S2: TF Smith, while cocky and poorly disciplined, was ill prepared to deal with the NKPA armor threat.  They were using old ammunition from old WW2 delivery systems, making them ineffective against T34 tanks.  Even 105’s in direct lay didn’t have enough ammunition to be effective.  Why did the US not know or understand the armor threat in Korea already?  Where was the national level intelligence apparatus to collect such information?  Why didn’t the US not equip the US Forces to deal with one of the biggest threats (armor) of the war?  Are we not doing the same thing today with respect to the CBRN threat (decon, limited equipment on Penn, training aides, actual atropine and associated lotions)?

The US suffered from a combination post World War Two war fatigue and a heightened sense of invulnerability felt by the military forces. Due to this, the people and politicians back home were not focused on issues surrounding Korea by any means, while the US forces on the peninsula were under the impression that nothing could defeat them while backed by the full might of the military. These mindsets ultimately led to fighting a formidable enemy previously thought to be far inferior in both equipment and training, proving the US forces severely ill-prepared. As for today, one can argue that war fatigue has set in among the American population, leading to annual budgeting issues, which in turn leads to a lack of finances and resources actually on the ground to prepare for an full scale war.  I believe that the US military has been forced into a troublesome reactionary nature when it comes to war fighting, just as the forces in Korea were during the outbreak of the conflict.  Wars are usually won by the side that has extensive training and preparation.  Currently, I’m of the opinion that the US Army has been told to do both of those better than it ever has, but with hands tied behind its back.