The Conflict in Korea

From June 1950 to July 1953, the United States was engaged in conflict with North Korea and the Soviet Union in what would be known as the Korean War.

The U.S., as part of the United Nations’ forces, enacted an immediate military response to Soviet-backed North Korea’s invasion of South Korea on June 25, 1950. For two months U.N. troops, led by United States general Douglas MacArthur, were forced to retreat from the border, establishing a stronghold in the southwestern portion of the peninsula.

Eventually the North Korean army was driven back across the 38th parallel—the dividing line between the two countries. For three years, U.S. troops defended South Korea’s independence and the world’s right to democracy.

On July 27, 1953, an armistice was reached. The Cold War positions adopted by the United States and Soviet Union as a result were drawn hard and fast along the tensely guarded 38th parallel.

Fighting half a world away, many Americans were disconnected from the conflict, but the effects of the Korean War were known all to well to the veterans and those who sacrificed their lives in the heat of battle. We commend all of the U.S. servicemen who answered the call of duty and fought for freedom.

In 1985, the U.S. Postal Service celebrated the brave veterans of the war with the Veterans of Korea stamps. As part of the Celebrate the Century series on the 1950s pane, a stamp honoring the Korean War was issued in 1999.

What sort of impact did the Korean War have on you and your family?

World Freedom Day’s 10th Anniversary

Today marks the tenth anniversary of World Freedom Day, celebrated every year on November 9 to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall. President George W. Bush first declared this day a federal observance in 2001.

On November 9, 1989, the people of Germany “broke through a barrier that divided their nation, demonstrating no wall is strong enough to hold back the rising tide of human liberty,” President Barack Obama said yesterday in his official proclamation about World Freedom Day. In 2000, the Postal Service issued a stamp, as part of the Celebrate the Century® series, to honor this historic moment—signifying an end to Communist rule in Eastern Europe and a victory for democracy worldwide.

Conservative organization Young America’s Foundation celebrates this day as part of their Freedom Week, which encompasses Veterans Day, as well, and focuses specifically on President Ronald Reagan’s efforts in ending the Cold War and “defeating communism.”

Serving from 1981–1989, President Reagan oversaw a tumultuous and important time in the history of America—and the world. For roughly 40 years, the Cold War “waged” between the U.S. and the Communist controlled-USSR, with tension about an impending nuclear holocaust constantly mounting. “Peace through strength” is how Reagan characterized his foreign policy toward the Soviet Union, and he was confident he could negotiate nuclear arms reduction from that position. Ultimately, “The Great Communicator” was successful, holding a series of summit meetings with Soviet Union head of state Mikhail S. Gorbachev over several years that resulted in nuclear disarmament and the eventual end of the Cold War in 1991.

Reagan was no longer in office when the Berlin Wall came down but still received much of the credit for putting the wheels in motion. His famous speech delivered on June 12, 1987, at the Bradenburg Gate in West Berlin, in which Reagan boldly challenged Gorbachev to “tear down this wall,” is considered a turning point in the fight for freedom.

Distinguished by his charisma and oratorical skills, Reagan was one of the most influential presidents of the 20th century. In February, the Postal Service issued a stamp commemorating the centennial of the 40th President’s birth, which celebrates his life and legacy in American politics.

For 10 years, America has formally recognized the importance of the fall of the Berlin Wall and used that symbol of justice and freedom as a reminder of where the world has been and what we are capable of achieving.

As President Obama said, “on World Freedom Day, we renew our commitment to all who believe—even in the face of cynicism, doubt, and oppression—that walls truly can come down.”