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N0KFQ > TODAY 11.04.14 15:56l 69 Lines 3480 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 17459_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Apr 11
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Sent: 140411/1454Z 17459@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.59
Apr 11, 1951:
Truman relieves MacArthur of duties in Korea
In perhaps the most famous civilian-military confrontation in the
history of the United States, President Harry S. Truman relieves
General Douglas MacArthur of command of the U.S. forces in Korea.
The firing of MacArthur set off a brief uproar among the American
public, but Truman remained committed to keeping the conflict in
Korea a "limited war."
Problems with the flamboyant and egotistical General MacArthur
had been brewing for months. In the early days of the war in
Korea (which began in June 1950), the general had devised some
brilliant strategies and military maneuvers that helped save
South Korea from falling to the invading forces of communist
North Korea. As U.S. and United Nations forces turned the tide of
battle in Korea, MacArthur argued for a policy of pushing into
North Korea to completely defeat the communist forces. Truman
went along with this plan, but worried that the communist
government of the People's Republic of China might take the
invasion as a hostile act and intervene in the conflict. In
October 1950, MacArthur met with Truman and assured him that the
chances of a Chinese intervention were slim. Then, in November
and December 1950, hundreds of thousands of Chinese troops
crossed into North Korea and flung themselves against the
American lines, driving the U.S. troops back into South Korea.
MacArthur then asked for permission to bomb communist China and
use Nationalist Chinese forces from Taiwan against the People's
Republic of China. Truman flatly refused these requests and a
very public argument began to develop between the two men.
In April 1951, President Truman fired MacArthur and replaced him
with Gen. Matthew Ridgeway. On April 11, Truman addressed the
nation and explained his actions. He began by defending his
overall policy in Korea, declaring, "It is right for us to be in
Korea." He excoriated the "communists in the Kremlin [who] are
engaged in a monstrous conspiracy to stamp out freedom all over
the world." Nevertheless, he explained, it "would be
wrong_tragically wrong_for us to take the initiative in extending
the war... Our aim is to avoid the spread of the conflict." The
president continued, "I believe that we must try to limit the war
to Korea for these vital reasons: To make sure that the precious
lives of our fighting men are not wasted; to see that the
security of our country and the free world is not needlessly
jeopardized; and to prevent a third world war." General MacArthur
had been fired "so that there would be no doubt or confusion as
to the real purpose and aim of our policy."
MacArthur returned to the United States to a hero's welcome.
Parades were held in his honor, and he was asked to speak before
Congress (where he gave his famous "Old soldiers never die, they
just fade away" speech). Public opinion was strongly against
Truman's actions, but the president stuck to his decision without
regret or apology. Eventually, MacArthur did "just fade away,"
and the American people began to understand that his policies and
recommendations might have led to a massively expanded war in
Asia. Though the concept of a "limited war," as opposed to the
traditional American policy of unconditional victory, was new and
initially unsettling to many Americans, the idea came to define
the U.S. Cold War military strategy.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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