August 9 - Soviet forces invade Manchuria and oust Japanese occupation forces.

August 15 - Agreement divides Korea into U.S. and Soviet occupation zones along the 38th Parallel.

September 8 - U.S. occupation forces land at Inchon, South

1946

January 9 - General Douglas Mac Arthuršs plan for a Korean Police Force approved by U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.

1947

November 14 - U.N. Resolution proposes removing troops from Korea following supervised national elections.

1948

April 8 - U.S. troops ordered withdrawn from Korea on orders from President Harry S. Truman.

May 10 - Election of Korean Assembly with Syngman Rhee as Chairman, later President. The Communist Party in North Korea led by Kim Il Sung, forms the Peoplešs Republic of North Korea.

August 15 - The U.S. Military Government turns over power to the Republic of Korea.

1949

June 29 - Last U.S. troops withdrawn from South Korea.

1950

January - Secretary of State Dean Acheson states that the Western defense perimeter of the United States stops short of South Korea.

June 25 - Early morning - North Korean People's Army under General Chai Ung Jun, invades South Korea with seven assault infantry divisions, a tank brigade and two independent infantry regiments. United Nations Security Council resolution calls for an end of aggression from North Korea.

June 27 - United Nations asks member countries to aid the Republic of Korea. Republic of Korea Army abandons Seoul. President Truman announces U.S. intervention.

June 28 B-26 aircraft of the 13th and 8th Bomb Squadron attacked the enemy with 12 aircraft and had the first fatalities that day. The first missions were flown agains N Korean troops in the Han river area and other targets of opportunity June 28 to 29 - Seoul captured by North Korean Army. The Republic of Korea Army is destroyed. Explosion destroys the Han River Bridge. British Far Eastern Fleet ordered to assist South Korea.

June 30 - President Truman orders U.S. ground forces into Korea and authorizes the bombing of North Korea by the U.S. Air Force. U.S. troops notified of movement to South Korea.

July 1 - General William F. Dean is U.S. Commander in Korea. First U.S. troops (U.S. 24th Infantry Division) arrive.

July 3 - South Korean forces mistakenly attacked by Australian and U.S. air forces.

July 4 to 5 - Task Force Smith under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. (Brad) Smith, moves into position north of Osan.

July 5 - U.S. ground troops in Task Force Smith, fight North Koreans for the first time north of Osan. U.S. forces retreat with heavy casualties. The 34th Infantry Regiment moved north from Pusan. Fall of Wanju.

July 5 to August 10 - United Nations Forces fight delaying actions across South Korea.

July 7 - United Nations creates United Nations Command, under General Douglas Mac Arthur, who is appointed by the U.S.

July 10 - Fifth Air Force destroys large contingent of North Korean tanks and troops stalled at Pyongtaek.

July 10 to 12 - U.S. Forces retreat down the Seoul-Taejon road.

July 13 - Lieutenant General Walton H. Walker appointed to command the ground forces in Korea.

July 13 to 16 - Assault of North Koreans begins against the U.S. troops on the Kum River ending with the crossing of the Kum River and withdrawal of U.S. troops.

July 18 - U.S. Cavalry land at Pohangdong.

July 19 to 22 - Battle for Taejon. U.S. troops retreat. Major General William F. Dean captured by North Koreans. 4th Inf Reg., 24th Div., 8th Army reduced to paper status and it's few remaining troops and equipment went to the 19th Inf Reg. There were not enough men left in the 34th to make a full size Company.

July 29 - General Walton H. Walker issues order that there will be no more retreats.

August 1 to 3 - U.S. Eighth Army and Republic of Korea troops establish defensive position at the Naktong.

August 4 - Pusan Perimeter in southeastern Korea established by U.S. and Republic of Korea troops.

August 5 to 19 - Battle of the Naktong Bulge. North Koreans make three crossings of the Naktong.

August 13 - First U.S. counterattack collapses.

August 18 to 22 - The battle of "the Bowling Alley" north of Tabu-dong. U.S. forces hold back North Korean offensive.

August 27 to September 15 - Pusan Perimeter battles, some of the heaviest fighting of the War. U.N. troop strength exceeds that of North Korea.

August 29 - Scottish and English Allied troops enter War to create a United Nations fighting force.

September 1 to 5 - North Korean People's Army Naktong Offensive consisting of five main thrusts.

September 3 - U.S. forces counterattack in the area of Yongsan.

September 4 - U.S. 5th Marines ordered by General Douglas MacArthur to Inchon.

September 7 - General Walker vows that there will be no further retreat.

September 15 - Inchon landings (code named Chromite). U.S., British, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and Netherlands forces land.

September 16 to 18 - United Nations forces begin break out of the Pusan Perimeter and North Korean troops begin retreat northward.

September 19 to October 1 - United Nations troops pursue the North Koreans northwards towards the 38th Parallel.

September 19 to 29 - Attack and capture of Seoul by U.N. troops.

September 29 - U.N. Commander General Mac Arthur and South Korean President Syngman Rhee enter Seoul.

September 21 to 22 - North Korean troops abandon Yongdungpo.

September 27 - MacArthur gains permission to cross the 38th Parallel into North Korea.

October 1 - U.N. troops cross 38th Parallel.

October 9 - Invasion of North Korea begins with the United Nations forces crossing the 38th Parallel. The United Nations sanctions the defeat North Korea and the attempted reunification of the country.

October 13 or 14 - Red Chinese Peoplešs Liberation Army (Chinese Communist Forces) regular troops enter Korea by crossing the Yalu River.

October 15 - Meeting between President Harry Truman and General Douglas Mac Arthur on Wake Island.

October 19 - Pyongyang, the North Korean capital is captured.

October 25 - First contact by U.N. forces with the Chinese Communist Forces.

October 26 - X Corps troops land at Wonsan on the east coast.

October 29 - Republic of Korea troops suffer heavy casualties and loss of men to desertion in the face of Chinese Communist opposition.

November 1 - Chinese Communist Forces attack in force in the area near Unsan. General Chinese Communist offense through massive troop attacks.

November 5 - General Mac Arthur orders bombing of the Korean ends of the Yalu Bridges as well as all factories, lines of communication, cities and villages between the U.N. lines and the Yalu River.

November 21 - U.S. 17th Regiment advances to the Yalu River.

November 24 - Mac Arthur's final "Home by Christmas" offensive begins.

November 25 - Chinese Communist Forces strike at the Eighth Army along Chongchon River in the west.

November 26 to December 1 - U.S. 2nd and 25th Divisions are defeated along the Chongchon River in the west and they retreat.

November 27 to December 11 - Chinese Communist Forces strike the 1st Marine Division and the 7th Army Division near the Changjin (Chosin) Reservoir in the east. X Corps fights back toward port of Hungnam in the east (the breakout). U.S. Marines retreat from Koto-ri and from Changjin (Chosin) Reservoir.

November 30 - President Truman in a press conference threatens use of Atomic Bomb against Red Chinese Forces.

December 4 to 8 - President Truman meets with British Prime Minister Attlee after which Britain abandons position that Taiwan should be returned to Red China.

December 11 - The last of the U.N. Forces reach the assembly area in the Hamhung - Hunganm area. U.N. Fleet begins evacuating troops, equipment and supplies.

December 14 - United Nations cease fire resolution.

December 23 - General Walton H. Walker is killed when his jeep was struck by a truck. General Matthew B. Ridgway takes command of Eighth Army.

December 24 - X Corps sails from Hungnam harbor. North Korea is evacuated.

December 30 - U.S. Air Force planes near Yalu River encounter Red Chinese MiG-15 jet fighters.

1951

January 3 - Red Chinese Forces and North Korean Forces begin New Yearšs Offensive. General Ridgeway orders the evacuation of Seoul.

January 4 - Seoul captured by the Chinese Communist Forces.

January 14 - United Nations Forces establish lines along the 37th parallel in South Korea.

January 25 - United Nations Forces reassume offensive.

February 1 - United Nations resolution votes to end Korean conflict and Red China was labeled an "aggressor."

February 11 to 12 - Communist Chinese Forces counteroffensive begins north of Hoengsong.

February 14 - Communist Chinese Forces stopped at Chipyong-ni by the 23rd RCT and French Battalion.

February 18 to March 17 - General Ridgeway orders offensive code-named "Killer".

March 1 - The U.N. line reaches between the 37th and 38th Parallels. The U.N. is involved in multiple attacks and withdrawals.

March 7 - U.N. troops launch operation "Ripper." Eighth Army recrosses Han River.

March 18 - Seoul retaken.

April 11 - General Mac Arthur recalled. General Ridgway given command of the FECOM.

April 15 - General James Van Fleet is given command of the Eighth Army to replace General Ridgeway.

April 19 - General Douglas Mac Arthur appears before Congress in hearings on his removal.

April 22 - Communist Chinese Forces begin their Spring Offensive.

April 30 - Communist Chinese Forces and North Korean Forces withdraw for resupply and replacements.

May 10 - Communist Chinese Forces and North Korean Forces begin May offensive operation designated "The Second Chinese Communist Forces Spring Offensive," also known as the Battle of Soyang or the May Massacre.

May 20 - U.S. forces halt Communist Chinese Forces and North Korean Forces Soyang Offensive.

May 23 to June 1 - United Nations Forces drive north.

June 13 - United Nations Forces dig in on the 38th parallel.

June 23 - Soviet Delegate Jacob Malik proposes truce in United Nations.

July 10 - Truce talks begin at Kaesong.

August 1 to October 31 - United Nations Forces launch limited attacks to consolidate lines. United Nations Forces involved in Bloody Ridge.

August 23 - Communists break off talks charging U.S. violations of neutrality.

September 5 to 23 - Battle for Heartbreak Ridge.

October 25 - Peace talks resume at Panmunjom.

November 27 - Truce talks resume at Panmunjom and a cease-fire line was agreed upon at the line of contact.

November 1951 to April 1952 - Stalemate along the 38th Parallel. Peace discussions at Panmunjom continue.

December 18 - Exchange of POW lists between U.N. and Communist forces.

1952

January 2 - United Nations proposal on POW exchange.

January 3 - POW proposal rejected by the Chinese and North Koreans.

February 18 - Riots begin in Koje-do Prison.

March 13 - Second major clash at Koje-do Prison.

April 2 - Screening of United Nations POWs begin in part to determine which prisoners wish to be repatriated.

May 7 - General Dodd captured by communist POWs at Koje-do resulting in a "trial" and a letter from Brigadier General Charles F. Colson.

May 12 to June 12 - General Colson replaced by Brigadier General Haydon L. Boatner as Koje-do Camp Commandant. General Mark W. Clark replaces General Ridgway at FECOM. General Boatner quells disturbances on Koje-do.

May 27 - South Korean President Syngman Rhee declares martial law in the Pusan area.

June 23 - General Clark orders bombing of power plants in North Korea.

June to October - Stalemate along battlefront while truce talks deadlocked on POW exchange issue. Hill battles rage on Baldy, Whitehorse, and elsewhere.

October 8 to November 18 - Truce talks recessed at Panmunjom. General Clark authorizes Operation Showdown.

December 3 - The United Nations passes the Indian Resolution concerning the repatriation of POWs. The Indian Resolution is rejected by Red China and North Korea.

December 5 to 8 - President-Elect Eisenhower comes to Korea to fulfill campaign promise. Intensification of United Nations psychological warfare.

December to January 1953 - Continuation of stalemate. There are hill battles.

1953

February 11 - General Maxwell D. Taylor replaces General James A. Van Fleet at Eighth Army.

March 5 - With the death of Joseph Stalin, the new Soviet Premier Georgi Malenkov speaks of peaceful coexistence.

March 28 - North Korean premier Kim Il Sung and Chinese commander in chief Peng Teh-huai agree to the POW exchange proposed by General Clark.

March 30 - Chinese Foreign Minister Chou En-lai indicates that the Red Chinese will accept the Indian Resolution of December 1952. Truce talks resume at Panmunjom.

Last week of March to April 18 - Battles of Old Baldy, Eerie and Pork Chop Hill.

April 20 to 26 - Exchange of sick and wounded POWs at Panmunjom known as Little Switch.

April 23 - Meeting between the Communists and U.N. Representatives resulted in a resumption of discussions at Panmunjom.

April 26 - Full plenary sessions resume at Panmunjom.

May 3 - Completion of the exchange of sick and wounded POWs.

June 14 - Communist offensive pushes Republic of Korea troops back towards the south.

June 18 - South Koreans release approximately 27,000 North Korean POWs who refused to be repatriated. Communists break off truce negotiations.

June 25 - Robertson begins "Little Truce Talks" with Rhee to secure Republic of Korea's acceptance of armistice; Chinese Communist Forces launch massive attacks against Republic of Korea Divisions.

July 10 - Communists return to negotiations after United Nations assurances that the Republic of Korea would abide by the terms of the cease fire.

July 27 - Cease-fire signed by Lieutenant General Nam Il and Lieutenant General William K. Harrison at 10:00 am at Panmunjom about 12 hours later the fighting ends.

September 4 - Processing of POWs for repatriation begins at Freedom Village, Panmunjom.

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