John Joseph Muccio[2] (March 19, 1900 – May 19, 1989)[5][6] was an Italian-born American diplomat who served as the first United States Ambassador to Korea following the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948. His title was "Special Representative of the President" (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]
John J. Muccio | |
|---|---|
 Muccio in 1950 | |
| United States Ambassador to Guatemala | |
| In office February 1, 1960 – November 10, 1961 | |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy |
| Preceded by | Lester D. Mallory |
| Succeeded by | John O. Bell |
| 1st United States Ambassador to Iceland | |
| In office November 3, 1955 – December 16, 1959 | |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Himself (as Minister) |
| Succeeded by | Tyler Thompson |
| United States Minister to Iceland | |
| In office October 12, 1954 – November 3, 1955 | |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Edward B. Lawson |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Ambassador) |
| United States Ambassador to South Korea | |
| In office April 20, 1949 – September 8, 1952[1] | |
| President | Harry S. Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Diplomatic relations established |
| Succeeded by | Ellis O. Briggs |
| United States Consul in Hong Kong | |
| In office 1927–1929[2] | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 19, 1900 Valle Agricola, Italy[3] |
| Died | May 19, 1989 (aged 89) Washington, D.C., U.S.[4] |
| Resting place | Rock Creek Cemetery |
| Children | 4[4] |
| Alma mater | George Washington University[3] |
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 Dwight Eisenhower, Muccio served as 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
edit- ^ "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
- ^ a b "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Moza to Mulleague". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
- ^ a b "Archives". Los Angeles Times. 29 May 1989. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Brown Alumni Weekly: Our Ambassador to Korea
- ^ The United States in Asia: A Historical Dictionary
- ^ French, Howard W. (1989-05-22). "John J. Muccio, 89; Was U.S. Diplomat In Several Countries". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ Conway-Lanz, Sahr (2006). Collateral damage: Americans, noncombatant immunity, and atrocity after World War II. New York: Routledge. pp. 98–99. ISBN 978-0-415-97829-3.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Schnablel, James F. (1972). Policy and Direction: The First Year. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army. p. 395. ISBN 0-16-035955-4.
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