Unforgettable: The Korean War

The United Nations “police action” against North Korean communist troops has been called the “forgotten war,” but it's definitely remembered by aging U.S. veterans. Marking the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, the PBS-aired documentary Unforgettable presents a compact history of the bloody conflict, combining narration, archival footage, and interviews with soldiers. On June 25, 1950, the North Koreans launched a massive surprise invasion of the South, quickly routing the inexperienced Republic of Korea soldiers and their few American advisors. After initial confusion and battlefield reversals, UN troops turned the tide with the Inchon landing and successful counterattacks, and many hoped for victory by Christmas. But when General MacArthur advanced to China's border, thousands of Chinese “volunteers” entered the fray. The vets interviewed here vividly remember Chinese nighttime attacks (often announced by unnerving bugles, screams, and whistles), sweltering summers, and bitterly cold winters. After the first year's large-scale action and a heroic retreat by greatly outnumbered UN troops in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, a series of brutal skirmishes and “probing actions” continued while peace talks stalled before a ceasefire agreement was eventually reached in 1953. Filmmaker Tom Kleespie also covers the armed forces' then-recent racial integration policy, the improved survival rates due to the introduction of helicopters and medical lessons learned during World War II, and the low-key welcome that awaited the combatants on the home front. While not a definitive portrait, Unforgettable offers a good introduction for both students and history buffs. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)