Based on a true story.  When the United States enters the Korean War, it must avert a nuclear World War III with Russia and China while two of its' most revered leaders, President Harry Truman and General Douglas MacArthur, become embroiled in a battle of power and politics.

SYNOPSIS:

Atom bombs are dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending World War II and beginning the “Cold War” era and a new fear: a nuclear World War III. The Japanese surrender and the world is relieved from the sacrifice of millions of lives from World War II. However, the international community braces as the spread of communism is experiencing major victories with its’ biggest prize: Red China--and is poised for growth.

PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN, the meek and reluctant come-from-behind hero of the 1948 election, wants a free, democratic world without another war (especially with China) in his pursuit for a third presidential term. GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR, the arrogant-in-public, beloved-in-private is the crowned prince of the Pacific after the WWII victory. General Macarthur wants to win his nation’s wars through ultimate force and seize his most coveted prize: The United States presidency. LIEUTENANT JACK KEMP, a soldier who wants to find his purpose as a soldier so that he can get back home to his family. MARGURITE “MAGGIE” HIGGINS, is a female war correspondent who overcomes sexism and war horrors to bring the stories to the masses.

On June 25, 1950—due to the negligence of the C.I.A. and military intelligence organizations--Communist North Korea invades South Korea. To prevent the spread of communism (and avoid general war with China) President Truman authorizes a United Nations intervention of military support led by General Douglas MacArthur. Lieutenant Kemp is called to action in support of the local U.S. Army units in Korea. Maggie gets assigned to report on the war as a liaison for the Herald Tribune.

With the South Korean forces pushed back south—and defeat imminent—General MacArthur calls upon the Eight Army to Stand or Die to prevent annihilation at the Naktong Valley. This is LT. Kemp’s first real battle as he first experiences the horrors of war and learns his true purpose of being a soldier. LT. Kemp and his fellow soldiers deal with being forgotten soldiers fighting in a forgotten war. Maggie Higgins gets her first glimpse of the traumas of war reporting from the front lines of the battle. The United Nations takes the Stand or Die stance and defeats the North Korean Army!

General MacArthur later makes statements regarding the United States’ soft stance on the spread of communism which infuriates Truman who wants the war in Korea to not provoke Chinese intervention. However, President Truman is reluctant to fire General MacArthur due to his outstanding military record and most recent accomplishment. Maggie Higgins is forced to leave the peninsula because she is a woman but is later reinstated by MacArthur due to her persistence. President Truman has to fire his Secretary of Defense (Louis Johnson) due to poor behavior and enlist General George C. Marshall for the position.

After the victory in the Naktong Valley, General MacArthur devises one of the most complicated plans in U.S. military history: The Inchon landing. Against all odds the amphibious landing is a success and the United Nations forces—led by General MacArthur—retake Seoul, the capitol of South Korea. Maggie conducts the Inchon Landing on Red Island with the Marines to the risk of her own life (proving her valor as a female reporter). The tide of the war is now in favor of the United Nations. LT. Kemp and his men fight a fierce battle in Seoul against North Korean forces—it is war at its finest

With victory at Inchon, President Truman requests a meeting with General MacArthur. At the conference, the two men meet and General MacArthur assures President Truman—based on his military intelligence sources--that the Chinese Communist forces will not enter into the Korean Conflict and “the boys” will be home by Christmas. Fearing any kind of negative conflict with his field commander, President Truman does not confront General MacArthur on his past behavior (criticizing the President on his softness on Communism) and, instead, awards him a service medal.

However, in October 1950, the Chinese Communist Forces intervene to decimate the Eighth Army and X Corps. President Truman, Washington D.C., and the world are shocked and surprised and labeled it a “blunder” made by General MacArthur falsely predicting the end of the war.

President Truman watches as the tide of the Korean War turns drastically against the United Nations and is forced to defend the actions of General MacArthur in public while loathing him in private. CPT. Kemp gets into fierce battles with the Chinese as he reconsiders his purpose--is he an animal or a legacy? Maggie convinces CPT. Kemp that he is a legacy. CPT. Kemp agrees as he accepts his status as legacy and heads off to fight his next battle (which will be his last--Will CPT. Kemp be another “forgotten soldier” in a forgotten war?).

During a press conference held by President Truman, a Senator reads aloud General MacArthur’s letter to him stating the defeatism of Washington D.C. and his threats against China. This is another critical letter from General MacArthur and is in violation of President Truman’s “gag order”. It is the final act prompting Truman’s wanting to fire MacArthur. President Truman meets with his advisors who concur with him to fire MacArthur. Choosing bravery over cowardice (and at the risk of his political career), President Truman makes a public announcement declaring the firing of General MacArthur. The world is shocked!

President Truman receives letters of dissatisfaction and his approval ratings drop to an all-time low. General MacArthur, however, is treated as a national hero and delivers a widely syndicated speech to the chamber of commerce. A nation is torn apart as the “forgotten war” still wages on.

President Truman awards the Congressional Medal of Honor to our fallen hero, CPT. Jack Kemp symbolizing that the soldiers who died in Korea are not “The Forgotten”.

Note: The Korean War ended in a stalemate two years later.

GODS OF THE FORGOTTEN