Truman orders Korea intervention without congressional authorization

President Harry S. Truman orders U.S. air and naval forces to defend South Korea after North Korea invades. Acting unilaterally and invoking commander-in-chief powers, Truman does not seek congressional approval. The administration frames the action as a UN-sanctioned police action rather than a war. This marks the first time a U.S. president wages large-scale operations without declaration of war. The Korean War eventually involves 5.7 million American personnel and over 36,000 U.S. casualties.