30 Chilling And Declassified Photos Of The "Forgotten War"
By | October 5, 2022
The Korean War began in earnest when North Korea invaded the southern part of the country in 1950, and the battle raged for three solid years. The amount of devastation that it caused is something that won't soon be forgotten by the people who live there, despite the fact that over 60 years have passed. Here are the chilling, declassified military photos of the Korean War that you have never seen.
Families were
forced to flee their country in order to keep their loved ones alive. In this picture, we can see a father carrying his son across the sea and to safer ground.
A moment of levity
During their downtime, young American soldiers gathered together to enjoy the popular comedy series The Jack Benny Show. Starring the man himself, the show which was very successful in the 1950s, displayed the adventures of the comedian and his friends.
Acts of rebellion
South Korean soldiers were also present to prevent any form of rebellion against the Rhee government. In the photo above, they are seen arresting communist detainees who might inspire others to rebel.
TRIAL
In this photo, communist rebels are surrounded by armed South Korea soldiers as they are being led through the community and to the court, where they would have faced trial and sentencing.
FIRE
Two armed soldiers can be seen standing guard in a community in Korea. Meanwhile, in the background, thick black smoke arises as an entire village is consumed and destroyed by fire.
JUNE 9th, 1951
During the war,
many families became separated. In this picture, a young weary looking- Korean girl carries her baby brother on her back as she treads through Korea, right past an M-26 tank.
RECRUITS
Young men from South Korea, waiting to be
transferred to a center for training, before joining the army in the war against North Korea. They were sent off in a small ceremony on July 17th, 1950.
CAPTURED
During a fight for Yongsan on September 2, 1950, two North Koreans were captured by US infrantrymen. They sat on the hood of the jeep as they were being transported to the Naktong River of South Korea.
SEPTEMBER 1950
This picture shows the
damage and destruction which took place in Korea. After a battle in Seoul, distressed Koreans can be seen gathered around a companion and surrounded by the wreckage of the war.
SETTING THE TRAP
On April 13th 1951,
British Royal Marines are seen at a rail track in Songjin, South Korea. They were placing demolition charges on a rail track that enemy troopers would utilize later on in the day.
VICTORIOUS
During a battle with Chinese soldiers, a Turkish UN solider ambushed the enemy troopers and overpowered them. The triumphant soldier is shown above, sitting on the mule he captured from the battle.
MAY 10TH, 1951
Three Korean communists
navigated the seas to escape to safer land. However, before they could arrive at their destination, they were captured by the USS Manchester in a fishing boat just off the coast of Korea.
DEATH
A solider from the 21st Infantry Regiment,
was found dead on July 10th, 1950. Four others from that same Regiment were also killed and it is believed that the murders took place the previous night.
PRISONERS OF WAR
Pictured above,
captives of the war are seen walking down a street in a village in Korea. They were followed closely by a U.S. marine tank and surrounded by soldiers.
WOUNDED
Many marines from the front line of the First Marine Division in 1950 suffered from injures they incurred during battle. They were then transported via helicopter to a medical facility for treatment.
MORE DEATH
As seen above,
a North Korean tankman lost his life during the war. His body is seen lying next to a damaged tank. While another sits nearby. This took place on August 13th, 1950.
CAMOUFLAGE
American soldiers shield themselves in this weapon carrier in order to protect themselves from the enemy troopers. The carrier has been carefully covered with straw to disguise it as an ordinary straw hut.
DESTRUCTION
In August 1950, Akok, a village in the northern region of South Korea, is left in smoke and ruins- evidence of
the damage of the war that has taken place.
SEPTEMBER 15TH, 1950
Soldiers can be seen
replenishing their food and other essential supplies needed until the war came to an end. Soldiers were also brought in to replace injured marines.
OFFICIAL VISIT
Pictured above in a leather jacket,
General Douglas MacArthur takes a tour of the Inchon Front in Western Korea which had just been opened at the time. This photo was taken on September 19th, 1950.
SEPTEMBER 30TH, 1950
Towns and cities were left in ruins during that time. A panoramic view of the city of Taejon, shows the destruction of an entire city – the people and their history completely destroyed.
INVADERS
A grenade is thrown into a Seoul tunnel, after it was reported that North Koreans had taken cover inside. Soldiers armed with machine guns and rifled secure the entrance to the tunnel.
PARATROOPERS
When needed, soldiers would be sent to Korea to assist their comrades. Near the South Korean towns of Sunchon and Sukchon, paratroopers can be seen jumping from a United Nations aircraft, to join the other soldiers on land.
OCTOBER 7TH, 1950
Enemy troopers created various traps and delays to stall their counterparts. Near Seoul, South Korea, an enemy tank can be seen crashing through a roadblock put in place by enemy troopers.
OCTOBE 17TH,1950
During the drive to Pyongyang, North Korea, British and America soldiers stop to search through houses in Hwangju. The soldiers were
constantly on the lookout for their counterparts and rebels seeking refuge.
DECEMBER 4TH, 1950
The bridge in the capital city of Korea, Pyongyang, had been badly damaged by the war. Nonetheless, refugees from all parts of Korea were seen scrambling over the bridge to escape south of the Taedong River.
THE CAPTURED
These
Chinese communist groups above altered their wardrobe to create a disguise. Here, they are pictured wearing rags, American style footwear and tennis shoes. In spite of this, they were still captured by U.S. marines.
REFUGE
Here we see many young male communists clustered together
to conceal their identity among the refugees, as they were all trying to escape through the countryside. If their secret is revealed, they would have been killed.
CRUELTY
Hands bound and
body buried in snow is the image that we see in the picture above. This was in Yangji on January 27th, 1951- the body of a Korean native, shot by Communists and left to perish.
THE END
Four U.S. marines smile as they read an official handout which stated that an armistice to end the Korean War was going to be signed at Panmunjom. This was due to take place on July 26th, 1953.
