book review summary section
Books every Korean War Buff Must Read
- Alexander, Bevin. Korea: The First War We Lost
Solid and readable meld of military, political and strategic aspects of Korea from post WWII period to end of negotiations.
- Appleman, Roy East of Chosin
Tragedy of Task Force Faith analyzed by one of Korean Wars most gifted writers. Read it and freeze.
- Appleman, Roy Escaping the Trap
Broader analysis of entire Chosin Resorvoir campaign. Invaluable contribution to Korean War literature.
- Appleman, Roy Ridgway Duels for Korea.
Typical Appleman book: classic story of how Ridgway stabilized the lines after the rout of Chinese intervention.
- Ballenger, Lee US Marines in Korea, vol. 1: 1952
Outstanding description and analysis of Marine outpost warfare during the Korean Stalemate phase. Not as crusty as Brady's book below.
- Chris Sarno's Review of Ballengers Book. Korean War vet gives shows his gratitude for Ballenger's work.
- Bateman, Robert L. No Gun Ri: A Military History of the Korean War Incident
Batemen's exhaustively researched refutation of Hanley's texton this incident. Should be read 2nd.
- Coleman, J.D.Wonju
This narrow focus on the "Gettysburg of Korea" should be read after Appleman's books to be truly enjoyed.
- Fehrenbach, T.R. This Kind of War
Legions, not citizen soldiers, must fight in Korea.
- Geer, Andrew The New Breed
Pusan to Chosin through Marine eyes.
- Goulden, Joseph C. Korea: The Untold Story of the War
Excellent textbook on the Korean War including excerpts from formerly classified material.
- Hanley, Choe, Mendoza The Bridge at No Gun Ri
Saga of an 'atrocity' in a cupful of anti-western invective.
- Hoyt, Edwin The Pusan Perimeter
Author's frank writing style sits well with this reviewer; forget the maps, though
- Joy, Turner How Communists Negotiate
How communists lose the War but win the peace
- Knox, Donald The Korean War: Pusan to Chosin
Agony and euphoria in the trenches during for the first six months
- Lech, Raymond Broken Soldiers
Discouraging account of POWs returning from Korea: abused, forgotten, misunderstood.
- McDonald, Callum Britain and the Korean War
Excellent text shows the maturity of the Brits in foreign affairs.
- Owen, Joseph Colder Than Hell
Well written log of a marine rifle/mortar company from In'chon to Yudam-ni.
- Sandler, Stanley The Korean War, an Encyclopedia.
Great reference text with bibliography and unique assortment of chronological, factual, and personal accounts of the war.
- Shen Jian China's Road to the Korean War
China's entry into the War had nothing to do with UN crossing the parallel!
- Shrader, Charles Communist Logistics in the Korean War
The part of war we seldom see: how Communists overcame challenges of terrain and technology
- Stanton, Shelby L. America's Tenth Legion: X Corps in Korea
Lays a heavy share of the burden on General Almond for X Corps failures.
- Terry, Addison. The Battle for Pusan: a Korean War Memoir
Engaging account of 27th RCT in the Trenches from Taegu to Chipyong-ni
- Tomedi, Rudy No Bugles, No Drums
Firsthand accounts from combatants. Some unique perspectives.
Books which are helpful and informative.
- Acheson, Dean The Korean War
Secretary of State's cover-my-butt apologies for the War, its conduct, its aftermath, and its consequences.
- Apel, Otto&Pat M*A*S*H: An Army Surgeon in Korea.
Memories from a real surgeon in a real war.
- Bailey, Hubert Black Boy What Are You Fighting For
Chinese POW camp commander plays the race card
- Bailey, Sydney. The Korean Armistice.
Legal Analysis of the Armistice, repatriation, and coalition warfare in general
- Brady, James The Coldest War: A memoir of Korea
A now-paunchy marine's year in the trenches of static warfare
- Breen, Michael The Koreans: Who they are, What they want, Where their future lies.
Factual and readable account of authors' observations while living in Korea.
- Breuer, William Shadow Warriors
Here a spook, there a spook, everywhere a....
- Catchpoole, Brian The Korean War
Immensely informative and illustrated breezy summary of Korean War. Lack of Russian perspective only major flaw.
- Clayton, James Refighting the Last War
The War's main protagonists and the decisions they made
- Cotton&Neary The Korean War in History
Collection of essays and scholarly papers from a conference about the War.
- Hickey, Michael The Korean War: the West Confronts Communism"
Breezy meld of action and intrigue on the peninsula and around the world, written from a British perspective.
- Korean Military Institute The Korean War
The Korean War described by Korean Military Authorities: exhausting but comprehensive.
- Knox, Donald Korean War: Uncertain Victory
More groundpounder sagas..sequel to one listed in category above
- Maihafer, Harry From the Hudson to the Yalu
West Point officers' clinical account of Korean War combat
- McDonald, Alfred SmithKorea: Operation War Dance
The Navy's role in Korea and Post WWII through the eyes of a blue collar Swabbie.
- Melady, John. Korea: Canada's Forgotten War
Broad brush of Canada's involvement: from valor to impostors
- Russ, MartinBreakout: the Chosin Reservoir Campaign.
Book reads like a "Chosin Few" reunion written by one of their own.
- Shinn, Bill. The Forgotten War Remembered.
Korea thru the eyes of native Journalist.
- Stueck, WilliamThe Korean War
Exhaustive but informative treatment and speculations about the war and its aftermath.
- Stevens, Rudolf Old Ugly Hill
Sit on uncle Rudie's knee and hear stories about the battle for Old Baldy
- Williams, William J. A Revolutionary War: Korea and the Transformation of the Postwar World.
Korea: from paleolithic times to Kim Yong Il. An informative collection of essays.
Books of limited interest and of marginal value.
- Berry, Henry Hey Mac, Where Ya Been?
Old jarheads never die!
- Cumings, BruceKorea's Place in the Sun.
Great history but carries some socialist nanny state pandering as baggage. Ancient history is best.
- Gardella, Lawrence Sing a Song to Jenny Next
Wayward Marine on a cloak and dagger mission in Manchuria?
- Gigantes, Philip I Should Have Died
Newspaper straphanger does a stint in a POW camp.
- Hoyt, Edwin The Day the Chinese Attacked
Revisionist missive on how US foreign policy in Asia provoked the Korean War
- Kim, Myung-ki. The Korean War and International Law
Get out your legal notepad and find out why Pyongyang is a condominium
- No Kum Sok A MiG-15 to Freedom
For aviation buffs and cockpit groupies
- Paschall, Robert Witness to War
An excellent final chapter does not a good book make
- Pease, Steven E. PSYWAR: Psychological Warfare in Korea
Leaflets, lies, and loudspeakers over the battlefield
- Rishell, Lyle With a Black Platoon In Combat
White Lieutenant talks about performance of blacks under his command.
- Soderbergh, Peter. Women Marines of the Korean War era
Sagas of Women Boots in an earlier era
- Spiller, Harry American POWs in Korea: 16 Personal Accounts.
Interesting assortment of stories but poor editing is a major distraction.
- Toland, John In Mortal Combat
Incomplete text from an author with a Maggie Higgins fixation
- Weintraub, Stanley. MacArthurs War: The Undoing an American Hero.
Carping about MacArthur osbcsures a few good facts.
- Xiabing Li, Millet and Bin Yu Mao's Generals Remember Korea
Some, but far too few, insights on Korea from the Chinese perspective.
Books not recommended but still reviewed: caveat emptor
- Evanhoe, Ed Dark Moon
Acronym mania reaches epidemic proportions
- Morrow, Curtis Whats a Commie Ever Done to Black People?
Outraged by racism, but apparently not by homophobia
- Stone, I.F. The Hidden History of the Korean War
Read the review to see why this book was a bestseller in Mexico!
- Thompson, James True Colors
In-your-face account of life in POW camp. Strong language
1997 GLBTDVA AWARD
FOR WEB EXCELLENCE!
Because the issue is a topical one and the the Korean War books I read and review touch on the issue (tangentially, in many cases) I have decided to include reviews of books dealing with the topic of Gays in the US Armed Forces. Warning: Strong Language, Adult Content, Offensive subject matter and writing style. These reviews are not suitable for young children; think of them as being rated, "X".
- Berube, Allen Coming Out Under Fire
Classic study of WWII gay Soldiers. Sets a a high standard that subsequent books have failed to meet.
- Jackson Donna Honorable Discharge
Best of the recent books on this subject. Unfortunately the author gets sucked into the lesbo-feminoid media frenzy.
- Shilts, Randy Conduct Unbecoming
From the "Kiss and Tell School" of journalism. A very big disappointment.
- Zeeland, Steve Barrack Buddies and Soldier Lovers
Here a home, there a home, everywhere a homeboy...Stereotypes from people who should know better.
Solid and readable meld of military, political and strategic aspects of Korea from post WWII period to end of negotiations.
Tragedy of Task Force Faith analyzed by one of Korean Wars most gifted writers. Read it and freeze.
Broader analysis of entire Chosin Resorvoir campaign. Invaluable contribution to Korean War literature.
Typical Appleman book: classic story of how Ridgway stabilized the lines after the rout of Chinese intervention.
Outstanding description and analysis of Marine outpost warfare during the Korean Stalemate phase. Not as crusty as Brady's book below.
- Chris Sarno's Review of Ballengers Book. Korean War vet gives shows his gratitude for Ballenger's work.
Batemen's exhaustively researched refutation of Hanley's texton this incident. Should be read 2nd.
This narrow focus on the "Gettysburg of Korea" should be read after Appleman's books to be truly enjoyed.
Legions, not citizen soldiers, must fight in Korea.
Pusan to Chosin through Marine eyes.
Excellent textbook on the Korean War including excerpts from formerly classified material.
Saga of an 'atrocity' in a cupful of anti-western invective.
Author's frank writing style sits well with this reviewer; forget the maps, though
How communists lose the War but win the peace
Agony and euphoria in the trenches during for the first six months
Discouraging account of POWs returning from Korea: abused, forgotten, misunderstood.
Excellent text shows the maturity of the Brits in foreign affairs.
Well written log of a marine rifle/mortar company from In'chon to Yudam-ni.
Great reference text with bibliography and unique assortment of chronological, factual, and personal accounts of the war.
China's entry into the War had nothing to do with UN crossing the parallel!
The part of war we seldom see: how Communists overcame challenges of terrain and technology
Lays a heavy share of the burden on General Almond for X Corps failures.
Engaging account of 27th RCT in the Trenches from Taegu to Chipyong-ni
Firsthand accounts from combatants. Some unique perspectives.
- Acheson, Dean The Korean War
Secretary of State's cover-my-butt apologies for the War, its conduct, its aftermath, and its consequences. - Apel, Otto&Pat M*A*S*H: An Army Surgeon in Korea.
Memories from a real surgeon in a real war.
- Bailey, Hubert Black Boy What Are You Fighting For
Chinese POW camp commander plays the race card - Bailey, Sydney. The Korean Armistice.
Legal Analysis of the Armistice, repatriation, and coalition warfare in general - Brady, James The Coldest War: A memoir of Korea
A now-paunchy marine's year in the trenches of static warfare
- Breen, Michael The Koreans: Who they are, What they want, Where their future lies.
Factual and readable account of authors' observations while living in Korea.
- Breuer, William Shadow Warriors
Here a spook, there a spook, everywhere a.... - Catchpoole, Brian The Korean War
Immensely informative and illustrated breezy summary of Korean War. Lack of Russian perspective only major flaw.
- Clayton, James Refighting the Last War
The War's main protagonists and the decisions they made - Cotton&Neary The Korean War in History
Collection of essays and scholarly papers from a conference about the War. - Hickey, Michael The Korean War: the West Confronts Communism"
Breezy meld of action and intrigue on the peninsula and around the world, written from a British perspective.
- Korean Military Institute The Korean War
The Korean War described by Korean Military Authorities: exhausting but comprehensive.
- Knox, Donald Korean War: Uncertain Victory
More groundpounder sagas..sequel to one listed in category above - Maihafer, Harry From the Hudson to the Yalu
West Point officers' clinical account of Korean War combat - McDonald, Alfred SmithKorea: Operation War Dance
The Navy's role in Korea and Post WWII through the eyes of a blue collar Swabbie.
- Melady, John. Korea: Canada's Forgotten War
Broad brush of Canada's involvement: from valor to impostors - Russ, MartinBreakout: the Chosin Reservoir Campaign.
Book reads like a "Chosin Few" reunion written by one of their own.
- Shinn, Bill. The Forgotten War Remembered.
Korea thru the eyes of native Journalist. - Stueck, WilliamThe Korean War
Exhaustive but informative treatment and speculations about the war and its aftermath.
- Stevens, Rudolf Old Ugly Hill
Sit on uncle Rudie's knee and hear stories about the battle for Old Baldy - Williams, William J. A Revolutionary War: Korea and the Transformation of the Postwar World.
Korea: from paleolithic times to Kim Yong Il. An informative collection of essays.
Books of limited interest and of marginal value.
- Berry, Henry Hey Mac, Where Ya Been?
Old jarheads never die!
- Cumings, BruceKorea's Place in the Sun.
Great history but carries some socialist nanny state pandering as baggage. Ancient history is best.
- Gardella, Lawrence Sing a Song to Jenny Next
Wayward Marine on a cloak and dagger mission in Manchuria?
- Gigantes, Philip I Should Have Died
Newspaper straphanger does a stint in a POW camp.
- Hoyt, Edwin The Day the Chinese Attacked
Revisionist missive on how US foreign policy in Asia provoked the Korean War
- Kim, Myung-ki. The Korean War and International Law
Get out your legal notepad and find out why Pyongyang is a condominium
- No Kum Sok A MiG-15 to Freedom
For aviation buffs and cockpit groupies
- Paschall, Robert Witness to War
An excellent final chapter does not a good book make
- Pease, Steven E. PSYWAR: Psychological Warfare in Korea
Leaflets, lies, and loudspeakers over the battlefield
- Rishell, Lyle With a Black Platoon In Combat
White Lieutenant talks about performance of blacks under his command.
- Soderbergh, Peter. Women Marines of the Korean War era
Sagas of Women Boots in an earlier era
- Spiller, Harry American POWs in Korea: 16 Personal Accounts.
Interesting assortment of stories but poor editing is a major distraction.
- Toland, John In Mortal Combat
Incomplete text from an author with a Maggie Higgins fixation
- Weintraub, Stanley. MacArthurs War: The Undoing an American Hero.
Carping about MacArthur osbcsures a few good facts.
- Xiabing Li, Millet and Bin Yu Mao's Generals Remember Korea
Some, but far too few, insights on Korea from the Chinese perspective.
Books not recommended but still reviewed: caveat emptor
- Evanhoe, Ed Dark Moon
Acronym mania reaches epidemic proportions
- Morrow, Curtis Whats a Commie Ever Done to Black People?
Outraged by racism, but apparently not by homophobia
- Stone, I.F. The Hidden History of the Korean War
Read the review to see why this book was a bestseller in Mexico!
- Thompson, James True Colors
In-your-face account of life in POW camp. Strong language
1997 GLBTDVA AWARD
FOR WEB EXCELLENCE!
Because the issue is a topical one and the the Korean War books I read and review touch on the issue (tangentially, in many cases) I have decided to include reviews of books dealing with the topic of Gays in the US Armed Forces. Warning: Strong Language, Adult Content, Offensive subject matter and writing style. These reviews are not suitable for young children; think of them as being rated, "X".
- Berube, Allen Coming Out Under Fire
Classic study of WWII gay Soldiers. Sets a a high standard that subsequent books have failed to meet.
- Jackson Donna Honorable Discharge
Best of the recent books on this subject. Unfortunately the author gets sucked into the lesbo-feminoid media frenzy.
- Shilts, Randy Conduct Unbecoming
From the "Kiss and Tell School" of journalism. A very big disappointment.
- Zeeland, Steve Barrack Buddies and Soldier Lovers
Here a home, there a home, everywhere a homeboy...Stereotypes from people who should know better.
Old jarheads never die!
Great history but carries some socialist nanny state pandering as baggage. Ancient history is best.
Wayward Marine on a cloak and dagger mission in Manchuria?
Newspaper straphanger does a stint in a POW camp.
Revisionist missive on how US foreign policy in Asia provoked the Korean War
Get out your legal notepad and find out why Pyongyang is a condominium
For aviation buffs and cockpit groupies
An excellent final chapter does not a good book make
Leaflets, lies, and loudspeakers over the battlefield
White Lieutenant talks about performance of blacks under his command.
Sagas of Women Boots in an earlier era
Interesting assortment of stories but poor editing is a major distraction.
Incomplete text from an author with a Maggie Higgins fixation
Carping about MacArthur osbcsures a few good facts.
Some, but far too few, insights on Korea from the Chinese perspective.
- Evanhoe, Ed Dark Moon
Acronym mania reaches epidemic proportions - Morrow, Curtis Whats a Commie Ever Done to Black People?
Outraged by racism, but apparently not by homophobia - Stone, I.F. The Hidden History of the Korean War
Read the review to see why this book was a bestseller in Mexico!
- Thompson, James True Colors
In-your-face account of life in POW camp. Strong language
FOR WEB EXCELLENCE!
Because the issue is a topical one and the the Korean War books I read and review touch on the issue (tangentially, in many cases) I have decided to include reviews of books dealing with the topic of Gays in the US Armed Forces. Warning: Strong Language, Adult Content, Offensive subject matter and writing style. These reviews are not suitable for young children; think of them as being rated, "X".
- Berube, Allen Coming Out Under Fire
Classic study of WWII gay Soldiers. Sets a a high standard that subsequent books have failed to meet.
- Jackson Donna Honorable Discharge
Best of the recent books on this subject. Unfortunately the author gets sucked into the lesbo-feminoid media frenzy. - Shilts, Randy Conduct Unbecoming
From the "Kiss and Tell School" of journalism. A very big disappointment. - Zeeland, Steve Barrack Buddies and Soldier Lovers
Here a home, there a home, everywhere a homeboy...Stereotypes from people who should know better.