Beyond Task Force Smith: Lessons of Unpreparedness for War in Korea by Dr. Michael Lynch 

HUZZA!

please list a couple. i have only seen War College papers and a few good chapters in general Korean War books.

East of Chosin by Roy Appleman, Give me tomorrow by Patrick K O’Donnell, The last stand of Fox company by Bob Drewry,

@@patrickdoggett959 Oh yes. I thought you had some resources specifically about TF Smith.

East of chosin is only task force smith. That’s my favorite

I think you are confusing TF Faith and TF Smith.

1.Every command had better have a RDF type unit. TF Smith was but 2 companies, a few heavy weapons and a battery of 105's that had little experience working together. A trained and complete team could have been more effective and may have extricated itself without the significant losses experienced. 2.Pay attention to your intelligence. 8th Army G2 knew of the NKPA's beefing up, but the USA assets were not similiarly crafted/enabled to fight the threat. Ie, the NKPA had 150 to 200 T-34's and the 8th Army units had no suitable AT weapons or AFV's that could fight them successfully. 3.Know what you are expected to do. MacArthur and 8th Army were told, as was the rest of the world that Korea was not in his realm and that the US was not interested in Korea...even while a small KMAG was still in country. 4. Related to 1...The mission of an infantry unit is always to defend and take ground. Police and ceremonial duties are always secondary. 5.Never overestimate yourself or underestimate the enemy.

Don't send men into battle with outdated equipment they can't defend themselves with and especially if you don't have enough men to fight the battle. My Grandfather lost his life because we cut back on our military budget and a quick decision was made to send the 21st Infantry Division into battle. I read elsewhere they had only 120 rounds of ammunition and 2 days of food. Today we would not do this.

@@marshaackerman3113 the smallarms were workable we had tanks that would defeat the t34 tanks we just didnt have them in country .the problem was that the u.s. was depending on the atomic bomb to scare the enemy we had what i call an atomic army we didnt need to train an army when we could just drop a nuke on them we learned it in 1950 it seems russia is just now learning it macarthur wanted to use nukes our nuclear advancement cost us dear that is why we train our military like we do now to act like there are no nukes. had we did that back then maybe your grandfather would have survived by the way my dad served in ww2,korea and vietnam as he said our military was a shadow of what it was at the end of ww2 1945.

US is a democratic republic. We can't fight a war without public support, so when we are at war having American Citizens leave their metaphorical plows to pick up the musket is a good thing. Make sure you plug us in, give us a job that matching our talents, and when we're done a timely discharge.

It seems like, there are global issues - Americans stuck in other areas of the world ... and their family, in and from those areas. Also, lack of 'boots' on the ground, so, 'eyes' and how it all plays out in deals ... ? Is the distinction clear - between Soviet and Russia, not being the same? That Russia is not in the Soviet Union and that Russians aren't necessarily Soviets? Is a MiG after 21, no longer considered "Soviet" - that designation has it stopped being applied and from which MiG model onwards? Soviet MiG 17/19/21 ... who still flies those? How is communism in Vietnam going? What does Iran fly? ... India, Czechoslovakia(Czech Republic and Slovakia), China, ... e.t.c ... they don't still produce them? Ukraine Airforce flies soviet migs, as do bordering, neighbouring countries? ... other than signal, how would they be easily distinguished, if on the surface, they all appear to be soviet in origin? ... it doesn't seem like it would be that difficult, for there to be friendly fire and yet fingers point, as if otherwise? ... this could be totally not the case, but, this sounds like truly scary stuff .... And, Not forgetting the upfront potential human loss and potential start of WWIII: additionally, loss of human life, long term and extended in area, WWIII or not; If there is a high chance of losing jets, then, there is a high chance of that technology being scavenged/reverse engineered/sent elsewhere/on sold and or seized?

Short version: ... where is the current fighting? ... what is it over ... exactly ...? ... it doesn't look like it might cease any time soon. ... Would it be impossible, in that area, to convert the type ... of war ... from war of might to war of words? i.e. Ukraine retain sovereignty, possibly join the EU, a section of Ukraine (with Ukraine's permission) become the de jure capital of the EU, a buffer area that is Ukraine and Russia ... NATO headquarters remain where they are ... ? and, ... which agreement already assures Ukraines borders? ... if a section of Ukraine (with Ukraine's permission) becomes the de jure capital of the EU ... the US would need an embassy there ... as would the UK and e.t.c. ... also, ... de jure capital of EU in Ukraine ... seems like there would be more cameras there then .... ... distance of Ukraine ... possible EU de jure capital, international embassies ... Iranian oil ... ?

... who can assist with knowledge and wisdom, to turn it into a historic moment? ... peaceful? ... not unlike, magna carta, only, modern, European ...? For example, perhaps, Ukraine doesn't sell the land, but, is given EU membership and are exempt from contributing to the building cost needed to establish an EU capital? - imagine, the focus and attention to detail needed to create a city? ... you would need ... ambassadors from international countries, although they will need more permanent places to reside, also, how they might like their embassies built and where: the prime minister or president or whatever the title the EU chooses to establish the EU constitution, might need a permanent place to reside: an EU military department would need a building - separate and different to NATO, and NATO would remain in Belgium where it could become the Naval training ground for any person in the EU wanting to join the EU navy ... there would most likely be permanent news broadcasting/journalist/media: there would need to be an airport there: a police station: ... e.t.c. ... it would be a big undertaking, and require lots of people. ... Assuming the EU actually considered the idea, a good idea for the EU, people would most likely vote for it, and if likewise, Ukraine considered the idea, a good idea for Ukraine and the EU, people would most likely vote for it, ... curious to see what the priorities ... and how quickly it would take to establish something? ... An EU Parliament house? When would the first sitting be possible? ... e.t.c. ... Also ... seems like many don't like NATO and would be ok if it didn't exist anymore ... how about if, it became, Navy Airspace Technology or Training Organisation ... something like that?

Stay well. Peace. Eleonora Formato née Szczepanowski South Australia