What warfighting functions contributed most to Americans’ continual defeat and withdrawal to the Pusan Perimeter in the summer of 1950? Answer generally or focus mainly on Task Force Smith for examples to support your analysis.

Several factors were at play causing the American effort to be defeated several times in the beginning of the conflict. The lack of Mission Command had the most detrimental impact. With the Government at home refusing to acknowledge the reality of the situation as it developed, Commanders were left ill-equipped and unprepared.

The second most detrimental impact was the sustainment portion. US forces were not equipped to deal with any of the nK threat, as evidenced by their combat load. The main munitions required to battle the nK threat were the lowest stocked items on the peninsula. Intelligence feeds in here, where the Intel community could have (and likely did) provide enemy threat matrices. However, it obviously did not get the attention of senior commanders, and the lack of weapons and ammunition was the result.

In all actuality, any argument could be made supporting how any of the warfighting functions were so grossly neglected that the troops on the ground were sent into a losing battle.