Product Description
Historians often refer to the Korean War as "the forgotten war," but Edwards argues that in many respects it is a conflict that has been deliberately ignored for the past fifty years. This broad look at the war examines how Americans have attempted to remember and commemorate the confrontation which played such a major role in America's Cold War experience. As a United Nations effort or Police Action, the hazy identification of the war has in part contributed to a lack of public understanding of what happened in Korea. This book considers the American response to the "loss" in Korea, and how this response played out as a failure to remember. ... Read more

Product Description

The United States Air Force fought as a truly independent service for the first time during the Korean War. Ruling the skies in many celebrated aerial battles, even against the advanced Soviet MiG-15, American fighter pilots reigned supreme.Yet they also destroyed virtually every major town and city in North Korea, demolished its entire crop irrigation system and killed close to one million civilians.

Customer Reviews (6)

A great read!
My Son In Law is in The Air Force Reserve and recommended it, and I really enjoyed this book.Too bad it did not have a hundred more pages.

A Glimpse of the Social History of American Pilots during the Korean War
In "Officers in Flight Suits" John Darrell Sherwood describes the social environment of the United States Air Force during the Korean War.Using interviews with twelve airmen who were representative of the Air Force at the time, Sherwood documents his comparative analysis of their experiences to draw conclusions about society as a whole.

The author tries to explain the "Flight Suit" mentality - the mind-set of the alpha male in search of the next thrill.{If one were to try to explain this mindset today, the reader would visualize extreme sports athletes}. By the end of the book, he actually laments at the loss of this mind-set in the Air Force of today.

The book starts off strong by providing brief biographies of twelve airmen, such as "Robbie" Risner (later a POW during the Vietnam War) and Earl Brown, a black man who retired as a three-star general.Using material from personal interviews, Sherwood breaks down various topics such as "MiG Sweeps", life at the bases in Korea, and R&R trips to Japan.After briefly covering these topics, he concludes the book by revisiting where each of the twelve officers ended up.

For readers looking for a description of aerial combat, I would recommend Fehrenbach's "This Kind of War".If you are looking for a book documenting the social history of the 1950's, this one's for you.

Officers in FlightSuits: Excellent Reading
Many authors, such as Robert Futrell and Larry Davis, have written very thorough histories of the air war in Korea, with great detail of dates, missions flown, technical date, etc.,but this is the first book on socialand cultural histories of that subject. Unlike World War II, theexploits of fighter pilots in Korea overshadowed the bombing campaigns. This book is an extensive examination of the "flight suitattitude," a combination of cockiness and pride, that has alwayscharacterized the fighter pilot."Officers in Flight Suits"details these pilot`s social background, aviation training, combateffectiveness, and off-duty activities, focusing on eleven livingparticipants (such as RobinsonRisner)after Sherwood interviewedapproximately fifty flight suit officers. The air war in Korea is bestremembered for its legendary air battles between the American F-86 Sabreand the Russian built MiG-15, which Sherwood emphasizes, but he also coversthe fighter-bomber pilots involved in air interdiction. I have visitedby phone with Mr. Sherwood several times and he is exceptionallyknowledgeable and helpful with my hobby of giving programs on the KoreanAirwar.This is a great book!If you have an interest in the Korean Warand haven`t read this book, buy it now!

Very enlightening, and brought back SAD moments of REALITYS.
Personal thoughts while reading "The Story of American Air Force Fighter Pilots",

Usually after the Flyboys, We found dead civilians & burnout villages, the CCF (Chinese Communist Forces) would be inconceal bunker,, waiting for us.

For the first two years after my returnto the states, about every night I would relive some horrible frontlineexperience in a nightmare. One night, I saw people dressed in white comingout of a cave. They were covered with blood. Some carried what must havebeen little babies. Then there was the little girl sitting by the side of aroad eating grasshoppers that she roasted in a tin can over a fire that hadonce been her home. There were dead, burned, and decapitated bodies allaround her. They were everywhere. I glimpsed in the direction of some of mysquad members. They appeared to be indifferent like they saw but didn'tsee. Occasionally a sniper would aim a shot in our direction, or therewould be a long burst from a concealed machine gun somewhere near, at whichtime we would dive for cover among the dead bodies and commence firing inthe direction we suspected the enemy gunner to be concealed. Looking backin the direction that the little girl had been, I saw that she was stillsitting there eating the grasshoppers, seemingly undisturbed. There wereother small children about, crying as they crawled over dead bodies,searching for their mothers or family members..Then would come the command"Ok Let's go, soldier, let's go!² and I would run to catch up with mysquad that was following behind the tanks.. Yes, Wars is Hell & verycrude. But if it wasn't for our Air Force many of us Infantry & groundforces wouldn't be alive..

(One of those forgotten warriors, of aforgotten wars) Now,a Pacifist

A sociological study of the fighter community in Korea.
A member of the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Basic Reading List, "Officers in Flight Suits" is an interesting study of the fighter-interceptor and fighter-bomber community during the Korean War.John Sherwood is a military historian, but writes the book from the point of view of a sociologist.He compares and constrasts the backgrounds and careers of 12 fighter pilots who saw combat in Korea, including such famous figures as Risner. Sherwood's in-depth documentation throughout the book probably make it a valuable resource for those in academia.The book is also an easy and entertaining read.Not bad for a plane trip or sitting on the beach. ... Read more

Product Description
12 original maps24 photos and illustrations6 x 9

Michael Varhola's The Korean War covers every aspect of this overlooked conflict in an original and fast-paced style. Jammed with facts, myths, statistics and analysis, Varhola's study includes chapters on leading personalities on both sides, all of the major actions including the Inchon Landing and retreat from Chosin, and the roles of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. Includes a Foreword by Col. John E. Jessup, a Korean War veteran and the author of a number of books, including An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Conflict and Conflict Resolution, 1945-1996.

Michael Varhola has written and edited several books, including Everyday Life During the Civil War. He has also founded or run several publications, including Living History and The Achiever magazines, and has been published in dozens of other publications. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

Unreadable
Bureaucratic style, full of repetitions, boring.No understanding of the complexities of war and political choices.No analysis of the causes, inevitability (?), and consequences of the war.If Beevor's books are a 100 rating benchmark (e.g.:Stalingrad, or Spanish Civil War) "Fire and Ice" rating isFire and Ice : The Korean War, 1950-1953 10

Disappointing
This is an unimaginative handbook of facts about the Korean War. It is not a history of the war.

My review
This book is full of facts of the Korean War. It would be a good first book for someone interested in the Korean War. A plus for the book (in my opinion) was that one of the co-authors was an infantry officer that fought there during the conflict.

Great read
I really enjoyed this book.Well researched.

Fully Detailed, But Not Fun to Read
I realize I'm not in agreement with all the other reviews here, but I just wanted to throw my $0.02 in.The impression I got from reading the other reviews was that this book would read something like Churchill's "Second World War" series:sort of a narrative or story covering the war.Instead, for the most part, this book is a reference book.It's got tons of information in it, but it's organized into battles within time periods.It's hard to explain.I was looking for something that said we did x because of y which resulted in these battles.Then, we did x' which led to some other battles.Instead it said something like in year x we fought battles a, b, and c.In year y, we fought battles d, e, and f.All the information is there, but the "story" part of the "history" feels lacking.

If you're studying the Korean War, I do agree that this is an excellent book.But, for a more "entertaining" study, I'd try something else (what that would be, I don't know). ... Read more

Product Description
The Korean War is often regarded as the _forgotten war,_ however, considering its historical significance it should be anything but. It was the first pitched battle between the communist forces and a coalition of the United Nations. While it was not the last such war in Asia, it did stem the tide in East Asia and permitted South Korea to prosper while North Korea decayed. This guide is prepared with the student and interested lay reader in mind. Its purpose is to provide an overview of the Korean War through:_ a timeline of events _ an introduction that explains the place, its history, and the phases, costs, and consequences of the war _ dictionary entries that summarize the significance of the persons, places, organizations, military operations, battles, weaponry, and other elements of the war _ a bibliography of accessible resources for further research ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Young West Pointers in Korean War
This book is about the experiences in the Korean War of members of the West Point class of 1949. Just one year after graduation these young officers found themselves in the middle of fierce fighting in rugged Koreanterrain. The onset of winter and the entry of the Chinese into the war soonadded two new parameters of hazard and difficulty. The author was himselfan infantry officer during the fighting and has fashioned the book from hisown experiences and those of his classmates. This is how it was.

Theearlier review by the cyclist has a number of shortcomings. I will addressthree of the most notable. The quotations below are from thatreview.

"... it behooves them ["a West Pointer/Officertype"] to remain a certain distance from the reality of War." Ifthe reviewer actually read the book, he must realize that the heroes of thebook are West Pointers who maintained a zero distance from "thereality of War": they engaged the enemy directly, face to face, insome cases with only bare bayonets when ammunition ran low.

"...makes it sound like Korea was some sort of post graduation ritual."Indeed, it was exactly that, the kind of ritual for which West Pointprepares its graduates: service to the nation, unto death if necessary. Inthe Korean War, 30 West Pointers from the class of 1949 gave their lives,and many more were wounded: a grim ritual indeed.

"I am tempted toask if Mr. Maihafer was in the same Korean War I have read aboutelsewhere." There we have it: the reviewer has read about the KoreanWar, whereas Col. Maihafer saw it up close, close enough to earn a SilverStar (for valor), a Bronze Star Medal for Valor, and a Purple Heart, whichthe reviewer's reading may have informed him means that Col. Maihafer waswounded in action. Whose view of the war is likely to be more valid, thatof the cyclist or that of the soldier who was there?

It is unfortunatethat Col. Maihafer was not able to present the war in a way that pleasedthe cyclist. However, I believe the book will be rewarding to anyone whowants to see the war as it was experienced by these young officers, as theygrew from greenhorns to hardened veterans.

Duty, Honor, Country in Combat
One evening in 1948 or early 1949, General Alfred M. Gruenther gave a no-notes talk to the members of West Point's class of 1949 in one of theMilitary Academy's lecture halls."You may think you've just wasted fouryears," I recall him saying, "that you're graduating into an army that thecountry no longer needs.If so, you are wrong.Every class that has evergraduated from West Point has had to fight in at least one war.Your classwill not be an exception."

Within only two years, certainly three,General Gruenther's statement had been validated by the outbreak of abitter war in a place few Americans had ever heard of and by theparticipation of a great many members of West Point's class of 1949. Entering combat we were still second lieutenants -- infantry platoonleaders, artillery forward observers, co-pilots -- well aware that itwasn't IF we were going to get hit, it was WHEN and HOW BAD.MostMaihafer answers that question in FROM THE HUDSON TO THE YALU.He isuniquely qualified to tell the stories of what his classmates did becausehe was in the thick of the war's hottest campaigns himself.Accordingly,Maihafer's prose is lean, his facts authentic, his achievement therecording of what it was like to fight in a war our countrymen wereforgetting even before the fighting stopped.

It is highly appropriatethat FROM THE HUDSON TO THE YALU is still available for those who willobserve the 50th Anniversary of Communist North Korea's invasion of SouthKorea.Even so, this is a book for all occasions.

Curt Anders

Stale, clinical account of Korean War from West Point grad
This is a good book but Donald Knox's books are far better. If you want to read about Adrian Brian's 'I' company adventures, why not read about them firsthand? Compared with Knox's books, Maihafer's third hand accounts arestale and clinical. This is not to say the book is bad is not an enjoyableread, just that it is more like a silent movie, compared to Knox's virtualreality style. To be honest, I expected this from a West Pointer/Officertype, as it behooves them to remain a certain distance from the reality ofWar.

My only encounter with West Pointers was years ago, when I stayedat the Hotel Thayer for an intercollegiate debate tournament being held onthe---campus? base? I never knew what to call it. Now, if you have everread the Gormenghast Trilogy about that ponderous, gothic, byzantinecastle, i assure you, the Hotel Thayer is a fairly good representation. Thewhole place was haunted with tradition--'presidents have slept here, Gary!'my debate coach intoned.Such characteristics may mold great militaryleaders, but they do not mold great writers.

Two flaws mar this book.First,Maihafers' constant reference to the fate of Class of '49 buddiesmakes it sound like Korea was some sort of post graduation ritual. I amsure the author doesn't mean to characterize Korea as some sort offraternity right-of-passage, for it was a painful and frequently fatal one;but thats' the impression I get from the text.
Second, i am tempted toask if Mr. Maihafer was in the same Korean War I have read about elsewhere.Little is said about the poor performance of Army units in the wars' earlyweeks. The collapse of discipline and chain of command in the rout atChosin is given short shrift as well. Here was an excellent chance for Armybrass to either set the record straight, or admit to its deficiencies.Maihofers book does neither. ... Read more

Product Description
This study applies goverment documents from Russian and Chinese archives to the analysis of both US and Chinese diplomatic activites. ... Read more

Product Description
The noted author and literary scholar, Samuel Hynes, has remarked that there has been no great book on the Korean War, a significant gap in American military letters. It may be hoped that this account will help to meet at least part of that challenge.

This is a narrative of John Nolan's experience as a Marine rifle platoon leader in Korea in 1951, the pivotal year of the Korean War. Much of it reads like a journal, but it also includes the experiences of a half-dozen other Marine lieutenants fighting through the fog-shrouded mountains of the East-Central front during the year the war turned around. Individually, their heroism marked some of the top combat events of that time. Taken together, these accounts tell the story of fighting that year when the last Chinese offensive was stopped cold and the UN forces slugged their way back over the 38th parallel to the final line that exists today, more than a half century later.

The lieutenants came from all over and were educated at the Naval Academy, Notre Dame, Miami University and College of the Pacific. As Marine rifle platoon leaders, they were all wounded, some several times, and abundantly decorated. And since Korea, their lives have spanned a broad range of experience. Charlie Cooper retired as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; Joe Reed was a top executive at AT&T and later led the reorganization of Chicago's public schools; Jim Marsh left his enduring mark on the Marine Corps and the vast new USMC building at Quantico is named for him; Walter Murphy, a leading educator, author and novelist, was the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton; Bill Rockey had a distinguished Marine Corps career, as did his father before him; Eddie LeBaron was voted early into the College Football Hall of Fame and later led the NFL in passing during his years with the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. John Nolan has practiced law in Washington, D.C. since shortly after returning from Korea.

What People Are Saying

"Great book! John Nolan has written a magnificent account of the Marines in action during the Korean War. It is a story about the Marine spirit and ethos. Every American should read this with pride in the Corps of Marines."
General Anthony C. Zinni, USMC (Ret.)

"It's a wonderful book. The writing is superb; it flows, it's moving, highly descriptive and strikes just the right tone - neither laconic nor emotional. Every Marine should read it."
Haynes Johnson, Journalist, Author

"This is a book about Marines, ordinary Americans who under unimaginable pressures do the extraordinary day after day. You will laugh. You will cry. And after reading John Nolan's memoir, you will have a far more profound understanding of the barbarity of war."
Mark Shields, Columnist; Commentator, The NewsHour

"John Nolan's timeless story of men in battle during the heavy fighting in Korea, 1951, bears all the marks of a classic - good men, hard men, decent men in brutal, near-constant combat. What they accomplished in those battles would be reflected later in their lives - those who kept them - as many would become highly successful in the Marine Corps and in other careers."
Colonel John W. Ripley, USMC (Ret.) (The Bridge at Dong Ha)

"John Nolan learned about leadership the hard way - leading a Marine rifle platoon in close combat in Korea. He is modest, honest and tough. And his memoir is a compelling read."
Evan Thomas, Newsweek

"If you don't know how a few good Marines helped prevent the Korean War from becoming the world's most dangerous war, then join Lt. John Nolan's 1st Platoon, Baker Co., 1stBn, 1st Marines, 1st MarDiv. The Run-Up to the Punch Bowl is a clear-eyed, gritty, rich day-by-day account of what makes Marines go up the hill."
Roger Mudd, The History Channel

"This excellent book is a tough, realistic account of Marine ground combat. And the leadership principles involved are directly relevant today."
Admiral Charles R. Larson, USN (Ret.)

"There are few things more dangerous - or rewarding - than leading a Marine rifle platoon in combat, as John Nolan did in the Korean War. Fortunately for us all, he's lived to tell about it. And no one who reads his book will again wonder about the wrenching experience that goes with responsibility for the lives of young Americans under fire - under orders to take that Hill, silence that machine gun, cover that Marine on your flank, recover the body of that Marine on your other flank. And on. This is a real book about real war, real Marines. It's terrific!"
Jim Lehrer, The NewsHour ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Veteran soldier John Nolan's reflections on serving
An oft-forgotten major conflict between World War II and Vietnam, the Korean War was a major event in American history. "The Run-Up to the Punch Bowl: A Memoir of the Korean War, 1951" is veteran soldier John Nolan's reflections on serving during this critical period, focusing on the events that he and his troop faced. Enhanced with a chapter dedicated to the lives of the men after they served in the war, "The Run-Up to the Punch Bowl: A Memoir of the Korean War, 1951" is highly recommended for community library memoir collections.

The Run-Up to the Punch Bowl
Now I know what it was like to have been in Korea during the war - it was a time when there were (apparently) a lot of brave men and the writing style makes you feel as if you were in the fox-holes with them.Amazing detail due to the letters that the author wrote and saved on a regular basis.Warning - In-Coming Cliche - It makes you proud to be an American...

Combat Memoir
The Run-Up to the Punch Bowl is a fascinating memoir by John Nolan. His Naval Academy and Marine Corps Basic School training stood him in good stead as a platoon leader whose assignment took him to the "forgotten war" in Korea.When he signed up for the Marine Corps, an immediate combat assignment was pretty far from his mind, as the world was at peace following World War II. Less than a year after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, John found himself a newly married, graduate of a foreshortened Marine Corps Basic School course at Quantico, Virginia, boots on the ground in Korea.He devotes most of his memoir to the doings ofthe people he was serving with and little of his own accomplishments, which earned him a Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Combat "V" and the Purple Heart..

I've known John, and his wife Joan, for more years than I like to remember.He's a fascinating gentleman who has many remarkable accomplishments in his life-time.His Marine Corps service in Korea is only a small part of his life but the main emphasis of this book. By writing this memoir, for posterity's sake, I'm glad he did it. While he's not a Stephan Ambrose, he tells it like it was, down and dirty, hungry and cold, wet and scared shiftless.Being there, he's a true hero of the greatest generation.

I really enjoyed reading his book, having known the man. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in first person accounts of what it was really like trying to inspire a platoon of combat Marines to greater efforts while cold, wet, hungry, and in the mud with a lot of unfriendly North Korean and Chinese infantrymen trying making you keep your head (and other parts) down.This is a story of heroism in the face of enemy fire without heroics.

It is also a story of many of the other members of Nolan's Marine Corps Basic Class and a tribute to their devotion to duty, and their accomplishments both in combat and in their subsequent careers. Our nation can be proud of these men, our United States Marines who valiantly served in Korea.We can thank John Nolan sharing their stories with us.

An excellentStory of Young Officers Going to War
Korea has been called 'The Forgotten War.' Probably because it was so overshadowed by World War II and then again maybe because it was the first of the wars that we didn't win. There has never been a great deal of literature about Korea, and it came as a surprise to me to see this new book on the experiences of a young Second Louie.

Never having been in combat, I don't know how I would handle it. But being a young officer, in command of a rifle platoon of Marines engaged in combat would be even worse. How would you, at twenty one or so order men to do what had to be done? John Nolan had to find all this out by himself, and finally he records what he went through. Why Now? As he quotes someone in the preface, 'the changes that war has made in a man requires the passage of time and the establishment of distance from the remembered self.'

Mr. Nolan spins a tale of what it was like in Korea. This is not a book of great armies in motion, this is a book of a rifle platoon. And of a young man put in charge of it.

The last couple of chapters in the book reflect on the thoughts he has had in the years since and on the further careers of several of the Marines that served with him.

Highly Recommended.

From outside the target audience!
I am normally a popular fiction type of person, but I found this accounting of the author's experiences in Korea totally compelling.It was very readable and for someone with no military experince I found it's tone to be very real.It's pace is quick and the hardship and danger are balanced out by the comradeship and even light-hearted enjoyment of simple things, like a clean pair of dungarees and a snippet of a home town paper shared among frineds.The writing never bogs you down and each chapter can stand on it's own as a piece regarding the war and the experiences within a rifle platoon.

It is a sincere and thoughtful account of a war experience, and specifically an homage to the Marine Corps and singular nature of those men who seek to serve their country in its service.The author's "Musings" hit on universal themes of bravery, patriotism and defining moments in our lives.

I highly recommend this book not only for people who have ties to military service, to anyone who has a family member or friend who has served or is serving. It would also be a super book for a book club discussion! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

the good forgotten war
this book is good for rescoure for teens to do their projects or world history paperson because the text is easy to read. They also put pictures so the book won't look as boring and give more attention to see a picture what was going on. And how horrible the war looked like.And they also explained the events that was going on very well.

The Korean War " The Forgotten War "
This is one of the greatest books I have ever read. If you like history and you want to read or learn about the Korean War then this is the book you want. ... Read more

Product Description
The impressive Second Edition of this standard study incorporates important new evidence on the origins of the war from Chinese and Russian archives. It reveals that Stalin encouraged the attack on South Korea, but also confirms that the original initiative came from North Korea. Peter Lowe has also written an extended conclusion with a discussion of the Koreas in the late 1990s, and the challenges involved in securing their reunification. ... Read more

Product Description
This concise and cogent text is a history of America's diplomatic and military involvement in the Korean War.Carrying the themes of crisis, credibility, and command throughout the book, the author emphasizes the diplomatic and political setting of the conflict, both domestically and internationally. ... Read more

Product Description
Updated with maps, photographs, and battlefield diagrams, this special fiftieth anniversary edition of the classic history of the Korean War is a dramatic and hard-hitting account of the conflict written from the perspective of those who fought it. Partly drawn from official records, operations journals, and histories, it is based largely on the compelling personal narratives of the small-unit commanders and their troops. Unlike any other work on the Korean War, it provides both a clear panoramic overview and a sharply drawn "you were there" account of American troops in fierce combat against the North Korean and Chinese communist invaders. As Americans and North Koreans continue to face each other across the 38th Parallel, This Kind of War commemorates the past and offers vital lessons for the future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (47)

Informative, interesting but full of opinionated, unbalanced ranting
I read so many reviews of this book by Fehrenbach as the "classic" and "the one to get", that I ordered it in hardback, feeling secure that I'd bought the right book...

Fehrenbach reminds me of a tired old man who's (seemingly) minimal education is a long and distant memory; one who's tendency to rant endlessly and make sure his strong, unjustified opinion is heard, trumps any sense of decency or balance - the sort of guy people quickly make up excuses to leave talking at a party.

While Fehrenbach is certainly informative, and the 20 or so maps and detailed descriptions tell me most of the things I want to know, Fehrenbach is such a ranting, raving looney that I can barely distinguish facts from his boiling, right-wing opinion - which he shoves down the reader's throat at every opportunity.

The majority of Fehrenbach's drivelling sentences are too long to quote, and is "drivel" by value of its ranting, mediocre manager-speak, cowboy philosophy. It just gets worse the longer he fails to... stop. Here's the sort of sentence you can expect:
"Clausewitz, whom the majority of Americans read only to try to refute, said..."

Would it be useful to have any other information on Clausewitz? What exactly was the reason he might be refuted more often than not? No... a load of opinionated bile is all you're going to get on this guy - get used to it.

Before I started reading, I wanted to find about MacArthur and Truman & what went on between them. I got some facts from Fehrenbach, but my overarching memory is that of Fehrenbach's unjustified, unsupported, general feeling and opinion - MacArthur was awesome, Truman was crap. Then there's the justification of why soldiers should be able to be bashed by sergeants to avoid court-martials on page 296... I don't think you want to know, I didn't.

I enjoyed this book, but only to the extent Fehrenbach got off his high horse; when the story was told and some bare facts and plain story-telling shone through.

This book could only be a classic in some sort of sentimental sense - maybe if you're in the army - it is *not* the hardbook you want sitting on your bookshelf as an encyclopedic reference.

Great book - LOUSY Kindle format
Great book; definitely recommend it. HOWEVER, do NOT buy the Kindle edition; the mis-spelling, formatting errors and outright missing information is RAMPANT; its TERRIBLE.

According to the info at the back, "this eBook was created using ReaderWorks (TM) Publisher Preview, produced by OverDrive, Inc." It did not work and it appears that no one proof-read the material after conversion; JUST TERRIBLE.

I will in the future avoid any eBook created using the above software.

This Kind of War
Too much detail about units & their movements & too much ink spent on Pullers awards & decorations.

Other wise it was a great read.
D.B.

Excellent condition
I would recommend this seller. Condition of book exceeded rating, received in timely manner, and packaged securely.

Outstanding overview of the Korean War from strategic to tactical
This is a great book for anyone who wants to get an overall view of the Korean war from the political-military to the tactical battles. This 450-page volume does an outstanding job of summarizing the Korean war from the outbreak in June 1950 to the cease-fire in July 1953. Fehrenbach strikes a good balance of following the overall strategic themes while still giving some details of the unit actions in some of the major fights.

Those looking for in-depth analysis of particular battles would want to go to books written more specifically to the units in those battles or on the battles themselves. Fehrenbach often will follow one unit or pick one out to represent the flavor of what all of the units experienced.

Many times in the book Fehrenbach goes into an interesting analysis of the nature of the Korean war and how the United States was have difficultly coming to grips with warfare short of nuclear confrontation with the Soviet Union. His comparison of the this conflict to the Roman legions defending the frontier is intriguing and generated some thought for me.

This book also gives interesting treatment to several other issues to include US preparation and intelligence that have striking parallels to the US conflicts this century in Iraq and Afghanistan. Any student of history will be interested to see the continuing themes in US involvement in conflict and how we adapt or fail to adapt. Fehrenbach also does some interesting profiles of the top and upper-level generals in this conflict. ... Read more

Product Description

Known as the "Forgotten War," the Korean War heralded a new era of warfare--one where countries from around the world struggled over the fate of a relatively small peninsula jutting into the Sea of Japan. Between 1950 and 1953, more than fifty thousand Americans gave their lives in pursuit of democracy for the Korean people.

The Korean War was also the proving ground for post-World War II aviation, when the first generation of jet aircraft took to the skies to tangle in deadly combat. It was the battlefield of Sabres and MiGs, American Hot Shots and Communist Honchos. And more than ever before, control of the skies meant victory or failure in the ground war raging below.

Now, fifty years after the war's outbreak, Hot Shots captures the voices of the original top guns, the pilots who flew Mustangs, Sabres, and Shooting Stars and confronted a superior number of enemy aircraft. Among the men who tell their stories are Lieutenant Colonel Duane E. "Bud" Biteman, one of the first fliers in the war; Lieutenant General Frederick "Boots" Blesse, double ace who led efforts to refine tactical training for the new jet pilots; Colonel Cecil Foster, who fought in one of the longest-running air-to-air jet encounters; and Colonel Harold Fischer, a double-ace flier who was captured behind enemy lines and held as a POW until 1955, two years after the official end of the war.

Editors Chancey and Forstchen combine these compelling firsthand accounts with dozens of never-before-published photographs of air force pilots at work, as well as a history of the major events of the war. Hot Shots brings to vivid life the risk, dedication, and bravery of these forgotten heroes. May their sacrifice not be in vain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Not Enough "Hot Shots"
I was very disappointed in the coverage of the USAF role in Korea.This was the first time that jet battled jet in armed combat... and yet at least a third of the book centered on the P-51's role.F-84's were mentioned, but not one '84 pilot was included.And the final third of the book was focused on a pilot who was shot down and held captive 'til long after hostilities ended.It was a story of bravery and loneliness, but it wasn't the way to end the book and could have benefitted from a great deal of editing.

Excellent Reading!
I'll make it short and sweet: Excellent reading. For anyone interested in flight. Lots of stories straight from the pilots.

The Danger of Oral History
As a former Department of the Air Force historian, I know full well thevalues and dangers of oral history. The supreme value of oral history isthat it comes straight from primary sources: those who actually witnessedhistorical events. The supreme danger is that these accounts sometimes caninvolve faulty recollections or a lack of understanding of broader events.Yet, actually having written accounts based from oral interviews, I knowthat with proper editing and a broad scope of interview subjects, you cancome up with a fascinating account.

Sadly, Hot Shots by Chancey andForstchen falls short of the mark. This book is marketed as being "AnOral History of Air Force Combat Pilots of the Korean War." However,it is apparent from the accounts in the book that the editors interviewed alimited number and scope of pilots. The book is far too slanted towards theaccounts of F-51 Mustang pilots for it to be considered a comprehensiveoral history of ALL Air Force combat pilots. For instance, F-84fighter-bombers were heavily engaged in Korea, but they get scant mentionin this book.

The editors do a good job of introducing individual pointsof the war with background information. Sadly, however, several backgroundchapters do not include any interviews from those periods! In addition, theeditors continue to make points over and over: the horrific UN withdrawalafter the Chinese invasion; American POWs being left behind at war's end.These points are valid, but they need not be repeated after their firstmention. Instead of an oral history, the book seemed to become the editors'take on the Korean War.

The book itself is at its strongest when theactual pilots give their accounts.

Hot Shots is a good book for thegeneral public with a passing interest in military history, butprofessional military historians will probably find little new here.Revelations of Soviet pilots flying over Mig Alley and the U.S. Navy's aircombat against the Russians near Vladivostok were common knowledge amongstthe Air Force historical community, at least as far back as 1996.

C.Husing ex-historian, HQ AFRES and HQ SMC, USAF

Read it all and it's good
I had the pleasure of reading Hot Shots, and was amazed the find a rather strange and vague negative review.I suspect that there is more to the ameteur revviewer's attitude than the he admits, jealousy or the intent otwrite his own book perhaps?Mr. Dargon's review is full of innuendo andcomplaints with no actual details.I found Hot Shots excellent and checkedseveral of the "facts" in the first chapter with the officialhistory of war and they all jive. Moreover the firsthand accounts gave meinsight and were exciting to read.If you want to understand what realflying was before all the technology, but at jet speeds. read this book. It is a very good thing that someone was able to put it together while thefirst 'hot shots", when that meant what it says, are still alive.Well written and a unique inside look at the first modern air combats.

Really disappointing
This is one of those books where you applaud the effort but deplore the execution. The need for more air war histories certainly exists, particularly as the participants are being removed by time, before firsthand accounts fade. The trend in history books now seems to be"editing" such oral accounts, but as seems to be the case here itis done by those having little real knowledge of the subject matter. TheKorean air war is important for a number of reasons, not the least of whichwas the development of air combat tactics with jet aircraft, and was a timewhen the warriors of the last war were side by side with the new breed,some of whom would fly in Vietnam. This book does not do the subjectjustice. Take the photos: they are poorly reproduced and oftenmis-captioned (F-80's labeled F-84's, F-94's labeled F-84's, etc.) It alsoappears that when one of the interviewees used an acronym (RTU) the editorsdidn't know -- or ask, apparently -- what it meant, so they made somethingup. "Reconaissance Technical Unit" indeed! Try "ReplacementTraining Unit." Further, a lot of time is spent on the exploits of theground supporting F-51's and that's okay, but this was the first jet war.The Mig Alley battles are given short shrift and it's almost like 1952didn't occur at all! However, I think that the story of double ace HalFischer's shoot down and imprisonment is worth a book in itself (hopefullyby someone else) and takes up the last quarter of this book. There areprecious few books out there about the Korean air war, but all of them arebetter than this one. Give it a pass. ... Read more

Product Description
Why did China enter the Korean War? What made Mao Zedong, only one year after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, decide to assist North Korea in fighting a coalition of nearly all of the Western industrial powers? Many scholars have traditionally regarded Beijing's decision to enter the war as a reaction to Washington's mistake in crossing the 38th Parallel and marching towards the Yalu. Based on extensive use of newly available Chinese sources, however, this study argues that China's entry into the Korean War was brought about by concerns much more complex than simply safeguarding the Chinese-Korean border. The author places the making of the Sino-American collision in Korea in the broader context of both the continuous development of the Chinese Communist Revolution after its nationwide victory and the emerging Cold War. He provides a fresh analytical framework within which to understand the foreign policy and security strategy of the People's Republic of China. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

An Authoritative Account
An enlightened perspective into China¡¯s decisions to enter the Korean War, a must read.

Yowzers! China has a mind of its Own!
Ah, now here is an excellent book on the Korean War which meets several standards that make it required reading. First and foremost it contains evidence which places the role China played in the Korean War in new light. Second it is well written. Third, it manages to place the Korean War in the context of the larger cold-war/northeast asian conflict between powers without also getting sidetracked into every widening spirals of intrigue between European allies, Russia, China, and the USA. Finally the book is pleasant to read, which is not an easy accomplishment for a text that has so much new material to offer on a historical subject.

The insights begin right with the introduction, when it becomes clear that Jian has a more mature approach to the War and China's role in it. He assumes that China's motives were determined by the Chinese themselves: they were not, as many western analysts assume even to this very day, a `response to American actions' and initiatives. There was much more at stake than just `preserving the Sino-Korean border!' China had just re-emerged as a world power; it had aligned itself with Moscow; and it was anxious to appear in the vanguard of the socialist revolution. Given these roles Jian argues there was "little possibility that China's entrance into the Korean War could have been averted."
Chinese nationalism was rooted in part on their feeling of `cultural superiority:' something we Americans should understand, as we feel the same way. China was, in those 1940s and early 1950s, re-emerging as a world power as it finally won its civil war with Chiang Kai Shek and re-established its territorial (Tibet) integrity and of course, sought to finish the job with Taiwan. Their task was to oppose (American) imperialism everywhere in the world, going so far as to neither trade nor accept aid from such nations. China was in no rush to be `recognized' by foreign nations, nor did they acknowledge diplomatic initiatives and titles given by the old Guomindang regime.

China had to `prove to the Soviets that, while they were an independent Communist state' they were not `Titoists;' though the Chinese `leaned to one side' (Russia) in their dealing with the superpowers, Russia was willing to let China carry the ball with respect to Asian revolutionary struggles. In a sense you might argue that Russia took responsibility for the European theatre and left Asia to the Chinese. The cooperation between Stalin and Mao with regard to Kim Il Sung's plans to attack the South,was discussed at length in Khruschev's memoirs. The author believes that Shi Zhe's account was more detailed: Mao held great reservations about Kim's plan, even though he felt Kim would proceed with the attack in any case.

China's approach in asia was based upon its conviction that the Maoist revolution (1) represented a break from imperialism; (2) that it would inevitably spread beyond China; (3) it was China's responsibility to assist these other peoples with their uprisings, and (4) countries such as Vietnam, Korea, and Taiwan were the areas where these conflicts would be waged. China's support of Ho Chi Minh against the French was a test case of this doctrine. And since Koreans had fought with the Communists against Chiang in the civil war, ties between the countries were so great that a `historian would have trouble explaining why the Chinese did NOT intervene' in Korea.

The outbreak of the war and American intervention was both a crisis and opportunity for China. They had expected war to breakout at one of 3 places (Korea, Taiwan, Indochina) anyway, and had downsized but strengthened their forces. They used the war domestically as part of a great mobilization to `Resist America and Assist Korea.' By the end of July the `Northeast Border Defense army' was in place. The Chinese followed the war closely and even successfully wargamed the In'chon landing, providing six reasons why that port would be preferable over Hungnam, Kunsan and others. Mao, upon hearing about MacArthurs' arrogance and stubbornness, stated "Fine! An arrogant enemy is easy to defeat!" Unfortunately Kim Il Sung was similarly arrogant and refused to pay attention to Chinese warnings about an In'chon landing. China was, in fact, rarin' to go into Korea by early August, but they had to rally the Communist party to their cause. In addition Russia had still to be consulted and North Korea's leader still felt he could do it on his own. After In'chon the crisis became more acute. Using global statements and diplomacy that was straight out of the playbook of the American right, China urged the Russians to support China's intervention in Korea: if Korea was to fall to American/Imperialist forces, other countries in Asia, and Manchuria, would be menaced next.

From the Chinese perspective-especially that of the Chinese soldier, marching in the bitter cold-it is a pity the Stalin now showed his true colors and reneged on his promise to provide the Chinese troops with ammunition, air and logistical support. China decided to go in anyway-proof again of the authors central theme, which is that China acted in its own interests, not those of allies or opponents-but still, the seeds for the Sino-Soviet split were sown in those early 1950s.

China took three bitter lessons from the Korean War. First, Russia and Stalin were no more to be trusted than those dastardly western imperialists. Second, conflicts with the west could be used to strengthen the legitimacy of their regime domestically by rallying troops and citizens to the anti-western cause. Third, Mao realized that it took more than massive human waves to win a war. American technology had cost the lives of hundredsofthousands of Chinese. They would need advanced armaments, and an atomic bomb of their own.

More news from the vaults!
An excellent book, one that brings to light new information from China's archives and revelations from Chen's personal interviews. Although it is to be expected that Chen's revelations about Stalin's machinations and Mao'sagonizing decision would gain his book its good reputation, I appreciatedhis attempt to relate China's war effort to its internal politicaldevelopment. If the use of war to consolidate a post-revolutionary regimeis unsurprising, as it should be, it helps when someone documents the stepsand motives leading to war, just as Chen Jian has in this superb book.

Italso helps the reader when the author writes as clearly and precisely asChen.

Fascinating look at Mao-Stalin relations
this book was the most interesting and revealing look at how China made the decision to intervene in the Korean War in 1950.the discussion of the relationship between Mao Zedong and joseph Stalin was fascinating reading. Should be required reading for China scholars and Cold War historians.

Fascinating insightful look at the relationship between Mao
I read this book as a resource for a term paper.I thought the description of the talks between Mao and Stalin about Kim IL Sung's plans to attack South Korea were really fascinating.This book revealed many things about China's conduct of the Korean War that I had not known beforereading this book.I recommend it to any scholar of the Korean War and toanyone that is interested in the relationship between China and the formerSoviet Union in the 1950s and later. ... Read more

Product Description
This remarkable collection of works by some of the most authoritative naval historians in the United States draws on many formerly classified sources to shed new light on the U.S. Navy's role in the three-year struggle to preserve the independence of the Republic of Korea. Several of the essays concentrate on fleet operations during the first critical year of the war and later years when United Nations forces fought a "static war." Others focus on the leadership of Admirals Forrest P. Sherman, C. Turner Joy, James H. Doyle, and Arleigh A. Burke and on carrier-based and ground-based naval air operations as well as the contributions of African American Sailors.

As a whole, this book documents how the Navy's domination of the seas around Korea enabled Allied forces to project combat power ashore the length and breadth of the Korean peninsula. It also shows how the powerful presence of U.S. and Allied naval forces discouraged China and the Soviet Union from launching other military adventures in the Far East, thus keeping the first "limited war" of the Cold War era confined to Korea. But far from being an aberration unlikely to be replicated, the Korean War proved to be only the first in a long line of twentieth-century and early twenty-first century conflicts involving U.S. naval forces confronting Communist and nontraditional adversaries, and a full understanding of the Korean War experience, as provided in this book, helps define the role of sea power in today's world.

Customer Reviews (1)

Solid Early Cold War Naval History
Over many years, books researched and produced by the Naval Historical Center in Washington, D.C. in tandem with the Naval Institute Press unfailingly prove to be outstanding works. NHC's fine team of historians, writers and editors produce thoughtful, analytical, accurate and, not least, attractively presented, volumes in their series of offerings, often in concert, as in this case, with the U.S. Naval Institute, America's leading publisher of quality books on U.S. and international naval history and reference. This volume on the Navy in the Korean War is certainly no exception. The book's editor, Dr. Edward Marolda, is a senior historian at the Naval Historical Center who has done wonderful work in the past on the modern Navy, particularly in his fine works on the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars. Here he has effectively linked together an excellent series of scholarly monographs produced in previous years by the NHC covering the salient aspects of the Korean War from the American perspective. These lengthy essays analyze a diverse range of topics, such as the effectiveness of the Navy's senior leadership early in the war, carrier air operations, particularly at the outset of the conflict when the U.S. naval presence in the region was minimal due to post-World War II downsizing, the Inchon amphibious operation, and a unique perspective on African American naval pilots in the war. This book is as readable and entertaining as it is informative. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
With his exhaustive research, author Shelby Stantonpieced together the history of the development and distribution ofU.S. Army clothing and equipment during the Korean War. The vastdifferences in temperature and climate in Korea presented Armyquartermasters with a unique challenge. Complete with many previouslyunpublished photos and comprehensive coverage of both summer andwinter uniforms as well as equipment and insignia, military historyenthusiasts and collectors will find this authoritative book aninvaluable resource. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Uniform Collector
HY if you need a basic info about the equipment of teh GI duringthe Korean war this is a book you cannot miss,
anyhow gives a geeral overwiev and cannot be considered as an extreem detailed guide. While can provide an interesting over all guide.

A 5-STAR WINNER!
Finally --- a book dedicated to the uniforms worn by U.S. Army troops during the Korean War (1950-53)!Shelby Stanton's detailed masterpiece is superbly researched, well-written, and filled with interesting photos.Virtually every item of clothing is covered, from long johns to heavy parkas.Also described are the Army's headgear, footwear, insignia, and some personal equipment.WAC (Women's Army Corps) uniforms are also described in detail.This reviewer found only a couple minor errors, which in no way detract from the overall high quality of the book.For instance, ENtrenching tools are referred to as INtrenching tools.And the belt pouch for carrying two .30-caliber M1 Carbine magazines is called a "rifle/carbine ammunition pocket", even though it was not designed to hold the longer .30-06 rifle ammo.These small glitchs aside, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the apparel worn by our Army personnel during the Korean War.

Definitive Developmental Study
This is a book that will stand forever as a developmental history.Having just reviewed the other three works in this set, I am surprised that no one has thought themselves competent to review this one. Competence or its lack does not seem to deter some reviewers. :) Mine comes from two sources, one I have been collecting and studying this materiel since I was a boy. Second, I was there in the fifties. Went in in 1956, just three years after the Korean War was over, so the ranks of NCOs and officers were full of vets. Much of the service slang of the time such as "Chogy"which means hustle, hustle, quick step, came from that conflict.
But this is not a combat history, it is an account of the US Army Quartermaster Corps reaction to the combat conditions in the Cold-Wet Climate and sub arctic conditions of Korea, first, and northern Europe secondly. Germany has a miserable winter climate.
It is much easier to maintain one's health in very cold dry conditions in the arctic and subarctic thantobe in cold freeze thaw daily conditions with snow and mud mixed. In Korea when continental cold waves came in these cold dry conditions ocurred but the general effect of the sea surrounding moderated it from excruciating pain to just plain miserably nasty. And in the Korean Summer the continental climate baked you.
So all of this is thoroughly discussed herein. This is not a picture book of what the soldier looked like in the field. See the many by Johnathan Gawne and Philip J. Langelier for that sort of thing. I have reviewed most of them so look them up.
Stanton was a serving officer in Vietnam and when he did his research he had access to the working files at the Army's Natick Laboratory in Masachusetts. He has used all the specifications and drawings that were published. Plus many, many official and personal photographs. In combination with his other works he has covered everything from 1939 to 1975. His complete ouevre includes WW II, Korea, Cold War, and Vietnam. I wish he would continue with the Modern Volunteer Army from 1975 on. ... Read more