Korean War - 60th Anniversary - June 27

At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel into Soviet (North Korean) and U.S. (South Korean) zones of occupation. In 1948 rival governments were established. The Republic of Korea was proclaimed in the South and the People's Democratic Republic of Korea in the North. In 1950 North Korea, supported by China, invaded South Korea. UN Forces, principally made up of U.S. troops, fought successfully to protect South Korea. The Korean War was the first armed conflict in the global struggle between democracy and communism, call the Cold War.

Actual hostilities occurred from June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1953. However, the war period was extended to January 31, 1955 by Congress to define a period of benefit eligibility following uneasy peace negotiations after July 27, 1953.

There were 6.8 millionAmerican men and women who served during the Korean War period. During the period of actual hostalities, 54,200 Americans died in service. Of these, 33,700 were actual battle deaths. Many of the non battle deaths were a result of the severe winter weather conditions.

There were 7,140 POWs during the Korean War. Of these, 4,418 returned to the United States, 2,701 died, and 21 refused repatriation. There have been 131 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor among Korean War veterans.

My father, John Storrow Rumbold, was a research chemist at U.S. Rubber Company (now Uniroyal) footwear division in Naugatuck, Connecticut during the period before and during the Korean War. In addition to being the inventor of the arch cusion in Keds sneakers, he was on the team that developed the cold weather insulated boot for the military that was very successful in Korea. This boot was called the Mickey Mouse boot because the toe was very bulbous to provide an air picket for insulation. We had a pair of the boots at the house in Woodbridge and I used to wear them a lot in the winter. I once went for a long walk with the boots from the house over to the town center during a blizzard. I had to find refuge in a stranger's home because my fingers were approaching frostbite but my feet were cozy warm. If you would like to learn more than you ever wanted about these boots, click on the title to this blog.