book reviews and summaries, comments, analysis
I enjoy this book and its marine perspective on the Korean War--at least, its Pusan to Chosin phase, which is the favorite of most authors-- but still, as a third person rendition, it is stale compared to books such as Knox's Pusan to Chosin, for example. Still, Geer's book is worthwhile reading, because he emphasizes aspects to battles (such as the Chinese attack on the Marines en route to Koto-ri, before they even arrived at the Reservoir) that other authors overlook with their perspective as journalists, instead of Marines. Still....one fatal flaw this book has. The maps SUCK. I certainly hope those grunts running the ridges had better maps to work with than the ones Geer provides us with. Somehow Geer has managed to provide maps that are simplified enough to be unrealistic while still providing enough ground detail to be confusing. Quite an accomplishment, but not one to be happy about. Some of the maps appear incorrect as well. Map #2 shows Obong-ni ridge south of Tugok, while most maps show it clearly west of the town and much closer to the Naktong bulge. Since I am now in this region of Korea on assignment, I'll hop off the train near Yongsan and have a look for myself and snap a few pictures so you ol' Korean War vets can see what this terrain looks like 50 years later. But i'll wait till it gets warmer!
Maps notwithstanding, this is a good book. Good description of the practical aspects of assembling MAG-33. Alot of comments about battles and preparedness that only a marine would recall in such detail. For example, the success at the Naktong was due to the 'hardening' the grunts received in their fight for Masan/Sachon pass. Understrength rifle companies were effectively restocked with cooks, bandsmen, evcen regimental staff-- but continued to fight tenaciously, since every Marine is a rifleman 1st. I especially liked Geer's discussion of the NKPA commander Chung tactics at Obong-Ni ridge. A captures US Army radio helped clue him in to Marine vulnerable points. To his credit Geer harps less on Army deficiencies in these battles than many authors, especially Marines, do. He does mention the Army still was unfamiliar with using air power in close combat support.
One odd oversight for Geer, whose 3rd person chronology can get wearying but is nonetheless accurate, is his failure to mention how friendly fire from their own tanks hurt the MArines on their departure from Tugok the 2nd time they cleared the Naktong bulge from enemy forces.
One strength of Geers style is that he is able to jump from groundpounding sagas to larger, strategic considerations without loss of continuity. His descritpion of the role played by Marine reserves is enlightening; 15% of the Grunts at In'chon were reserve units, 50% at Chosin! Geer is surprisingly brief in his discussion of the In'chon landings (perhaps Marine bias against MacArthur). I am still hoping to read a detailed account of the USMC's reservations about In'chon and their suggestion of Pusy'on as an alternative landing site. Geer contrasts well the views of Almond--who, unfamiliar with asians, felt the NKPA defenders could be 'maneuvered' from Seoul, much as European armies would; --with those of Smith, who felt the Asians would fight to the death block by block. The latter was closer to what happened. Again Geer points out the role air power played in smashing roadblocks. That certainly was enlightening; the average reader would think strictly in terms of tanks, snipers, and heavy use of grenades in street battles.
Similarly, there is a good description of the Chinese armies (some soldiers veterans of 17-20 years of fighting!), their ideology and battle tactics, which emphasized mobility, ambush, and encirclement. Human waves were not one of their tactics. The NKPA were informed in early September that the Chinese had crossed the Yalu; an odd point to make, for it seems to kill the hypothesis that the Chinese intervened only after the In'chon landings and consequent rush northward by UN forces.
A good book, by a good writer and a good marine. Lets hope they have a 2nd edition with better maps.