July 14, 1950
Pusan, Korea
Dear General MacArthur:
In view of the common military effort of the United Nations on behalf of the Republic of Korea,
in which all military forces, land, sea and air, of all the United Nations fighting in or near
Korea have been placed under your operational command, and in which you have been designated
Supreme Commander United Nations Forces, I am happy to assign to you command authority over all
land, sea, and air forces of the Republic of Korea during the period of the continuation of
the present state of hostilities, such command to be exercised either by you personally or by
such military commander or commanders to whom you may delegate the exercise of this authority
within Korea or in adjacent seas.
The Korean Army will be proud to serve under your command, and the Korean people and Government
will be equally proud and encouraged to have the overall direction of our combined combat effort
in the hands of so famous and distinguished a soldier who also in his person possesses the
delegated military authority of all the United Nations who have jointed together to resist this
infamous communist assault on the independence and integrity of our beloved land.
With continued highest and warmest feelings of personal regard,
Sincerely yours,
Syngman Rhee