Frozen in time: Rare photos from a side of the Korean War that most families in Milwaukee never saw

EXPLORING KOREA: Stories from Milwaukee to the DMZ and across a divided Peninsula. This special series explores historical sites and cultural traditions from across the Korean Peninsula, building a bridge back to the search for identity in Milwaukee. From the occupation of Korea at the end of World War II, to Korean War veterans in Milwaukee, veterans from Milwaukee who served in later years at the DMZ, adopted South Korean children who grew up in Milwaukee, different waves of the South Korean diaspora who moved to Milwaukee to raise their families, and even a defector from North Korea, their stories share generations of Korean and American experiences. https://mkeind.com/koreanstories

On June 25, 1950, the Korean Peninsula became engulfed in conflict as North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel, initiating the Korean War. But for most Americans, including families living in Milwaukee, images of what was happening rarely if ever entered their awareness.

The invasion, orchestrated by the Soviet-backed North Korean government, marked the beginning of a brutal three-year conflict that would involve numerous countries. The Milwaukee public, like people in many other American cities, was suddenly and deeply intertwined with a conflict it did not comprehend.

“At 4 o’clock on Sunday morning, June 25, 1950, South Korean villages awaken to a world suddenly filled with noise and flames. The night sky is illuminated by blinding bursts of gunfire. North Korean Communists, emboldened by the success of small raids across the 38th parallel into South Korea, launch an undeclared all-out war to make the entire country a Communist state.” – Associated Press, Newswire

Emphasizing the threat of Communist expansion, President Harry S. Truman answered South Korea’s request to the U.N. for protection by committing U.S. military air and sea forces to the conflict without a formal declaration of war from Congress.

President Truman famously referred to the situation as a “police action,” reinforcing the idea that the U.S. was participating in a limited engagement aimed at restoring order rather than engaging in a full-scale war.

“Red forces attack the city of Seoul, and by June 28, 1950, it is in Communist hands. R.O.K. President Syngman Rhee and his government are evacuated. By June 30th the Communist troops, well fortified with Russian-made tanks, have driven south and are moving rapidly on into Suwon, whose citizens are fleeing further south. South Korean troops rushed north to try and stop the enemy advances. The only air force available for R.O.K. defense is the Korean-American Volunteer Group, with just 10 planes.” – Associated Press, Newswire

Milwaukee, and Wisconsin, played a significant role in the battles that followed. Young men from the city were drafted or volunteered to serve in the conflict, which translated to them actually fighting in a war. Many were the younger brothers of veterans returning just a handful of years earlier from World War II.

Wisconsin had an estimated 132,000 individuals who served during the Korean War era, ranking it as the 10th in the nation. As of 2020, the state’s Korean War veteran population stood at 23,812, which was 9.7% of the population over 80 years old.

Those numbers have declined since the census was recorded, but the available data still reflects the substantial contribution of Milwaukeeans to the war effort, both on the battlefield and through support roles.

The Medal of Honor for extraordinary acts of valor was awarded to 5 soldiers from Wisconsin. The state also lost 801 lives during the Korean War, with 233 from Milwaukee County. The totals are combined from those who were killed in action (KIA), died of wounds (DOW), died while missing (DWM), and died while captured (DWC).

Local newspapers at the time, the “Milwaukee Journal” and the “Milwaukee Sentinel,” often featured stories on the heroism and tragic deaths of Milwaukee’s servicemen. The articles provided very little details about the war and its condition, but did publish regular updates about the personal stories of soldiers, and the grief-stricken responses of their families when they received the tragic news.

Most families in Milwaukee, like many across the United States, may have followed the news about developments in the war but rarely saw photos of the war itself. Images of military officials and dignitaries involved in the peace talks dominated the small visual narrative in the early 1950s.

Unlike the highly publicized World War II and Vietnam War, media coverage from the frontlines of Korea was limited. Many news outlets simply did not prioritize extensive photojournalism from the remote and mostly rural battlefields.

As an occupied peninsula for decades, Korea’s long isolation also contributed to having fewer points of access for international media. To remedy that problem, the U.N. Command developed a strategic initiative known as the “press train” to improve the distribution network for news.

Its creation allowed the military to manage the delicate balance between press freedom and military control in volatile war zones. The specially designated train served as a mobile hub for journalists and war correspondents, ferrying them from the relatively safe environs of Seoul to the gritty and chaotic sites where the conflict unfolded.

By providing a controlled mode of transportation, the military ensured that journalists could safely report on the war while minimizing their exposure to the dangers of the battlefield. But it also meant that by the time the train arrived, photojournalists could not document the situation as it unfolded.

The press train was more than just a vehicle, it was a microcosm of wartime logistics and media relations. Journalists found essential support like food, accommodations, and communication facilities onboard that allowed them to file stories under challenging conditions. The arrangement also enabled the U.S. military to steer the narrative by controlling where journalists went and what they saw, allowing them to shape public perception of the conflict.

The dissemination of wartime information included photographs. In the 1950s, the technology for circulating pictures in real time was not as advanced as it would become just a few years later in Vietnam. That combined with the limited scope of the Korean War, compared to the previous two World Wars which covered more territory and often in landmark urban areas.

Additionally, many images taken during the war were classified or censored to prevent sensitive information from reaching the enemy or the American public. When photographs were published, they were primarily shared through media channels like newspapers and magazines but had to compete for limited space.

Newspapers in Milwaukee and other cities often focused more on domestic issues and local events rather than international conflicts. The war’s impact was abstract and distant for many families, leading to less demand for visual documentation.

Some soldiers took personal photos during the war, but they were usually kept private and shared only within families and close circles. Such personal snapshots rarely made it into the public domain or local news.

Sadly, the Korean War did not capture the American public’s imagination and attention to the same extent as other conflicts. Without widespread public interest, there was less pressure on media outlets to provide extensive photographic coverage.

Many wartime photographs were archived and stored away, becoming accessible to the public only decades later. The post-World War II era was marked by a desire to return to normalcy and focus on peacetime prosperity. The grim realities of another war were something many in Milwaukee preferred to avoid during the early 1950s.

The Korean War, still referred to as “The Forgotten War,” holds a significant place in global history, even if few iconic images live in the public’s memory. It was the first major conflict of the Cold War era, setting the stage for future confrontations between Communist and Democratic forces. The war’s impact extended far beyond the Korean Peninsula, influencing U.S. foreign policy and military strategy for decades.

Milwaukee’s connection to the Korean War is a story of sacrifice, resilience, and enduring respect, but few visuals. As the city continues to honor its veterans, the legacy of the Korean War remains a vital part of Milwaukee’s history, and offers a reminder of how global events can reach the very doors of local neighborhoods.