These Are the Wars the U.S. Has Fought-- Part 2: The World Wars, Korea and Vietnam

**  WORLD WAR I (1917-1918)

The U.S. declared war on Germany April 6, 1917.

A total of 4,734,991 Americans served.     There were 116,516 killed and 204,002 wounded.

**  WORLD WAR II   (1941-1945)

16,112,566 Americans were called into service.  

405,339 were killed and 670,846 wounded.

******************************

**  KOREAN WAR   (1950-1953)

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) versus the Democratic  People's Republic of Korea (North Korea).  The United States and United Nations countries supported South Korea and China and the Soviet Union supported North Korea.

The war ended with an armistice that persists to this day.

5,720,000 Americans fought.

54,246 died and 103,284 were wounded.

**  VIETNAM WAR  (1955-1975)

There is some discussion as to when the war began for the United States.

It was North Vietnam (Communists) versus South Vietnam supported by the United States.

It really picked up for the U.S. after what was called the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.

In this war, 8,744,000 served and 90,220 died and 153,303 were wounded.

--Cooter

North Korea Returns Remains of 55 Americans Killed in the Korean War

From the July 29, 2018, Chicago Tribune  "Kim's end game remains to be seen" by Eric Talmadge.

North Korea made good on a promise to President Trump by returning 55 sets of apparent remains of U.S. soldiers killed during the Korean War.  But it expects something in return -- a peace treaty, or something much like it.

Friday was the 65th anniversary of the end of the 1950-1953 Korean War , which concluded not in a formal peace treaty but an armistice agreement that was supposed to be temporary but has stayed in effect ever since.

The remains of more than 5,000 American soldiers are believed to be recoverable in North Korea and it is possible that they have gathered hundreds more of the remains

The remains were flown to Hawaii where they will undergo scientific testing to determine if they are human, American or of Allied troops.

A Step In the Right Direction.  Welcome Home.

10 Bizarre Cold War Tales Left Out of History Books-- Part 1: Bears in Planes

From the March 27, 2015, ListVerse by Marc V.

Of course, I am just listing here.  Go to the site to find out more.

10.  North Korea and the U.S. almost went to war over a tree in what is called the Poplar Tree Incident on August 17, 1976.

9.  The U.S. created a ring of copper around the Earth.  Five hundred copper needles launched into space in 1963 in Project West Ford.

8.  U.S. Air Force used bears as test pilots.  Sedated bears were used in experiments to determine ejection capsules from supersonic aircraft.  No deaths, but major injuries.

--CootTree

Ten Things You Might Not Know About North Korea-- Part 3

8.  More than half of North Korean men SMOKE.  That is double the rate in the U.S..  The government has been trying to get people to quit, but a photo taken in December shows Kim Jung Un smoking away after the rocket launch.

9.  South Korean movie director SHIN SANG OK, known as "The Orson Welles of South Korea" had North Korean agents sent to kidnap him in 1978.  Ordered to produce propaganda films, he refused and was thrown in prison where he ate grass to survive.

Five years later he was released and treated nicely, but later escaped.

10.  Kim Jong Un's succession to leader was helped when half-brother KIM JONG NAM was caught in 2001 trying to enter Japan on a fake Dominican Republic passport.  Evidently he wanted to visit Tokyo's version of Disneyland.

So, There You Have It.  --Cooter

Ten Things You Might Not Know About North Korea-- Part 2

4.  North Korea, despite a horrible record on many issues, has an excellent LITERACY RATE.  The CIA Factbook lists it at 99%.  But, what's available to read?

5.  Nortth Korea announced the construction of what was to be the WORLD'S TALLEST HOTEL, but the 105-story Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang has taken 25-years and two in Dubai have surpassed it.  It is expected to open this year, maybe.  Esquire magazine has called it "the worst building in the history of mankind."

6.  Many things are bleak in the country, but North Korea has GOLF.  But only one course and a golf pro there claims that Kim Jong II once shot five holes-in-one during a single round.  He was REALLY  that good.  It's nice to be king, ruler or whatever.

7.  Despite being part of "The Axis of Evil", North Korea does accept American TOURISTS.  But, the US State Department warns that it is a criminal act to show disrespect to the former or current leaders and that unauthorized picture-taking or talking to locals can be considered espionage.

Fore!!!  Rats, Went in the Hole On First Swing Again.  --Dacoot

Ten Things You Might Not Know About North Korea-- Part 1

From the Dec. 23, 2012, Chicago Tribune  by Mark Jacob and Stephan Benzkofer, researchers par excellence.

"North Korea is an international pariah, a bandit state, the "Hermit Kingdom."  On December 21st, it announced it had detained an American citizen and they also had a rocket launch.

1.  THE KOREAN WAR did not actually end in 1953.  An armistice was signed by the UN, China and North Korea (but not South Korea) to establish a truce until a peaceful settlement achieved.  It hasn't been.  Even though those wacky personnel at MASH 4099 were so excited.

2.   The history of North Korea can be summed up in three names: KIM, KIM AND KIM.  Kim II Sung was the first leader.  His son, Kim Jong II led until last year and now his son, Kim Jung UN is leader.  That's called keeping it in the family.

3.  The QUALITY OF LIFE in North Korea has been so bad, they are now physically different from their South Korean cousins.  South Korean men and women are 2.3 inches and 2.6 inches taller.  Children are nearly five inches taller.

Hey, Shortie!!  --Cooter