John J. Muccio

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John J. Muccio
United States Consul in Hong Kong
In office
1927–1929[2]
Personal details
Born(1900-03-19)March 19, 1900
Valle Agricola, Italy[3]
DiedMay 19, 1989(1989-05-19) (aged 89)
Washington, D.C., U.S.[4]
Resting placeRock Creek Cemetery
Children4[4]
Alma materGeorge Washington University[3]

John Joseph Muccio

Harry Truman) in 1948–49 and Ambassador from 1949 through 1952. During his tenure, the Korean War began. In 1950, before the war broke out, he negotiated the first agreement on American military aid to Korea, worth $10 million at that time. Later that year, in testimony to Congress, Muccio called for increased assistance to Seoul and warned that Communist forces were a growing threat north of the 38th parallel.[7]

After the North Korean invasion in June 1950, and the dispatch of U.S. army divisions to defend South Korea, Muccio informed the State Department that U.S. commanders had decided to fire on refugees approaching U.S. lines, for fear of enemy infiltrators. His letter, dated July 26, 1950, warned of “repercussions in the United States from the effectuation of these decisions.” [8] On that same day U.S. troops began a three-day slaughter of South Korean refugees in what is known as the No Gun Ri massacre. An estimated 250-300 were killed, mostly women and children.[9][10]

Through the first two years of the war, before he returned to State Department duty in Washington, Muccio was a crucial liaison in exerting U.S. influence over the South Korean president, Syngman Rhee, helping set the stage for armistice negotiations.[11]

Under President

United States Ambassador to Iceland
, where he previously served as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.

Finally, Muccio served as

United States Ambassador to Guatemala before he retired from the United States Foreign Service
in 1961.

References

  1. ^ "Former Chiefs of Mission in Korea | Embassy of the United States Seoul Korea". Archived from the original on 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2011-08-14.. Retrieved 2013-02-14
  2. ^ a b "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Moza to Mulleague". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
  3. ^ a b "Archives". articles.latimes.com. 29 May 1989. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
  4. ^ a b French, Howard W. (22 May 1989). "John J. Muccio, 89; Was U.S. Diplomat in Several Countries". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
  5. ^ Brown Alumni Weekly: Our Ambassador to Korea
  6. ^ The United States in Asia: A Historical Dictionary
  7. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  8. ISBN 978-0-415-97829-3
    .
  9. ^ Lee, B-C (2012-10-15). "노근리재단, 과거사 특별법 제정 세미나 개최" [No Gun Ri Foundation held special law seminar]. Newsis (online news agency) (in Korean). Seoul. Retrieved 2015-06-02.
  10. ^ Hanley, Charles J. (2015-03-09). "In the Face of American Amnesia, The Grim Truths of No Gun Ri Find a Home". The Asia-Pacific Journal/Japan Focus. 13 (10). Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  11. ISBN 0-16-035955-4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help
    )
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
None
 Ambassador of United States to South Korea
1949–1952 		Succeeded by
Ellis O. Briggs
Preceded by Ambassador of United States to Iceland
1954–1959 		Succeeded by
Tyler Thompson
Preceded by Ambassador of United States to Guatemala
1960–1961 		Succeeded by
John O. Bell


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