Historian and retired Army Colonel Donald W. Boose Jr. has exhaustively studied and skillfully written the little known history of the Army's amphibious operations during the Korean War. Building on its extensive experiences in World War II, General MacArthur and the US Army conducted three major amphibious landings during the war, including the brilliant counterstroke in September 1950, an assault at the port of Incheon behind North Korean lines. After the massive Chinese attacks of November and December 1950, the Army conducted a number of amphibious withdrawals as it fell back southward on the Korean peninsula to more defensible positions. Throughout the war, the Army also conducted a number of non-assault amphibious operations and over-the-shore logistical operations. Since the Korean War, the Army's amphibious role has greatly decreased in importance. The Army, however, conducted extensive riverine operations in Vietnam and continues to employ them in Iraq. Additionally, over-the-shore logistics remains an important part of Army doctrine and logistical capability today. This historical study chronicles an aspect of the US Army's history that may seem remote from the challenges facing the Army in 2008. If history "proves" anything, however, it is that the hard-won lessons from the past tend to be relearned in the future. If this study makes that relearning process faster and more effective, it will have fulfilled its purpose.

"December 2008"--T.p. verso.

Introduction. A note on definitions / Amphibious heritage. American amphibious warfare to 1919 -- Amphibious doctrine and planning, 1919-38 -- The joint board -- Marine Corps developments -- Army activities -- Amphibious developments on the eve of World War II -- Development of landing ships and craft -- World War II -- Amphibious developments in 1942 -- The Army Amphibious Training Center and Engineer Amphibian Command -- Amphibious ships, craft and vehicles -- Amphibious operations in 1942 -- Amphibious operations in 1943 -- Army amphibious tank and tractor battalions -- South and southwest Pacific operations -- The Aleutians -- Mediterranean operations -- Central Pacific operations -- Amphibious operations in 1944 -- Southwest Pacific area operations -- Central Pacific operations -- Operations in Europe -- Advance to the Philippines -- Amphibious operations in 1945 -- Amphibious doctrine, planning, and training, 1945-50 -- The postwar amphibious establishment -- Resumption of amphibious exercises -- The unification and roles and missions struggle -- Post-National Security Act, Army amphibious doctrine and training -- The situation in the Far East on the eve of the Korean War -- GHQ FEC amphibious training program / Initial operations and planning. North Korean attacks and ROK and US evacuations -- Command relationship changes and arrival of US/UN forces -- Amphibious planning and Operation BLUEHEARTS -- Delay and reinforcement -- The Pusan perimeter -- Over-the-shore logistics: the Jindong-ri (Chindong-ni) operation -- Evacuation of ROK 3d Division, 13-17 August 1950 -- The Tongyeong amphibious operation -- Amphibious special operations, July-August 1950 / CHROMITE: the Incheon landing. Planning -- The plan -- 5th Marines issue -- Decisions in Washington -- Special operations in preparation for CHROMITE -- Operations LEE and TRUDY JACKSON -- GHQ FEC raider company demonstration at Gunsan -- Operational execution -- Incheon D+1 operations -- Excursions and alarms -- The Miryang battalion's Jangsa-dong operation -- The Raiders attempt at Gimpo -- Morning alarms -- The Incheon build-up, D+2 to D+4 -- Considerations of a landing at Gunsan -- Han River crossing -- The conclusion of the Incheon-Seoul operation -- ROK operations -- Incheon Port and logistic support operations /Operations in North Korea, October-December 1950. The invasion of North Korea -- Strategic setting -- X Corps mount out -- Eighth Army moves into North Korea -- Yeseong resupply operation -- Opening of Jinnampo Port -- TAILBOARD (Wonsan/Iwon), 29 October-4 November 1950 -- Special operations in support of operations in the north -- Amphibious withdrawals, December 1950 -- Evacuations of Jinnampo -- Evacuation of Wonsan and Seongjin -- Washington deliberations -- The Heungnam evacuation / The war of movement, December 1950-November 1951. Evacuation of Incheon -- Planning for evacuation of Korea and the defense of Japan -- Special operations: irregulars in the northwest islands in January-February 1951 -- Eighth Army counteroffensive -- Amphibious demonstrations and the reoccupation of Incheon -- The siege of Wonsan -- Rehabilitation of Incheon Port -- Amphibious raids, demonstrations, and special operations to support the offensive -- Hwacheon (Hwach'on) Reservoir operation, 9-11 April 1951 -- Amphibious training, March-May 1951 -- Van Fleet in command: amphibious plans, April-June 1951 -- Amphibious training, May-August 1951 -- Special operations, June-August 1951 -- Amphibious planning and training, August-November 1951 / Amphibious planning and training during the stalemate, 1952-53. Reserve amphibious units -- Amphibious training, August 1951-April 1952 -- Operations in the offshore islands -- Amphibious training, May 1952 to the end of the war -- Amphibious planning and operations, 1952-53 / Postwar activities, current situation, and lessons learned. Doctrine, force structure, and training -- Vietnam and after -- Conclusions and lessons learned / Appendix A: Korean geographical names -- Appendix B: landing ships, craft, and vehicles in use during the Korean war -- Appendix C: amphibious terms, abbreviations, and acronyms: Army doctrine in effect from 1950 to 1953.