The chicoms in 1950 were very concerned about the possibility of an invasion from ChiKaSheca (sp) forces in Formosa (Taiwan). Most of their Army was stationed along the coast to repulse a feared invasion. MacArthur being the good general he was knew this and tried to use it to his advantage. Bluffing the Chicoms by saying that if China interfered in Korea, China would be inviting an invasion from Formosa. Truman went livid an accused MacArthur trying to get us into a war with China. The fool Truman could not see that MacArthur was doing the exact opposite trying to keep China out of the war.
So what does the idiot Truman do? He orders the 7th fleet to patrol the Taiwan straight ensuring that no invasion from Formosa can occur. So where to all those chicon troops stationed to repulse an invasion go? Yup they all go to Korea to kill Americans sailors, solders and Marines.
If Truman had just left MacArthur alone he would have won the damn war. Truman is the most overrated president ever. The little WW1 artillery captain thought he knew more about fighting wars than our finest general since George Washington.
Thank you for a concise and well documented explanation to those who”will not see” the ignorant arrogance of the haberdasher in the White House. I totally agree.
Exactly right, jpsb. Good post.
I wish my Korean War veteran husband were still alive to give me his thoughts on your comment. MP - regarding my son in Gulf War 1, his unit of the 82nd Airborne in Bragg was “on mission” August 1990. For two days after the invasion of Kuwait I tried to phone him but the phones were always busy so I had no communication from him until October. It was a very nervous time. I was very worried that the Iraquis would invade Saudi Arabia with a huge army against a very thin line of US and SA troops and my son.