With Eighth Army now very much in
fighting trim, and the CCF and NK forces showing
weakness and lack of resolution in meeting our
advances, General Ridgway now moved to assault to
the 38th parallel, to reach and establish the
Kansas-Wyoming Lines mostly just above the 38th
Parallel. The Truman administration was making
overtures to China for possible Cease-Fire talks,
and General MacArthur had months earlier indicated
the general area of Kansas-Wyoming as a theoretical
cease-fire line in anticipation of Truman's
actions. Truman summarily relieved General of the
Army MacArthur on April 10, nominally for
insubordination because of his public disagreements
with Truman's prosecution of the War. Whether
or not this dramatic action was justified remains
for history to decide, but at the time MacArthur
was very much in agreement with Ridgway on the
military moves being taken, and the disposition of
our forces across Korea in the event cease-fire
talks began.
In the event, Ridgway's
continuation of the series of counter-attacks did
successfully establish Line Kansas, and passed
forward beyond it towards Line Wyoming and the
so-called "Iron Triangle". Many KW
veterans feel that Truman's dismissal of
MacArthur was primarily political, with little
justification or effect on the progress of the war.
One new action General Ridgway did take, though,
with which almost all KW vets agreed. On April 16
Ridgway appointed General Hickey Chief of Staff in
relief of General Almond.