Book about Korean War?

[BenD550]

Well I never really learned about the Korean War in school, so I guess it was the "Forgotten War". But recently I was reading some USMC Korean War History, real brief, not much info. just the basics, and from that I couldn’t understand why a truce was agreed upon. Does anyone know of a good book about the Korean war they could recommend?

From what I read, near the end before the truce was signed the Army and 1st Marine Division had pushed North past the 38th parallel and were bombing North Korea to no effect as the Chinese would rebuild just as fast as things were bombed. Also it talked about the 1st USMC Division and how they only made 1 amphibious assault, which sounded to be successful. So why halt North of the 38th? why didn't they use Nuclear weapons? why only one amphib. assault? and why sign a truce? That is pretty much what I wanted to get out of the book, I did a search on here and on google, and didn’t really find much. I know from what i just said, I prolly sound Retarded which is why I want to learn more.

Thanks,
Ben

[JumpmasterK]

You'll have to devote some time to this one. "The Forgotten War: America In Korea 1950-1953" Not counting endnotes, sources, and acknowledgements, it is 976 pages. It is incredibly detailed, and the action elements read like a novel. It covers action down to the battlion level, and is very thorough.

The landing at Inchon (The 1st Marine Division and U.S. 7th Infantry Division) was so successful that General MacArthur planned another amphibious landing on the Korean east coast. The 1st Marine Division and 7th Infantry Division were again put to sea, steaming for the east coast. By that time, however, the allied counterattack was going well. ROK ground troops overran two planned landing sites (Wonsan, Hamhung), thus negating the need for an amphibious assault. Therefore, the 1st Marines only had the one at Inchon.

[darnold]

I'm reading a W.E.B. Griffin book called "Under Fire". I have to remind myself it's not exactly a history book though I wish history books read like it. I wonder if the book is very far off the mark on the historical characters and critical events. I'd like to read more about the pre-war indications and intelligence gathering that went on. The death of OSS and the birth of CIA is also interesting period of time since I believe it coincided with the war, but I am not sure.

[Bohr Adam]

Ahh yes - the Korean War is my pet era.

A great read, though not as thorough as Jumpmaster K's recommendation, is T.R. Fehrenbach's, "This Kind of War." It skips over whole parts to focus on giving you an overall sense of what happened, but is more reader friendly in that when he does focus in details - he goes to company level and below.

Then, I recommend getting more of the Korean perspective with GEN Paik Sun Yup's, "From Pusan to Panmunjom" After the war, he became the first ROK Army Chief of Staff, and is essentially their equivalent to George Washington (except Paik never went into politics afterwards). I actually had the honor and privilege of meeting the man a few years back.

[Aqaba]

Try James Brady's memoir "The Coldest War".

[darnold]

A Brief Account of the Korean War (http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/old%20site/public_html/toc/korean_war_topics/BRIEF%20ACCOUNT%20OF%20THE%20KOREAN%20WAR.htm)


The forgotten war : America in Korea 1950-1953 / Clay Blair.
ISBN: 0812916700
and
This kind of war : the classic Korean War history / T.R. Fehrenbach.
ISBN: 0028811135

Thank god for the library or I'd go broke, lol.
Great suggestions for reading that I'm going to look into.

[Doogie320]

Max Hastings', "The Korean War." Has a good "one over the world" view of things plus some info about our allies there.

BTAR

[JumpmasterK]

Originally posted by Adam White
Ahh yes - the Korean War is my pet era.

A great read, though not as thorough as Jumpmaster K's recommendation, is T.R. Fehrenbach's, "This Kind of War." It skips over whole parts to focus on giving you an overall sense of what happened, but is more reader friendly in that when he does focus in details - he goes to company level and below.

Then, I recommend getting more of the Korean perspective with GEN Paik Sun Yup's, "From Pusan to Panmunjom" After the war, he became the first ROK Army Chief of Staff, and is essentially their equivalent to George Washington (except Paik never went into politics afterwards). I actually had the honor and privilege of meeting the man a few years back. Paik Sun Yup's book is a fabulous read. It obviously presents the Korean perspective, one which stands out well in the Korean War genre of books. Of note, it details the struggle against Communist guerrillas in the south, and how they were essentially eradicated. This book, too, is an interesting read.