July 22-September 14, 1950 The Korean War: Holding the Line The Joint Chiefs of Staff. Photo: U.S. Army. Source: D.M. Giangreco, War in Korea: 1950-1953 (Presidio Press).

For a comprehensive overview of the Korean War go to: The Korean War Week by Week

Chronology: Accounts, documents and photographs of developments affecting the day's events.

Korean War: June-July 1950 Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Korean War: August 1950 Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Korean War: September 1950 Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 See also, Truman's Presidential Appointment Calendar

July 22-July 28, 1950: The situation in Korea remains precarious with the third of General Douglas MacArthur's four occupation Divisions committed from Japan. A sweeping North Korean attack from the west and continuing frontal assaults press the American and South Korean troops operating under the United Nations flag into a narrow defensive position around the port of Pusan and the temporary South Korean capital, Taegu. National security questions, including the island of Formosa, are studied by President Harry S. Truman's administration. July 29-August 2, 1950: Following a visit from United Nations commander MacArthur, General Walton Walker makes speeches, the so-called "Stand or Die Order," encouraging American troops to hold their defensive positions, even as the North Korean appearance on the western flank threatens Pusan, logistical lifeline to Japan. MacArthur next visits Formosa for an inspection trip. Controversy ensues. August 3-August 5, 1950: South Korean and U.S. troops withdraw into the Pusan perimeter. North Korea immediately attacks along the entire line in the beginning of the Battle of the Naktong Bulge. Reaction to MacArthur's visit to Formosa intensifies, with the President's special assistant, W. Averell Harriman, and other representatives heading for the Far East and discussions with MacArthur. August 6-August 11, 1950: Accompanying Army Chief of Staff Matthew Ridgway, Air Force Chief of Staff Lauris Norstad and Presidential representative General Frank Lowe, Averell Harriman meets with MacArthur. The President's Formosa policy and other sensitive topics are discussed. Although the Pusan perimeter remains under attack, MacArthur makes a compelling argument for an ambitious operation to regain the initiative. August 12-August 18, 1950: The Eighth Army defends Taegu. The U.S. 7th Division in Japan begins augmentation with South Korean draftees as the KATUSA program is established. Foreign policy discord mounts in Washington. August 19-August 23, 1950: Admiral Forrest Sherman and General "Lightning Joe" Collins of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visit Tokyo to discuss plans for the Inchon landing with General Douglas MacArthur. August 24-August 28, 1950: Foreign policy questions predominate discussions in Washington. Public statements by United Nations Commander Douglas MacArthur and Navy Secretary Francis Matthews prompt controvery. August 29-September 4, 1950: The President addresses the Nation. September 5-September 8, 1950: Final approval for the Inchon amphibious landing is given by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The National Security Council approves military operations north of the 38th parallel. President Truman wrestles with a Marine Corps controversy and the Secretary of Defense. North and South Korean forces battle for Yongchon. September 9-September 14, 1950: Defense Secretary Louis Johnson resigns. General George C. Marshall is the new Secretary of Defense. MacArthur's invasion force is assembled off the shore from Inchon, port city of the South Korean capital, Seoul.

Accounts: Read the participants' version of events Harry S. Truman, President of the United States July 26, 1950 July 27, 1950 August 3, 1950 1, 2 August 6, 1950 August 10, 1950 August 11, 1950 August 17, 1950 August 26, 1950 1, 2 August 31, 1950 September 5, 1950 September 7, 1950 September 11, 1950 September 12, 1950                  Louis Johnson, Secretary of Defense August 16, 1950 August 26, 1950 Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff August 19, 1950 1, 2 August 26, 1950 August 29, 1950                  Dean Acheson, Secretary of State August 3, 1950 August 15, 1950 August 25, 1950 August 26, 1950 1, 2 August 27, 1950 September 7, 1950                  W. Averell Harriman, Special Assistant to the President August 3, 1950 August 6, 1950 1, 2 August 8, 1950 August 9, 1950 1, 2, 3, 4 August 14, 1950 August 26, 1950 Vice Admiral Forrest Sherman, Chief of Naval Operations August 1, 1950                  Lieutenant General J. Lawton Collins, Army Chief of Staff August 6, 1950 August 23, 1950 August 26, 1950 September 8, 1950 James Webb, Under Secretary of State August 16, 1950 August 17, 1950                  General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commander in Chief, United Nations Command July 31, 1950 September 8, 1950 Charles Ross, Press Secretary to the President September 5, 1950 September 11, 1950                  Charles Murphy, Special Counsel to the President August 5, 1950 September 5, 1950 Sydney Souers, Special Consultant to the President July 27, 1950 July 31, 1950 August 24, 1950                  Lieutenant General Matthew Ridgway, U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff August 8, 1950 Matthew Connelly, Appointments Secretary to the President August 16, 1950                  Lieutenant General Walton Walker, Commander U.S. 8th Army July 29, 1950 John Hickerson, Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs August 17, 1950                  Major General Frank Lowe, Military Aide to the President August 7, 1950 August 8, 1950 September 14, 1950 John Foster Dulles, Special Consultant to the Secretary of State August 1, 1950                  Walter Judd, Congressional Representative August 3, 1950 Max Bishop, Department of State Staff Assistant to the National Security Council August 24, 1950                  Rear Admiral Robert Dennison, Naval Aide to the President September 6, 1950 September 7, 1950 September 8, 1950 George Elsey, Administrative Assistant to the President July 31, 1950 August 26, 1950 1, 2, 3 August 28, 1950 August 29, 1950 August 30, 1950 1, 2 September 11, 1950 September 14, 1950                  Eben Ayers, Assistant Press Secretary to the President August 1, 1950 August 12, 1950 August 14, 1950 August 17, 1950 August 19, 1950 August 23, 1950 August 26, 1950 1, 2 August 28, 1950 August 29, 1950 August 30, 1950 August 31, 1950 September 1, 1950 September 6, 1950 1, 2 September 8, 1950 Richard Neustadt, Special Assistant in the White House August 24, 1950                  John Allison, Director of State Department Office of Northeast Asian Affairs July 24, 1950 U. Alexis Johnson, Deputy Director, State Department Office of Northeast Asian Affairs August 3, 1950                  John Muccio, Ambassador to Korea July 27, 1950 August 6, 1950 August 14, 1950 Lieutenant Colonel John Chiles, Secretary, Far East Command General Staff August 23, 1950                  William Sebald, Political Advisor to the Commander in Chief Far East August 3, 1950 Niles Bond, First Secretary to the Political Advisor to the Commander in Chief Far East August 3, 1950                  Robert Nixon, White House Correspondent, International News Service August 25, 1950 Barbara Evans, Personal Assistant to the Secretary of State August 3, 1950                  Frank Holeman, Correspondent, New York Daily News July 24, 1950

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