Lessons from The Pusan Defense– July 28

On June 25, 1950, North Korea came across the 38th Parallel, which divides North and South Korea and in doing so launched an invasion of South Korea. US troops arrived from Japan on July 2, but they were poorly trained and equipped. Only about 10% were WW2 vets with any combat experience. These troops of the 24th division were pushed down the peninsula in successive defeats until NKPA (North Korean People’s Army) troops had moved deep into South Korea.

Three US divisions (the 24th, 25th and the 1st Cav) as well as five ROK (Republic of Korea) divisions formed a “last stand” rectangular perimeter around Pusan (which was the only deepwater port in Korea) and on July 28th, General Johnnie Walker issued his famous “Stand or Die” order. He wrote:

“We are fighting a battle against time. There will be no more retreating, withdrawal or readjustment of the lines or any other term you choose. There is no line behind us to which we can retreat.…There will be no Dunkirk [referencing the sea withdrawal of the British during WW2], there will be no Bataan [referencing the surrender and subsequent torture of the American troops]. A retreat to Pusan would be one of the greatest butcheries in history. We must fight until the end.…We will fight as a team. If some of us must die, we will die fighting together.…I want everybody to understand we are going to hold this line. We are going to win.”

The defense of this position lasted from August 1 to the middle of September. The NKPA forces kept up a relentless attack with ten divisions, but the NATO lines held and by mid September General MacArthur landed troops at Inchon (above the NKPA forces) and pushed south toward the defensive position. It is here US and ROK troops broke out and went on the offensive. NATO troops eventually pushed the NKPA forces out of South Korea all the way to the China border.

What spiritual lessons can we learn from this engagement?

1) There is strength in numbers – US forces themselves most likely could not have held the lines alone. These troops were not combat experienced. The ROK forces were fierce fighters who would stand with their American allies to the death, never flinching. As Christians, we cannot or should not bear our burdens alone. There is strength in bearing each other’s burdens.
“A threefold cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

2) You never know when God may call on you to do exploits- The men at Pusan were hurried to Korea from Japan, where they were conducting the rather quiet job of occupying a defeated country post WW2. They had no idea in a month they would be fighting for their lives. As Christians, we never know when we will be called on to “stand in the gap”. We might live a quiet, obscure life and then suddenly thrust into a spiritual “fight or die” event like Gideon was (see Judges Chpt 6). We need to always be ready to answer that call.

3) We lead by serving – The NATO lines were stretched thin at many points. Each division had 25 to 30 miles of line to defend. General Walker flew in a recon plane from position to position personally overseeing the defenses and encouraging the troops. He was inside the perimeter and his order to stand or die included himself. As Christian leaders, we often find it easy to lead by asking others to do what we do not want to do. A good leader serves those he (or she) leads by serving out front, by protecting the flock, by encouraging the fearful and timid and by showing the flock they are in the battle with them.


4) A defensive position is temporary – Eventually the NATO troops broke out and engaged the enemy in a counter attack. As Christians, we cannot sit in a defensive position in life taking wave after wave of attacks from the devil. We must attack him back with the offensive weapons God has given us. Passive faith will eventually be overrun.
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”. (Ephesians 6:17)