Combined Operations in the Korean War
Abstract
As the executive agent for the United Nations, the United States in the Korean War was responsible for commanding and coordinating the efforts of 21 nations committed to repelling the North Korean and Chinese armies. Of these nations' forces, eight national battalions and one brigade were attached directly to US combat regiments and divisions, and forces of five nations formed a British-led Commonwealth Division. In addition, Korean recruits in large numbers were attached as augmentees to US and allied companies and battalions, with mixed results. As the war was being fought, US Army advisors worked to organize and rebuild the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army. Valuable detailed information is available principally in accounts, including the results of a survey of senior commanders concerning allied attachments, by an officer in the Far East Command Historical Section. Whether in future conflicts the US Army will have allied forces similarly directly attached is debatable. It is almost a certainty, however, that any future fight will see us deeply involved with allies. This paper examines the lessons of the US in the Korean War in order to see if our doctrine has accommodated the key lessons learned.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 24, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA208684
Entities
People
- Robert F. Kemp
Organizations
- United States Army War College