• Harry S Truman National Historic Site

    Harry S Truman

    National Historic Site Missouri

Bess Truman: Childhood

Did You Know?

Unidentified U. S. Marine taking part in training exercises at the Marine Corps Training Base, Quantico, Virginia. Credit: Truman Library

When the Korean War began, the US army numbered 592,000 men, less than one-half what it had been on Pearl Harbor Day.  All American divisions lacked the equipment, training, and the mental preparedness required for combat.