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Chronology of the Korean War - A Catalgoue of Decorations and Campaign Medals
Issued By United Nations To United Nations Forces
For The Korean War 1950 - 1954
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CHRONOLOGY OF THE KOREAN WAR

1950
25-Jun North Korean People's Army crosses 38th Parallel to invade South Korea.
25-Jun UN Security Council calls for cease-fire in Korea and withdrawal of North Korean troops.
27-Jun President Truman orders US air and sea services to give support to South Korean  forces. UN Security Council adopts U.S. resolution taking note of North Korean refusal to head June 25 resolution and calls upon members to assist South Korea.
29-Jun North Koreans capture Seoul,capital of South Korea.Britain orders Far Eastern fleet to give aid.
30-Jun Truman orders US ground troops to Korea and naval blockade of Korean coast.    U.S. Air Force authorised to bomb North Korea.77 Sqn RAAF committed to the conflict.
01-Jul  First US combat troops arrive in Korea.Major General W.F. Dean placed incommand of U.S. forces in Korea.
03-Jul Inchon falls to North Koreans.
04-Jul US troops first action north of Osan, they are forced to retreat.
07-Jul General of the Army Douglas MacArthur appointed Supreme Commander of United Nations Command in Korea.
18-Jul US First Cavalry and 25th Infantry Divisions arrive in Korea.
21-Jul 24th Division fight out of burning Taejon. General Dean missing in action.
01-Aug Russia ends boycott of UN Security Council as Delegate Jacob Malik assumes Council presidency. Second US Infantry Division reach Korea.
02-Aug First US Marine Brigade reach Korea.
04-Aug Soviet delegate Malik calls Korean fighting an" internal civil war " and demands withdrawal of " all foreign troops from Korea ". North Koreans establish bridgehead across Naktong River.
15-Aug UN troops repel two attacks along the Naktong.
29-Aug British 27th Brigade arrive from Hong Kong.
01-Sep North Koreans launch an all out offensive against Pusan Perimeter.
15-Sep United Nations forces land at Inchon.
17-Sep Kimpo airfield recaptured by UN forces.
19-Sep X Corps starts to encircle Seoul.8th Army sweeps north and west.Filipino troops reach Korea.
25-Sep North Koreans in full retreat and UN pursuit begins.
28-Sep Seol recaptured by UN forces.
30-Sep Communist China's Foreign Minister Chou Enal warns:" The Chinese people  will not supinely tolerate seeing their neighbours being savagely invaded by the imperialists ".
01-Oct Republic of Korea (ROK) troops cross the 38th Parallel in pursuit of retreating North Koreans as General MacArthur calls upon them to surrender.
02-Oct Chou Enlai informs the Indian ambassador in Peiping that if US troops enter North Korea, Communist China will intervene in the Korean War.
07-Oct UN General Assembly authorises UN forces to pursue the enemy across the 38th Parallel.
10-Oct Wonsan on the east coast captured by ROK troops.Communist Chinese Foreign Affairs spokesman repeats warning of intervention in the Korean War.
16-Oct First Chinese Communist troops, the 'Peoples Volunteers', secretly enter Foreign Affairs spokesman repeats warning of intervention in the Korean War.
18-Oct ROK troops occupy Hamhung and Hungnam.
19-Oct 8th Army take Pyongyang, capital of North Korea.
26-Oct Chinese Communist troops attack ROK units at Yalu River and points south of Korean border.
27-Oct 8th Army halted by Chinese.
29-Oct X Corps halted by Chinese in north east. 
30-Oct 8th Army's 6th ROK Division overwhelmed by Chinese at Yalu.
01-Nov First Russian built MIG's appear along Yalu to attack US aircraft.
02-Nov Chinese Communists with North Korean allies strike at United Nations units on western and eastern fronts.
03-Nov US 25th Division driven back from Yalu area.
07-Nov All Communist forces in Korea break off action.
08-Nov Air battle over Sinuiji.
11-Nov 8th Army again attacked.
12-Nov US Army Third Division arrives in Korea.
24-Nov General MacArthur announces 'win the war' offensive.
26-Nov Communist forces, now controlled by People's Republic of China, attack on both fronts; deep penetration around Tokchon threatens to turn 8th Army's right flank, and in the east 1st Marine Division flanked and cut off at Chosin reservoir.
01-Dec  8th Army and X Corps begin withdrawing in face of Chinese offensive.
05-Dec  UN forces in full retreat, Pyongyang recaptured by the Communists.
09-Dec  X Corps forced to withdraw from Wonsan by sea.
11-Dec  X Corps evacuates Hungnam.
15-Dec  UN forces begin establishing defensive line approximating the 38th Parallel.
18-Dec  First Canadian troops, 2nd P.P.C.L.I. arrives at Pusan.
23-Dec  Lieutenant General Walton Walker, commander of 8th Army, killed in a road road accident.
27-Dec  Lieutenant General Matthew Ridgway takes over command of ground forces in Korea.
29-Dec  Communist troop build up reported above United Nations line on the 38th Parallel.

1951
01-Jan Communist forces launch an all out offensive against UN forces; Ridgway begins turner Joy, Communist group led by Lieutenant General Nam Il of North Korea.
04-Jan Seoul again captured by the Communists.
07-Jan out offensive against UN forces; Ridgway begins turner Joy, Communist group led by Lieutenant General Nam Il of North Korea.
15-Jan Enemy offensive halted south of Wonju by US 2nd Division.
17-Jan Eighth Army reenters Suwon.
21-Jan General Ridgway issues orders for counteroffensive.
01-Feb UN resolution declares China to be engaged in aggression.
07-Feb Communists forced to withdraw north of Han River.
10-Feb 8th Army retakes Inchon and Kimpo Airfields.
13-Feb Major Chinese offensive against X Corps in Central Korea.
15-Feb Communists defeated at Chipyong ni.
21-Feb 8th Army launch Operation Killer.
07-Mar Operation Ripper launched. The 8th Army crosses Han river east of Seoul.
13-Mar Communists start to withdraw across all fronts.
15-Mar Seoul recaptured by 8th Army.
21-Mar 8th Army retake Chunchon.
22-Mar Leading elements of the United Nations Command reach the 38th Parallel.
11-Apr out offensive against UN forces; Ridgway begins turner Joy, Communist group led by Lieutenant General Nam Il of North Korea.
15-Apr Lieutenant General James Van Fleet appointed as commander of US 8th Army.
23-Apr Chinese Communist forces launch another offensive.
24-Apr Start of the Action at Kap'yong.
25-Apr Start of Battle of Imjin river.
30-Apr 8th Army pushed back 1820 miles to prepared positions north of Seoul.
01-May First phase of Chinese offensive halted.
04-May 25th Canadian Brigade arrives at Pusan.
16-May Second phase of enemy offensive given impetus.
17-May 2nd Division again stops communists.
23-May 8th Army launches counteroffensive.
28-May 8th Army take Hwachon and Inje.
13-Jun UN forces capture Chorwon and Kumhwa and take control of the Iron Triangle.
23-Jun Soviet delegate Yakov Milik proposes truce in the Korean War.
25-Jun Chinese radio voices desire for ceasefire.
30-Jun General Ridgway notifies enemy he is ready to discuss possibility of arranging a
01-Jul Kim Ill Sung, commander of the North Korean forces, and Peng Te Huai,commander of the Chinese 'Volunteers', agree to begin armistice discussions.
10-Jul Truce talks begin at Kaesong; UN delegation led by U.S. Vice Admiral Charles Turner Joy, Communist group led by Lieutenant General Nam Il of North Korea.
27-Jul Negotiations at Kaesong agree on agenda.
05-Aug UN Command breaks off truce talks on grounds of armed enemy troops in the neutral area.
10-Aug Cease fire talks resumed.
23-Aug Communists suspend cease fire talks on grounds of'bombing' of their delegation at Kaesong.
25-Oct Armistice conference resumed at new site, Panmunjom.
28-Oct Agreement reached on battle line as the line of demarcation.
12-Nov Ridgway orders Van Fleet to cease offensive operations and begin active defence of UN front, thus introducing the stalemate which lasts until June 1952.
26-Nov Agreement reached on location of battle line. 'Little Armistice' begins next day.
18-Dec Prisoner of war lists exchanged by both sides.
27-Dec 'Little Armistice' ends but war remains stalemated.

1952
02-Jan United Nations makes proposal on prisoner exchange embodying the principle of 'voluntary repatriation'.
03-Jan Communists reject UN proposal in such language as to indicate the 18 month  deadlock over voluntary repatriation has been reached.
19-Apr UN delegation informs the communists that only 70,000 of the 132,000  prisoners of war are willing to return home.
28-Apr Admiral Joy presents UN final offer insisting on voluntary repatriation.
02-May Communists reject UN proposals over question of voluntary repatriation.
07-May Prisoners at Koje do hold General Dodd hostage until 11 May.
12-May General Mark Clark arrives to succeed Ridgeway as Supreme Commander of UN forces.
22-May Major General W. Harrison relieves Admiral Joy as chief of UN delegation at Panmunjom.
23-Jun US Air Force bomb Yalu river power installations.
29-Aug Heaviest air raid of the war launched against Pyongyang.
08-Oct United Nations adjourns armistice talks indefinitely until Communists accept its proposal on prisoner exchange or make a suitable counter offer.
04-Nov Eisenhower elected President of the USA.
10-Nov Van Fleet announces the mobilisation of two new South Korean divisions and six regiments.
17-Nov India introduces compromise truce plan at United Nations.
05-Dec Eisenhower visits units in Korea for three days.
15-Dec Peiping radio announces Communist China's formal rejection of Indian compromise plan.

1953
11-Feb General Van Fleet retires, General Maxwell D. Taylor assumes command of 8th Army.
28-Mar Communists accept UN proposal to discuss exchange of sick and wounded prisoners of war.
20-Apr Exchange of sick and wounded prisoners 'Operation Little Switch' begun at Panmunjom.
26-Apr Truce talks resumed at Panmunjom.
07-May Communists accept a UN proposal that prisoners unwilling to be repatriated be kept in neutral custody in Korea rather than removed to a neutral nation.
13-May Clark authorised to mobilise four more South Korean divisions.
20-May The National Security Council decides that if 'conditions arise', air and naval operations will be extended to China and ground operations in Korea will be intensified.
25-May New proposals for ending prisoner deadlock offered at Panmunjom, but South Korean observer boycotts meetings;beginning of South Korean President Rhee's campaign to block the ceasefire is indicated.
28-May Chinese attack outposts of US 25th Division.
08-Jun Agreement reached on prisoner of war issue.
09-Jun South Korean National Assembly unanimously rejects truce terms.
10-Jun Chinese open assault on ROK II Corps near Kumsong in the eastern sector.
15-Jun Chinese attack US 1 Corps.
17-Jun Revised demarcation line settled.
18-Jun On orders of President Rhee approximately 27,000 North Korean prisoners are freed and returned to civilian life in South Korea.
23-Jun President Rhee reiterates opposition to truce terms.
08-Jul Communists agree to General Clark's proposal to proceed with final arrangements for armistice without South Korean participation.
11-Jul Robertson and Rhee announce agreement; Rhee will no longer oppose truce terms.
20-Jul New Main Line of Resistance established on south bank of Kumsong river.
05-Aug Exchange of prisoners 'Operation Big Switch' begins at Panmunjom.
 

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