1950 - 1953 While conventional strategies were the norm in World War II, the conflict on the Korean peninsula would see a few changes. This conflict was primarily a civil war, with the newly formed United Nations taking an active role for the first time to stop the conflict. The Korean War started on June 25, 1950 as communist North Korean units pushed deep into South Korea.

The United States condemned this action, and sent forces from Japan into Korea without Congresses approval. President Harry S. Truman appointed General of the Army Douglas MacArthur as the commander for the newly formed UN Command.

UN Forces were able to stop the North Korean military in the southeast center of the peninsula, then began to advance north after the amphibious landing at Inchon. The UN Forces pushed back the North Koreans, until China became involved in the conflict. Chinese and North Korean forces drove back the UN, where the war turned into a stalemate. The communist forces suffered two major defeats between 1951 and 1953, the first battle on Heartbreak Ridge and the latter on Pork Chop Hill, with fighting taking place in the Iron Triangle and Punch Bowl regions just north of the 38th Parallel. Often called the "Forgotten War," this conflict also included a campaign at the Chosin Reservoir, out of which came heroic warriors such as the "Frozen Chosen," or more appropriately "The Chosin Few."
On July 27, 1953 an armistice was signed resulting in a cessation of hostilities and POW exchanges. However, this armistice never actually satisfied the belligerents, and UN Forces have been in place on the 38th Parallel ever since. With the peninsula divided, both sides began the long process of rebuilding their nations and burying their dead.

Just as in World War II, many changes to the way America fought happened under fire. Close Air Support started to be refined, the Helicopter was introduced to the battlefield, US ties with NATO became stronger and segregation of US forces gave a glimpse of problems ahead for the military and this nation. The war also brought to light some of the differences between military commanders and civilian officials. During the Korean War, General MacArthur was relieved of command by President Truman, with General Matthew Ridgeway as his replacement.

The Korean War took the lives of 36,914 Americans. One of those fallen heroes lies under the plaza at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He represents those who fought and lived and those who fought and died. He lies there, under the watchful eye of the always present Sentinel, so that we will never forget their sacrifice.

Korean War
 
The Selection
 
In 1955, at the urgent request of the American Veterans of World War II (AMVETS), the Army was asked to proceed with the selection and burial of an Unknown Soldier to represent the Korean War.

A bill was introduced to Congress, under which an unknown soldier from the Korean War would be returned to Arlington National Cemetery. A House subcommittee amended the bill, to provide that the burial of an Unknown Soldier from Korea should take place on Memorial Day 1958 in conjunction with the burial of the World War II Unknown Soldier. This amended bill was as Public Law 975, 84th Congress.

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific was the setting for selection ceremony since all of the unknown war dead of the Korean War had been assembled and buried there. From the grassy oval plot opposite the flagpole and the entrance, the entire cemetery was in view, lush and green, with the blue-green water of the Pacific Ocean and famous Diamond Head Crater as a backdrop. It was an inspiring ceremony amid beautiful surroundings. Months of planning preceded the execution of the ceremony on May 15, 1958.

Pre-Selection - May 1958
Four Unknown Candidates were selected for the final ceremony, and placed inside caskets draped with the American flag. They were chosen from a number of unidentifiable remains. Once selected, the remains were escorted by the Hawaii Armed Services Police, to the Army's mortuary at Kapalama Basin, to be inspected and re-casketed. Since no clues to identity were found with any of the remains it was not necessary to exhume alternate remains, which had been earmarked for such an eventuality. The four sets of remains were then wrapped in new burial sheets and blankets, and placed in four new identical caskets.
To assure further that the remains would always be unidentifiable, the exhumation group gathered together all local records concerning the cases and executed a certificate of destruction. Once the remains had been re-casketed for the selection ceremony, they were placed in a special room at the mortuary, with a Military Police guard on constant duty. With one exception, no one was allowed to enter the room unless accompanied and observed by the guard. The day before the selection ceremony, a US Army Colonel entered the room alone, for the purpose of rearranging the caskets.

Final Selection - 15 May 1958
Early that morning the four caskets were placed in hearses and transported to the cemetery, under escort by the Armed Services Police. The ceremony began with the invocation by Chaplain (Colonel) F. B. Henry. A brief address by Lieutenant General Robert M. Cannon followed, where he introduced Master Sergeant Ned Lyle, who was designated to select the Korean War Unknown Soldier.

MSG Lyle, a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for heroic action in Korea, took a wreath of blue and white carnations (representing the Korean Service Medal) and stood for approximately one minute facing the four caskets, deliberating and looking at each one.
He then walked smartly to the end casket at his left, and placed the wreath. After taking one step backward, he rendered the hand salute.

A benediction concluded the official ceremony, but everyone remained in place while the Korean War Unknown Soldier was moved to the flagpole, to lie in repose until that afternoon.
 
The three Unknowns who subsequently were not selected to represent the Korean conflict were reburied in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, in June 1958.

Transport 
After the benediction, US Navy pallbearers carried the Unknown Soldier to a bier at the foot of the flagpole, where honor guards had previously been posted. Late in the afternoon, the casket was placed in a hearse and returned to the mortuary, where Guard of Honor watched over it.
 
The US Navy was given the responsibility of transporting this warrior home. The bodies of the Korean War Unknown Soldier and the Trans-Pacific Unknown Candidate, were taken to the Naval Air Station at Barber's Point, not too far distant from historic Pearl Harbor. On May 17, 1958 they departed by Navy Air Transport for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The USS BOSTON, the world's first combat guided-missile ship, transported the caskets to a rendezvous point off the Virginia Capes, for the final section of the World War II Unknown Soldier. The flag-draped coffins were brought aboard and escorted to the Missile Overhaul Area. There the remains of the unknown soldiers were kept under constant vigil, by an Honor Guard of Sailors and Marines.

Prior to reaching the designated rendezvous point, on the early morning of May 26th, the remains of the Trans-Atlantic Unknown Candidate were transferred from the USS BLANDY by highline to join the other remains aboard the USS BOSTON. As the casket reached a mid-point between the two ships, honors were rendered.

The USS BOSTON, now carrying all three remains headed toward the rendezvous point, to link up with the USS CANBERRA. The sister ship of the USS BOSTON, the USS CANBERRA was the second vessel to be converted to a guided-missile cruiser after having played an important role in the Pacific during World War II as a conventional cruiser.
Upon reaching the rendezvous point, with high-lines rigged and steaming at ten knots and riding a hundred feet apart, the two cruisers began the transfer of the caskets. On the decks of both ships the white-uniformed crew stood at attention.

The final selection ceremony of the World War II Unknown Soldier began promptly at noon, and upon completion the USS BLANDY came alongside the USS CANBERRA for the last transfer of caskets at sea. The two Unknown Soldiers, who were to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, were expertly high-lined aboard the destroyer. Escorted by the US Coast Guard Cutter INGHAM, the USS BLANDY was released to proceed up the Potomac River to Washington DC.

After anchoring overnight off Piney Point, Maryland, the USS BLANDY and her escort proceeded up the Potomac. As they moved past Mount Vernon and the tomb of General George Washington, the ship's crew manned the rail, according to tradition. A bell tolled, the ensign was lowered, and Taps were sounded over the Potomac as the sailors stood at attention.

Shortly after noon the destroyer and the cutter arrived at the Naval Gun Factory, to await the ceremonies planned for the following morning; where for the first time since the Unknown Soldiers had made the supreme sacrifice, they would touch the soil of the homeland.