chronology of the korean war 1950 June 25—North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) invades South Korea. June 28—Seoul falls to NKPA. June 30—President Truman orders U.S. ground forces into Korea. July 4–5—Task Force Smith of 24th Division in delaying action north of Osan. July 9—President Truman names General MacArthur supreme commander in Korea. July 10—Arrival of 24th Division in Korea. Fifth Air Force destroys large number of NKPA tanks and troops at Pyongtaek. July 18—1st Calvary Division lands at Pohang-dong. July 19—Battle for Taejon. 24th Division retreats south. July 24—Arrival in Korea of 29th RCT from Okinawa. July 31—Arrival in Korea of 5th RCT from Hawaii and 2d Division from stateside. August 21—1st Provisional Marine Brigade, reinforced, arrives in Pusan. August 4—Defense of Pusan Perimeter in southeastern Korea begins. September 15—Inchon landing by 1st Marine Division and 7th Infantry Division. September 16–18—UN forces break out of the Pusan Perimeter. NKPA forces retreat north. September 19–29—Attack and capture of Seoul by UN troops. October 1—UN troops cross 38th parallel. October 19—Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, is captured. October 25—Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) intervene in Korean War. October 26—X Corps troops land at Wonsan on east coast. November 1—CCF attack in force near Unsan. 1st Cavalry Division retreats. November 3—Arrival in Korea of 3d Division. November 21—U.S. and ROK units advance to the Yalu River. xix xx chronology of the korean war November 26—U.S. 2d and 25th Divisions battle Chinese at Chongchon River. 5th RCT fights delaying action. December 8—1st Marine Division and one regiment of 7th Division trapped at Changjin Reservoir fight way toward port of Hungnam. December 12–24—Evacuation of Hungnam. December 30—U.S. Air Force’s first encounter with Red Chinese MIGS. 1951 January 4—Reds retake Seoul. January 24—UN forces resume offensive. March 15—Seoul retaken by UN forces. April 22—CCF begins their spring offensive. May 23—UN forces drive north again and dig in on the 38th parallel. June 11—Eighth Army repulses two Red drives and penetrates “Iron Triangle.” July 10—Truce talks begin at Kaesong. August 18—U.S. 2d Division and 5th ROK Division battle for “Bloody Ridge.” August 23—Reds break off truce talks. September 13—U.S. 2d Division and French battalion take “Heartbreak Ridge.” October 25—Peace talks resume at Panmunjom. November 1—Trench warfare stalemate along 38th parallel. December 18—Exchange of POW lists between UN and CCF. December 31—Arrival of 45th Division in Korea. 1st Cavalry Division returns to Japan. 1952 January 1—40th Division arrives in Korea. 24th Division returns to Japan. February 18—Riots begin in Koje-do Prison. March 1—Trench warfare continues along 38th parallel. May 7—Koje-do prisoners seize General Dodd. May 12—General Dodd released in return for concessions. June 6–16—Operation Counter. Last major offensive by a division. Two regi- ments of 45th Division capture eleven hills in Yokkok-chon Valley. October 8—General Clark calls off armistice talks because of deadlock of POW exchange. December 5—President-elect Eisenhower winds up three-day Korean tour. chronology of the korean war xxi 1953 January 1—Continuation of static war with numerous hill battles. January 12—Sinanju hit by 440 planes. April 11—General Clark asks Chinese Reds to exchange sick and wounded POWs before truce talks resume. April 20–26—Operation Little Switch. Exchange of sick and wounded POWs. May 31—South Korea vows it will fight alone if truce term leaves nation divided. June 18—President Rhee releases 27,000 anti-Red prisoners. June 25—CCF launches massive attacks against ROK troops in east-central front. June 30—Sabre jets set air combat record by shooting down fifteen MIGs with- out loss of a Sabre. July 6–11—Battles for Pork Chop and Arrowhead. July 10—Truce delegates resume secret meetings. July 13—80,000 Reds drive back ROK troops in central Korea. July 18—ROK forces gain back ground lost earlier. July 27—In Panmunjom cease fire signed at 10:00 A.M. Fighting ends 24 hours later at 10:00 P.M. August 15–September 6—Operation Big Switch. Final exchange of prisoners. .