On June 27, 1950, President Harry S. Truman announced that
he is ordering U.S. air and naval forces to South Korea to aid
the democratic nation in repulsing an invasion by communist
North Korea.
The United States was undertaking the major military operation,
he explained, to enforce a United Nations resolution calling for
an end to hostilities, and to stem the spread of communism in
Asia.
In addition to ordering U.S. forces to Korea, Truman deployed
the U.S. 7th Fleet to Formosa (Taiwan) to guard against invasion
by communist China and ordered an acceleration of military aid
to French forces fighting communist guerrillas in Vietnam.
Truman’s decision was met with overwhelming approval from
Congress and the U.S. public.
He did not ask for a declaration of war, but Congress voted to
extend the draft and authorized Truman to call up reservists.
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