Episode 6 – The First Weeks:

In the first few weeks of the North Korean attack of June 1950, the USA changes its defense policy in East Asia to include defending South Korea and Taiwan from attack. Thus, the Korean War was a great benefit to the Kuomintang government in Taiwan. The United Nations gets into action, approving the use of force. The USA, Great Britian and Australia are some of the first to help in this, very first, collective security effort of the UN. US air and naval bombardment begins. Summer rains hamper ground operations for the North Korean Army, helping the South Koreans and US forces. The USA sends Task Force Smith, the first ground combat unit to help stem the North Korean tide. However, US commanders have very little appreciation for their new enemy’s capabilities or their willingness to fight.