 Following the outbreak of war between North Korea and South Korea on June 25 , 1950 , the United States mobilized a large contingent of troops to send into the beleaguered country . Initially , units occupying Japan were called into the country , but forces were eventually dispatched from the United States . In August 1950 , Kouma , who was then a Sergeant First Class , sailed for Korea along with much of the 2nd Infantry Division . It arrived there in late August and was moved into line at the Pusan Perimeter , where US troops were fighting a tight defensive line around the port city of Pusan . 
