LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the begin-
ning of the Korean War

WHEREAS, Thousands of military personnel from the great State of New
York have served their country faithfully and courageously, with dedi-
cation and sacrifice, and are due the praise and just recognition of
this Legislative Body for their role in defense of our Nation's liberty
and freedom; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 65th Anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea with
approximately 135,000 troops, thereby initiating the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, In response to a June 27, 1950, United Nations resolution
calling for assistance for the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Presi-
dent Harry S. Truman ordered American air and naval forces activated
and, on June 29, 1950, committed United States ground forces to the
Korean battle zone; and
WHEREAS, On July 5, 1950, United States and Korean ground forces met
for the first time at the Battle of Osan; three days later, General
Douglas MacArthur was designated as Commander of the United Nations
Command; and
WHEREAS, The Battle of Inchon was an amphibious invasion and battle
which resulted in a decisive victory and strategic reversal in favor of
the United Nations; the operation involved approximately 75,000 troops
and 261 naval vessels, and led to the recapture of the South Korean
capital, Seoul, two weeks later; and
WHEREAS, A critical skirmish in the Korean War, the Battle of Chosin
Reservoir occurred shortly after the People's Republic of China entered
the conflict on October 25, 1950, the People's Volunteer Army 9th Army
infiltrated the northeastern part of North Korea and surprised the
United States X Corps at the Reservoir; and
WHEREAS, After a brutal 17 day battle in freezing weather, United
Nations troops were encircled by approximately 67,000 Chinese troops;
although Chinese troops managed to surround and outnumber the United
Nations forces, they were able to break out of the encirclement while
inflicting crippling losses on the Chinese, allowing them to successful-
ly withdraw in good order; the evacuation of the X Corps from the port
of Hungnam marked the complete withdrawal of UN troops from North Korea;
and
WHEREAS, Between November 10, 1950 and December 24, 1950, the United
States Navy evacuated 105,000 Americans, South Korean and allied troops,
91,000 civilian refugees and 350,000 tons of equipment and supplies from
Hungnam, North Korea to Pusan, South Korea; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 5,720,000 members of the Armed Forces served
during the Korean War, of which 482,000 were from New York State, to
defeat the spread of communism in Korea and throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the 37-month-period of war, more than 54,000 Amer-
icans died; 33,651 were killed in action; there were 103,000 Americans
wounded; 8,177 missing in action; and 7,000 prisoners of war; and
WHEREAS, The death toll included 2,249 New Yorkers, with another 6,530
wounded; and
WHEREAS, The Korean War was the first direct conflict of the Cold War
between the United States and communist forces; and
WHEREAS, The Korean War was the first deployment of United States
troops to a combat zone to contain communist aggression; stemming the
spread of communism was a foreign policy goal during the Cold War; and

WHEREAS, The Korean War is referred to as the "forgotten war" because
it came on the heels of World War II and was overshadowed by the Vietnam
War; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Korean War Veterans Memorial was dedicated
on June 25, 1990, the 40th Anniversary of the start of the war; four New
Yorkers were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, our Nation's
highest military medal; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, acting on behalf of
the citizens of this Empire State to act now, with great respect and
reverent esteem, in honoring the members of the United States Armed
Services who have served their State and Nation so valiantly and honor-
ably in the defense of freedom and democracy during the Korean conflict;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 65th Anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Korean War Veterans Association.