The Korean War is often regarded as the "forgotten war," however, considering its historical significance it should be anything but. It was the first pitched battle between the communist forces and a coalition of the United Nations. While it was not the last such war in Asia, it did stem the tide in East Asia and permitted South Korea to prosper while North Korea decayed. This guide is prepared with the student and interested lay reader in mind. Its purpose is to provide an overview of the Korean War through:

· a timeline of events
· an introduction that explains the place, its history, and the phases, costs, and consequences of the war
· dictionary entries that summarize the significance of the persons, places, organizations, military operations, battles, weaponry, and other elements of the war
· a bibliography of accessible resources for further research