The Korean War was the first military action of the Cold War. By July 1950, U.S. troops had entered the war on South Korea's behalf. As far as U.S. officials were concerned, it was a war against the forces of international communism itself. After some early back-and-forth across the 38th Parallel, the fighting stalled, and casualties mounted with nothing to show for them. Meanwhile, U.S. officials worked anxiously to fashion some sort of armistice with the North Koreans. The alternative, they feared, would be a wider war with the Soviet Union, leading to World War III. Finally, in July 1953, the Korean War came to an end. In all, some 5 million soldiers and civilians lost their lives during the war.
Below is an interactive timeline that puts High Point citizens into the events of the Korean War using photographs and information from trusted historical sources.