[.ca] Korean War (ISBN 1585670359)

From Amazon.com:
Waged half a century ago, the three-year Korean War has been called "America's first Vietnam." It was also the first flash of fire in an otherwise cold war between the forces of capitalism and those of communism. Little was written about the war for many years, as if it were something best forgotten. Recently, books such as Martin Russ's controversial Breakout: The Chosin Reservoir Campaign, Korea 1950 and Stanley Weintraub's MacArthur's War: Korea and the Undoing of an American Hero have brought renewed attention to the bloody ordeal. Michael Hickey offers a valuable contribution to the literature with The Korean War, which examines the conflict from the point of view of America's United Nations allies, an international force comprising contingents from Turkey, England, India, Australia, Canada, Belgium, and Norway, among other countries. Hickey, who served as a lieutenant in the British forces (he modestly describes himself as an "insignificant packhorse"), examines the debates surrounding UN involvement and the British government's fear of parting ways with the Truman administration over the best approach to containing North Korean and Chinese ambitions. Hickey acknowledges events that are now much in the news, such as the South Korean military's murder of thousands of civilians thought to be sympathetic to the North. And he ventures the view that China was drawn somewhat unwillingly into the conflict after General Douglas MacArthur led a surprisingly effective counteroffensive deep into North Korean territory, uncomfortably close to the Chinese border. Yet Hickey is no apologist. He observes that the war was "well worth the effort," for with it world communism "was firmly confronted and rebuffed." Well written and carefully documented, his book offers a thoughtful history of a conflict that still haunts our time. --Gregory McNamee

Good military book:
I guess our friend Will Podmore failed to carefully read the book. the North Koreans launched a unprovoked and devestating attack on the South Koreans. When they only had a tiny strip of land left the West fought back in force-the first and apparently only time the UN would lead a semi-succesful engagement. Unfortuantly many brave men lost their lives do to the politics getting in the way of the military. Both the US lead by a reluctant Truman and a economicly challenged Britian were unable to provide the military with what it needed for vicotry. In the end we wound up with the 38th parallel DMZ permanit military disaster and allowed China and North Korea to become the nuclear threats to world peace that they are today. While using nukes against civilian targets was out of the question many military targets in China were off limits to nukes and conventinal bombs due to politics. We even let the soviets off the hook when they were piloting Migs against our bombers and supplying China and NK with weapons and political support. This book tells the story of brave US,UK,SK, and ANZAC soldiers who sacrificed everthing and were let down by their government.

When courage and resolve won the day:
Given the tremendous social upheaval that took place as a consequence of the American involvement in Vietnam, the domino theory has fallen into disfavor. While most likely not true in the sixties, at the time of the Korean war it was probably true. Eastern Europe had fallen under the Soviet grip and a civil war was fought in Greece that could have ended in a communist victory. The Marshall plan gave Western Europe new hope , but elsewhere communism appeared to be an attractive alternative to capitalism. The forces of Mao Zedong had just emerged victorious in China and colonialism was on its deathbed. When it appeared that the United States had no security interests in Korea and a quick armed victory by the forces of North Korea seemed certain, the attack came. Faced with the strength of the attack and the weakness of the South Korean forces, the choices were to accept a fait accompli on the Korean peninsula or commit huge amounts of American men and material. Fortunately for the world, the US and other western leaders chose to fight. However, the ultimate stalemate, which was in fact a victory, could easily have gone the other way. As is explained very well in this book, there were two points of crisis, the months right after the initial attack and the months after the massive Chinese entry into the war. A US response limited to diplomatic outrage would have emboldened many other moves by the communist forces around the world and other countries would have no doubt fallen into the communist orbit. However, while they were fighting it, the soldiers in Korea generally had no such grandiose thoughts. Their cause was to stay alive and to fight for their units and their pride. While the author does spend some time on the greater geopolitical considerations, most of the book describes the life and struggle of the ground forces. The chronicle of the incredible endurance and tenacity of the men who fought it out is an excellent account of what determined men can do. The author is a British veteran of the Korean campaign and that is no doubt the reason for the most glaring weakness of the book. While it is true that the British, Australian and other Commonwealth troops fought very well, they are portrayed as being the near saviors of many battles, never wavering in the face of enormous numbers of the enemy. Given that US losses were over 33,000 killed and over 100,000 wounded while the UK suffered slightly over 1,000 killed and nearly 3,000 wounded, it is clear who did the bulk of the fighting and dying. Some commentators have been presumptuous enough to argue that Ronald Reagan won the cold war as a consequence of his building up the US military. Such statements are absurd and neglect the courage and resolve of the architects of the Marshall Plan and the military forces commited to Korea. For subsequent events have clearly indicated that communism is an ideology that is all or none. It will either dominate the world or essentially cease to exist. Had the North won a resounding victory, it may have gone the other way, a thesis made clear in this generally excellent book.

Great one volume view of Korean War:
This is a book about the Korean war written by A Brit, and has lots to say about the fighting done by the Commonwealth nations which was considerable. He describes in detail not only the British, Australian, Canadian, fighting, but also the French, Thai, Philippines, Greek, Turkey contributions in the fight. Unfortunately, there are few maps to show the locations of battles he describes. Part one describes how we got into the war. The Japanese had controlled the peninsula since 1895, and the Korean language had been forbidden. It is a very difficult language, and few outsiders knew it. Thus, when we were there, communications with them was a major problem. Our ally Sigman Rhee was a brutal dictator himself and was as much a problem as ally. He, like the North Koreans wanted a unified Korea, not an armistice. Sect of State Dean Acheson's statement that did not include Korea as in our sphere of influence is described, and is considered the trigger of the war. A similar occurrence occurred in 1990 with Saddham Hussein, which gave him the idea it was OK to invade Kuwait. The term Weapons of Mass destruction was used here talking about the A bomb. Some space is devoted to the horrible condition of the South Korean Army at the start of the war. It really was more of a police force. MacArthur's abominable generalship of his garrison troops is described, as they were unfit as an army, and their equipment in many cases was useless. MacArthur commanded from Japan, never once spending a night in Korea. For the Americans, it was a top heavy staff, with general officers commanding platoons from helicopters above, as was done years later in Vietnam. The massive intelligence failure of not believing in the first place the North Koreans were going to attack and later that there were hundreds of thousands of Chinese in the hills is described. Even after the Chinese attacked, Willoughby, MacArthur's G-2 estimated only 12 Chinese divisions when there were 30. MacArthur's masterful Inchon landing is described. Planned by the Navy, executed mostly by Marines. The war was supposed to be over by Christmas, so no warm weather clothing had been issued to many units that froze in the -30 degree weather at the end of November and throughout the winter. Weapons would not work in the cold, Frostbite was the main casualty causer. The magnificent fight the Marines had to get out of the Chosin Reservoir trap, along with some British Commandos is described. The 8th Army bugout is described too. The fortunate death of Gen Walker and replacement by Gen Ridgeway is described. MacArthur's insubordination is described as one of the reasons, among many for dismissing Mac. He insisted on going North in spite of directions telling him to stay near the 38th parallel. Then he did not get clearance for political statements that he had direct orders to get cleared before releasing, causing much embarrasemnt to our government. The Air Force continued to think they could win the war by just bombing. Unfortunately, the Chinese were masters of concealment, and could not be spotted from the air. The British Centurion tank is described and its ability to shoot on the move is told. America had nothing like it for many years. The author describes the incredible cold and horrible heat of Korea, and the awful fighting conditions against the hordes of attacking Chinese. There are chapters too devoted to the secret war conducted by the CIA and others behind enemy lines. Another chapter describes the Navy contribution, and yet another the POW issues which held up the armistice for months. All in all, a great book to describe the Korean War in one volume.

Good military history of a US war of aggression:
Michael Hickey, a Colonel in the British Army, has written a revealing military, but not political, history of the Korean War. From the start, the US government had larger aims than its stated one of 'defending South Korea from aggression'. As early as 28 June 1950, its planes bombed roads, railways, industries and troops in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. In September 1950, they bombed towns and cities in the People's Republic of China and in the Soviet Union. Later on, President Eisenhower ordered the bombing of all the hydroelectric and irrigation dams in the DPRK major war crimes. In spring 1953, he threatened to drop nuclear bombs, but the PRC and DPRK did not allow this to affect the peace talks. As in World War Two, the US leaders thought strategic bombing would make ground fighting unnecessary, but as usual, bombing was damaging not decisive. The US and British governments had the gall to accuse the Communists of respecting no language but force, of having no respect for human life and of committing the most appalling atrocities. But these were all projections: whenever the Soviet Union and the PRC made diplomatic efforts to end the war, the western governments called this 'Communist trickery'. US and South Korean soldiers slaughtered prisoners of war - 177 in one POW camp alone in 1952. They committed the most dreadful mass murders: after they entered the North, South Korean forces massacred 150,000 people. By contrast the Chinese forces behaved humanely, for example, as Hickey writes, "the Chinese never knowingly fired on the Red Cross flag, nor did they interfere with the work of the medical orderlies and bearers." As it became increasingly obvious that the US government could not win this war, it became more and more isolated. The American historian Burton Kaufman wrote that the US government finally "changed its stand on the armistice talks" and signed the Armistice in July 1953, only under the 'unrelenting' pressure of its allies to end the war, backed by the 'worldwide demand for compromise and peace in Korea'.

A very balanced view:
What a great read. Its a shame some American reviewers can't accept that sometimes the mighty US military machine is out-performed by its allies (never mind its enemies); this was certainly the case during the initial North Korean successes, and again later when the Chinese joined the fighting. Far from looking through 'rose-colored glasses', the author is plainly stating facts gathered from a wide range of sources, including, presumably, personal experience. The author obviously calls it not only as he sees it, but as others do as well; he is also fulsome in his praise for the US Marines, for example. The perception that generally the British, and certainly the Australians, were of a far better standard than the US Army units it fought alongside isn't the book's 'most glaring weakness', but one of its strongest themes. People in this country should read it, accept it and move on. A highly recommended book. By the way, the Australians out-performed the Americans in Vietnam, as well.