Chun In-bum

In the annals of American military history, certain battles and campaigns stand out in our collective memory — Gettysburg, D-Day, Iwo Jima. Yet, one of the most crucial moments in 20th-century warfare remains largely overlooked: the defense of the Pusan Perimeter in August 1950. This oversight is more than just a disservice to the brave men who fought there, but a failure to recognize a pivotal moment that shaped the course of the Cold War and the world we live in today.

The sweltering heat of the Korean summer in 1950 saw American and U.N. forces pushed to the brink of defeat. Backed into a corner in the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula, these soldiers faced what seemed like insurmountable odds. North Korean forces, flush with early victories, appeared unstoppable. The fall of the Pusan Perimeter would have meant not just the loss of South Korea, but a devastating blow to American credibility in the early years of the Cold War.

What happened next should be the stuff of legend.

Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, despite the oppressive heat........

© The Korea Times