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Compared with

manders are usually lieutenant colonels in

Inchon amphibious landing that outflanked

their mid-30s and regimental commanders

the NKPA. By all measures, amphibious land-

its performance

colonels in their early 40s, in Korea many

ings are considered one of the most complex

in most other

were well into their 40s and even 50s. (This

military operations and can only be conduct-

American wars,

was not, incidentally, the problem with Task

ed by ready, well-trained troops.

Force Smith because Smith was only 34.)

NKPA Routed. Then, after Inchon, it took

the U.S. military

Unfortunately, this also seems to be an

another month to push the NKPA back to

did remarkably

American tradition. In the early years of

the 38th parallel. By early November some

well even though

World War II, Gen. George Marshall had to

American forces had reached the Yalu River.

cull the Army officer corps--often firing old

Thus, in a little over four months, the war

it was a shadow

friends who were simply too old. The Navy

was--or should have been--over. It was the

force in 1950.

had to relieve some older, less aggressive ship

intervention of the Chinese that changed the

commanders early in that War.

situation.

Inadequate Air Cover. Finally, Blair cites the

Chinese Intervention Checked. Even with the

lack of air support in the early days of the

massive Chinese intervention, the U.S.-led

Korean conflict. He criticizes the Air Force

forces generally responded well. Unlike the

for its penchant for first clearing the skies

earlier routs during the initial NKPA attacks,

and bombing enemy air fields instead of con-

these withdrawals were usually orderly. In

ducting close air support of ground forces

short, the U.S. military had learned well.

and attacking the NKPA tanks.25 This prob-

There were still some mistakes. For example,

even when it was obvious that the Chinese

lem was later rectified. Interestingly, once

had intervened, Maj. Gen. Edward M.

again, it was the Marines who showed the

Almond, commander of the X Corps, sent yet

way. When the first Marine unit arrived, it

another task force--Task Force MacLean--

had tanks and close air support.

forward to attack. The task force was deci-

A Broader Look

mated when withdrawing, but it was not

routed. A British force was similarly decimat-

In addition to failing to look at all the fac-

ed, but much of the blame lies with the "stiff

tors that went into the demise of Task Force

upper lip" attitude of the commander--who

Smith, critics of the task force make an even

failed to notify his superiors of his true

worse mistake. They fail to take a step back

plight.

and take a broader look. Such an examina-

Korea Was Always a Sideshow. The Korean

tion provides evidence that the experience of

War was always considered peripheral--with

Task Force Smith supports rather than

the real communist offensive expected to

undermines the case for tiered readiness.

come in Europe. There were also fears that

The Situation Stabilized in Only a Month. Task

the Soviet Union might attack Japan. If that

Force Smith was routed on July 5th, but only

happened, there were contingency plans to

a month later--on August 4th--the Pusan

abandon Korea and return the Eighth Army

perimeter was established. Although a few

to defend Japan. Even during the war, the

more weeks of intense fighting ensued, by

best equipment often went to Europe or

about the middle of August the outcome was

remained in the United States. For example,

really no longer in doubt. The NKPA was

although the F-86 Sabre jets were the only

spent. Stabilizing the military situation in

planes that could take on the MiGs, major

only a month after a sneak attack by a ready,

debates erupted about sending them to

well-equipped enemy is remarkable. But that

Korea.

was only the beginning.

Stalemate a Political Decision. Finally, most

Inchon. What critics forget to mention is

people remember the Korean War as a three-

that on September 15th--only two and a half

year "stalemate," but that was a political, not

months after the rout of Task Force Smith--

a military, decision and had nothing to do

U.S. forces were able to conduct the famous

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