Following the greatest generation of World War II, 5.7 million Americans fought in the Korean Warto defend a country and people they did not know and halt the spread of communism. More than 30,000 never returned home, and more than 100,000 came back wounded. Thanks to their contributions, South Korea was able to rise from the ashes of war to become the 11th-largest economy in the world today.
While it was halted in a ceasefire agreement on July 27, 1953, the Korean War has technically not ended and is America’s longest war. From 1950-1953, 1.8 million American men and womenserved in the Korean War, including 600,000 African Americans, 25,000 Japanese Americans, 20,000 Chinese Americans, and 148,000 Hispanic Americans. The U.S. suffered 54,246 casualties and 8,176+ plus POW/MIAs.
In total, the Korean War involved 26 nations: UN Allied (23) — Republic of Korea, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom (including Scotland), United States; Naval Support/Service: Japan; Medical: Denmark, Italy, Norway, India, Sweden; Communist Forces (3) — Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, People’s Republic of China, Soviet Union.
The Korean War claimed lives of more than 2.5 million Koreans and separated more than 10 million Korean families, including 100,000 Korean Americans who have yet to meet their families in the North.
The 3-mile wide buffer zone between the two Koreas, known as the DMZ, is the most heavily armed border in the world. Today the Two Koreas remain divided and are technically still at war.
State Casualties POW/MIA
Alabama 700 148
Alaska 10 1
Arizona 247 49
Arkansas 467 100
California 2611 593
Colorado 305 65
Connecticut 326 77
Delaware 45 11
D.C. 158 28
Florida 577 158
Georgia 757 161
Hawaii 407 71
Idaho 131 23
Illinois 1789 396
Indiana 921 177
Iowa 528 133
Kansas 429 100
Kentucky 886 190
Louisiana 610 144
Maine 242 44
Maryland 531 136
Massachusetts 866 190
Michigan 1492 346
Minnesota 725 140
Mississippi 423 74
Missouri 944 201
Montana 137 27
Nebraska 318 59
Nevada 37 5
New Hampshire 137 41
New Jersey 836 166
New Mexico 200 44
New York 2373 515
North Carolina 805 189
North Dakota 177 27
Ohio 1823 424
Oklahoma 625 144
Oregon 276 57
Pennsylvania 2401 556
Rhode Island 149 36
South Carolina 483 110
South Dakota 160 35
Tennessee 844 172
Texas 1779 431
Utah 141 34
Vermont 94 20
Virginia 882 193
Washington 488 126
West Virginia 814 164
Wisconsin 747 166
Wyoming 60 14
US-at-large 33913 7511
Panama Canal Zone 1 0
Puerto Rico 764 169
American Samoa 1 0
Guam 2 1
US Virgin Islands 76 0
US Possessions 844 170
Total 34597 7681