Remembering the Forgotten War: Korea, 1950-1953
In January 1951, the combined Chinese and North Korean forces
pushed United Nations forces back below the 38th parallel, and
for the next five months the war was one of offensive and counter-offensive,
as the Chinese poured hundreds of thousands more men and tons
of supplies and weapons into its attempt to destroy the Allied
army. Finally, Mao Tse Tung admitted that his army would be unable
to administer a final crushing blow.
The war became one of dogged endurance. Both sides entrenched,
and for the next two years as peace negotiations began, broke
off, and began again the war continued. The battle line wavered
above and below the 38th parallel, but changed little between
May 1951 and July 1953.
Bearding the Lion
Herbert C. Hahn #7
Pencil, 1950s
88-191-G
A cruiser steams daringly close to enemy-held land as it fires
at targets far behind the lines.
A Hit
Herbert C Hahn #84
Colored pencil, 1950s
88-191-CG
A battleship scores a hit at Wonsan, during the siege of this
Korean city.
The Big Blow
Herbert C. Hahn #19
Colored pencil, 1950s
88-191-S
A destroyer rides out a typhoon in the Sea of Japan.
Contrast
Herbert C. Hahn #2
Colored pencil, 1950s
88-191-B
This small, ancient South Korean craft is dwarfed by the huge
bulk of the cruiser Los Angeles.
The White Buddha
Hugh Cabot #97
Pencil, 1953
88-187-CT
Away from the busy roads of Seoul, the roads once leading to the
front and the roads south, is a quiet valley. Untouched by this
war or wars in the past, its only distinction is that it is the
home of the White Buddha of Seoul.
Rest for the R.O.K. Soldiers
Hugh Cabot #103
Pencil, 1951
88-187-CZ
Republic of Korea soldiers relax after fighting on the east coast
above the 38th parallel while local civilians go about their daily
task of washing clothes in a small stream near the R.O.K. encampment.
In the background can be seen a bridge which was destroyed by
planes of Task Force 77.
The Corpsman
Hugh Cabot #38
Watercolor, 1952
88-187-AL
Two U.S. Marine Corps tanks pinned down by artillery have suffered
casualties and are coming under serious enemy fire. In the rugged
mountainous regions of Northeast Korea, naval hospital corpsmen
go in to evacuate the injured, wounded and dead. Under fire, the
corpsmen carry a .45, medical equipment, a small corpsman bag
and litter, if he can manage. He is helped by frontline cooks,
bakers and ratings generally considered non-combatant in his effort
to administer life saving forward aid to the combat man. In the
Marine sectors, one of his most valuable friends throughout the
Korean war has been the Korean Service Corps. (Item Company, Third
Battalion, Seventh Marines First Marine Division)
United States Destroyer at Wonsan
Hugh Cabot #23
Pencil, 1952
88-187-W
A tin can patrols inside Wonsan harbor on the alert, as their position is to draw enemy fire. The enemy's carefully concealed shore batteries and bunkered artillery require expert observation from destroyer gunners' mates and a high element of risk involved in detecting gun positions and eliminating them. (on board U.S.S. Gregory)
Rendezvous
Herbert C. Hahn #83
Colored pencil, 1950s
88-191-CF
The cruiser U.S.S. Los Angeles receives vital guard mail from a destroyer.
Harbor at Wonsan
Hugh Cabot #100
Watercolor, 1951
88-187-CW
During bombardment of this city, the U.S.S. St. Paul fires
from inside the mined harbor at the closest point to the target.
(May 1951)
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