Can Someone Recommend A Good Nonfiction Book About The Korean War?

[Smoke]

I watched M*A*S*H the other night. I realize the movie bears no resemblance to something historically accurate but I also realize I know Nothing about the Korean War.

What is a good Overview book to start with?

 

[TeamPB]

The Coldest Winter, David Halberstam.

It is a very good and readable book. Perfect for January or February evenings.

 

[Inusuit]

Second vote for the Halberstam book. Korea The untold story of the war by Joseph C. Goulden is also good.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

The Frozen Chozen(river)

 

[OFT II]

Second vote for the Halberstam book. Korea The untold story of the war by Joseph C. Goulden is also good.

Third vote.

 

[WR Moore]

I can't recall the title (Goggle is your friend: William F. Dean was the subject, may be the author) but there was a memoir about the highest ranking officer captured by the North Koreans during that "police action".

I'd expect any book about Chesty Puller would have mention of the advance in another direction (retreat from Chosin/frozen chosin in the freezin season) and other info.

 

[NYlakesider]

I can recall the title (Goggle is your friend: William F. Dean was the subject, may be the author) but there was a memoir about the highest ranking officer captured by the North Koreans during that "police action".

I'd expect any book about Chesty Puller would have mention of the advance in another direction (retreat from Chosin/frozen chosin in the freezin season) and other info.

You are quite correct, it gets a lot of print in the book "Marine"

Also David Hackworth says a lot about Korea (and other things) in his book About Face

 

[Targets Guy]

The River and the Gauntlet by S.L.A. Marshall

 

[Smoke]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I'm trying to stay away from anything specifically about the Chozin Reservoir because that was one specific event and I'm looking for an overview of the whole conflict.

 

[tlawler]

Hold Back the Night by Pat Frank(of Alas Babylon fame) is a semi-fictional account based on experiences related to him as a war correspondent in Korea. It deals with a company of Marines in the direct aftermath of the Chosin Reservoir battle and the conditions they had to deal with: multiple human wave attacks in temperatures so low that they had to keep vehicles running so that the oil in the crankcase wouldn’t freeze. I know it’s not entirely non-fiction, but it was the grittiest account I’ve ever read of the Korean War.

 

[WardenRoss]

FWIW...

My dad served in MASH units as a surgical assistant in the Pacific WW II and Korea. He loved the TV series to no end. It was the only thing he ever watched on TV.

He was an amateur photographer and had access to unlimited (expired) film (100 foot 35mm, IIRC) available from connections with the reconnaissance flyboys.

I have all his old photos from Korea. A footlocker full. They are fascinating.

He never pointed out any inaccuracies in the TV series. AND BELIEVE ME he would.

This article seems to compliment the sentiment I got from him.

A Picture From History: MASH - Pew Pew Tactical


After his military career, he served in civilian hospital surgery wards. He had more experience than many physicians. I knew of two well renowned surgeons that wouldn't go into surgery unless my dad was available.


,

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The Pusan Perimeter Edwin Hoyt
This Kind of War T.R. Fehrenbach
History of the Korean War Matthew Ridgway

 

[two-bit cowboy]

The United States Air Force in Korea, by Robert F. Futrell.

The Air Force historian wrote the book within five years of the
war's end. It's a warts-and-all view of the newest service's
growing pains, along with power struggles between it and our
land and sea forces.

Futrell is a brilliant writer. I was never bored. At 711 pages of
text it's not a weekend read, but it is a page-turner.

The base historian at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, gave my copy
to me in spring 2000. He had brought in a few cases for the
war's 50th anniversary and due to my May airshow that year
being themed to commemorate that milestone.

DoD in 2000 began a four year commemoration of the war. It
was an honor to get our 49th Fighter Wing to join in the
program, and although held two months before the 50th
anniversary of hostilities my airshow was the first event to
acknowledge the United States' involvement in the war.

 

[MetalMan]

And another vote…

 

[Kevin J.]

This is on my book shelf. For what it is worth my father served in Korea during the war 1950-53, myself 1978-81, and my wife's family lived though the war in Inchon.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

4077 MASH? My old Army Buddy Milt led a three man Ordnance Collection Team whose orders were stay up front in the Daytime.
So at Night they would drop back looking for a unit to bunk with.
Their fav were the French Legionnaires. French food and Wine!
But many times they stayed with the real 4077 MASH.
Fast forward, now it’s a TV show.
Milt got in contact with the producers and sent them several story lines.
Not sure if he ever got screen credit, but he got paid!

 

[88IROC]

"This Kind of War" by T.R. Fehrenbach. This is an easy reading, good general history.

 

[Smoke]

I put this out here and one other forum and a Facebook group for a Korean War veterans the three books that got the most votes were

The Coldest Winter By Habersham
This Kind of War" by T.R. Fehrenbach.
And The Coldest War by James Brady.

I can get all three of them on eBay for less than 25 bucks so I think that's where I'm going. Thank you all for your suggestions

 

[Baggy Wrinkle]

Try “The Bridges of Toko Ri”.

 

[Smoke]

Try “The Bridges of Toko Ri”.

Non Fiction