War in a nutshell.

• June 25, 1950 - North Korean forces invade the South.
• South Korean army gets waxed. They had no tanks or anti-tank weapons because the US was afraid the South would invade the North. The South was also ruled by a corrupt dude.
• US and allies pledge assistance via the UN.
• US forces are woefully out of shape and training, living the good life while on occupation duty in Japan. First US units get waxed.
• UN forces get pushed into a small corner of southern South Korean known as the Pusan Perimeter. This defensive position buys them time to build up forces. The North over extends its supply lines. They thought this war would be done in three weeks.
• General Douglas MacArthur lands behind the North Korean forces via an amphibious operation at the port city of Inchon.
• UN forces crush the North Korean forces and push them back up the peninsula.
• UN now gets overconfident and decides to push the enemy all the way to the Yalu River, bordering China.
• China not happy about UN forces being so close. They sneak several hundred thousand troops across the border at night. They have no armor or air forces. They are all foot soldiers, using camouflage and the night.
• Chinese troops wax the UN forces again - look up the Chosin Reservoir. MacArthur and his staff continue to underestimate the Chinese Communists, who by the way, had defeated the Chinese Nationalists the last few years. Never get into a land war in Asia. 
• MacArthur gets fired. General Matthew Ridgeway takes over and tells UN forces they will no longer retreat. They will die in place fighting.
• The two sides fight to a stalemate for the next two years until a cease fire is agreed upon.
• The Korean War is technically still going on.  There was no peace treaty, only a cease fire.

I served in Korea for two years - from late 1997 through the middle of 1999.  I loved my time there. The people were fantastic, the country was beautiful.

When I returned home from Korea, that was about when GI Joe Classic Collection was on the upswing. So over the next few weeks, I'll be focusing on my 12 inch Joe collection and the Korean War. Not just from Hasbro, but other manufacturers as well.

Starting with the Soldiers of the World series which were typically sold in KMart and Walmart. They cost about $10. Quality was not as good as Hasbro but they pumped out a lot of uniform sets which was pretty cool.

Next is the Hasbro Invasion of Inchon Marine figure. Comes with a BAR rifle and the climbing ladder.

Finally, the "Defense of Seoul" army soldier in winter gear. The interesting thing about this figure is that most of the soldiers didn't get winter clothing issued during the offensive into the North and it was minus 20 degrees most nights. Also, the bazooka this figure comes with couldn't penetrate the armor of the Communist T34 tanks. Not until they got the larger 3.5 inch bazooka. A great figure and another fantastic painting by artist Larry Selman. www.larryselman.com