Field of Honor (1986)
Directors: Dae-hie Kim and Hans Scheepmaker.
Starring: Everett McGill (Sergeant 'Sire'
De Koning), Ron Brandsteder (Tiny), Bart Römer
(Lieutenant), Anis de Jong (Taihutu), Hae-young Lee (Sun Yi), Dong-hyeon Kim (Applesan),
Min Yu (Kim), Mark Van Eeghem (Brammetje), Frank Schaafsma (Wiel), Guus van der
Made (Leen), Jae-ho Choi (Chinese Medic), Mike Mooney (Journalist), Jon Bluming
(Platoon Sergeant), Fritz Homann (Truck Driver), David Hartung (Radioman).
a Dutch mercenary sergeant in 1951 in the Korean War
Historical Background:
1945 (June) -- an indigenous, left-wing government had formed in Korea.
1945 (August 6) -- the Soviet Union declared war on the Japanese Empire.
1945 (August 8) -- the Soviet Union invaded Korea from the north. President Harry S Truman ordered U.S. troops into south Korea.
1945 (August 10) -- with the Japanese soon to surrender, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to divide Korea along the 38th parallel.
1945 (December) -- the US and the Soviet Union agreed to administer the country temporarily.
U.S.-run elections supervised by the U.N. ended with the victory of the right-wing politician and anti-Communist Syngman Rhee. (The left-wing had boycotted the elections.)
The Soviet Union set up a Communist government led by Kim Il-Sung.
1949 -- both Soviet and American forces withdrew.
South Korean President Syngman Rhee and North Korean General Secretary Kim Il-sung both were willing to use force to reunite the peninsula under their own system.
1949-1950 -- both sides launched a number of limited military attacks across the 38th parallel. This was leading to a full blown civil war.
1950 (March-April) -- Stalin approved a North Korean attack on South Korea.
1950 (June 25) – 135,000 North Korean troops struck across the 38th parallel. They caught the South Koreans by total surprise. Within just a few days, the South Korean forces (of around 38,000) were in full retreat.
1950 (June 28) – capture of Seoul by the North Koreans.
President Harry S. Truman ordered General MacArthur to transfer munitions to the South Korean Army and to use air cover to protect the evacuation of US citizens. The U.S. Eighth Army was sent to help South Korea in its struggle.
Nevertheless, the South Koreans and Americans were pushed into a small area in the southeastern corner of the Korean peninsula around the city of Pusan. Along the Nakdong River, the allied forces set up what became known as the Pusan Perimeter.
1950 (September 15-28) -- in a bold move, MacArthur landed troops at Inchon just north of the 38th parallel. The UN forces were able to quickly retake Seoul. The North Koreans had to fall back north of the 38th parallel.
The decision was then made to take all of Korea from the communists.
1950 (October 8) – as the Americans drew closer to the border with China, Chairman Mao ordered the Chinese People's Volunteer Army to move to the Yalu River, the border with North Korea.
1950 (October 15) -- on Wake Island, Truman conveyed to MacArthur his desire to limit the scope of the Korean War and to avoid Chinese entry into the war.
1950 (October 19) -- Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, fell to UN forces.
1950 (October 25) -- the Chinese attack into North Korea with 270,000 troops under General Peng Dehuai. The Russians agreed to provide air support 60 miles behind the front. They held air superiority against the F-80 Shooting Stars until the arrival of the newer F-86 Sabres. The Chinese took the UN Forces by surprise and pushed them back. They then retired to the mountainous areas. The UN interpreted this as a sign that the Chinese were relatively weak.
1950 (late November) – the Chinese attack again. The forced the U.S. Eighth Army to make the longest retreat of an American unit in history.
1950 (November 26-December 13) – in one of the largest defeats in American history, at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir the US 7th Infantry Division was surrounded and had to fight their way out. In the process, they lost 2000 of their 3000 men killed or captured.
1950 (late December) – UN forces in northeast Korea had to make a Dunkirk-style evacuation from the port city of Hungnam.
1951 (January 4) – Chinese and North Korean forces recaptured Seoul.
The American General Walker of the 8th army was killed in an accident and replaced by Lieutenant General Matthew Ridgway.
1951 (March) – after having restored the moral of the 8th army, in Operation Ripper the Americans expelled the enemy from Seoul.
1951 (April 11) – Truman removed MacArthur from his command. Ridgway took his place. The Americans then pushed the enemy several miles north of the 38th parallel.
1951 (July) -- stalemate.
1951 (July 10) – peace negotiations begin in Kaesong (while fighting continued).
1952 (November 29) – U.S. President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower traveled to Korea to find out what could be done to end the conflict.
1953 (July 27) – a cease-fire established. A demilitarized zone (DMZ) was established around the 38th parallel.
A peace treaty has yet to be signed.
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