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The Korean War – often called “the Forgotten War” – erupted on June 25, 1950, when North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel and swept southward, overwhelming the thin line of South Korean forces. In response, the United Nations, led by the United States, intervened to repel the invasion, while China later entered the conflict on the North’s side. After three brutal years of mobile fighting – from the desperate defense of the Pusan Perimeter, through the daring amphibious landing at Inchon, to the grinding stalemate along the 38th parallel – an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, leaving the peninsula divided but the war’s legacy still resonant.

Wisconsin soldiers played a disproportionately large and courageous role in that struggle. The state’s National Guard units were among the first to be deployed, most notably the 32nd Infantry Division, famously known as the “Red Arrow Division.” Having earned a reputation for breaking through enemy lines in World War II, the 32nd was thrust into the ferocious fighting around the Chosin Reservoir and later helped stabilize the front at the Battle of Chipyong‑Ni, a turning point that blunted the Chinese offensive. In addition, the 133rd Infantry Regiment, a component of the 32nd, distinguished itself during the bitter winter combat in the Taebaek Mountains, earning a Presidential Unit Citation for its tenacity. Over the course of the war, more than 30,000 Wisconsinites served in Korea; roughly 1,200 were killed and another 4,500 wounded, making the state’s sacrifice one of the highest per capita among the states. Their contributions—marked by grit, perseverance, and a willingness to hold the line under the most extreme conditions—helped shape the eventual cease‑fire and cemented Wisconsin’s proud place in the annals of Korean‑War history.