Dr. Michael E. Lynch, Senior Historian in the Historical Services Division of the US Army Heritage and Education Center and Assistant Professor at the US Army War College, presented a lecture titled "Beyond Task Force Smith: Lessons of Unpreparedness for War in Korea" for the USAWC Non-Resident Class of 2019 on July 15, 2019. Task Force Smith, a hastily assembled task force based on the understrength, underprepared 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, fought bravely but futilely against an overwhelming North Korean enemy. The lack of readiness for war went well beyond one unfortunate infantry battalion, however. This lecture examined the period between 1945 and 1950 and the competing domestic, political, military and strategic priorities the led to Army-wide lack of readiness.
