Mission of U.S. Army in Korea during WW2?

by kc9gpj

I'm wondering what the U.S. was doing in Korea during WW2. Were they simply a deterrent to Japan? Were they a contingency that was ready to invade Japan? What units were there?

My grandmpa was there from about mid 1943-1944 in the signal corps as a TEC 5. I'm just looking to understand what his unit's mission might have been.

Thanks

daedalus_x

I would check your grandfather's sources. Korea was under Japanese military occupation until the end of World War II. There were no Allied troops present.

Are you sure you don't mean 1953-1954?

limepie20

Are you sure United States was in Korea during World War 2? They were in Korea in the Korean War of 1950-53. And there was fighting on Korean borders during World War II, but that was between Japan and China.

abt137

Some of the first evidence of the US Army presence in Korea starts in mid 1945 as the Japanese withdraw, USAFIK is the keyword. Basic info starts here:

http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/338.html

http://www.history.army.mil/books/PD-C-02.HTM