This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History

This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History

Overview

The fiftieth anniversary of the Korean War makes this an appropriate time to revisit This Kind of War, the monumental study of the conflict that began in June 1950. Successive generations of U.S. military officers have considered this book an indispensable part of their education.

T. R. Fehrenbach's narrative brings to life the harrowing and bloody battles that were fought up and down the Korean Peninsula. 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 a clear panoramic view, sharp insight into the successes and failures of U.S. forces, and a riveting account of fierce clashes between U.N. troops and the North Korean and Chinese communist invaders.

The lessons that Colonel Fehrenbach identifies still resonate. Severe peacetime budget cuts after World War II left the U.S. military a shadow of its former self. The terrible lesson of Korea was that to send into action troops trained for nothing but "serving a hitch" in some quiet billet was an almost criminal act. Throwing these ill-trained and poorly equipped troops into the heat of battle resulted in the war's early routs. The United States was simply unprepared for war. As we enter a new century with Americans and North Koreans continuing to face each other across the 38th parallel, we would do well to remember the price we paid during the Korean War.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781400168637
Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc.
Publication date: 07/26/2010
Edition description: MP3 - Unabridged CD
Product dimensions: 5.30(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

During World War II, the late T. R. Fehrenbach served with the U.S. Infantry and Engineers as a platoon sergeant. He continued his military career in the Korean War, rising from platoon leader to company commander and then to battalion staff officer of the 72nd Tank battalion, 2nd Infantry Division.

Kevin Foley has over thirty years' experience in radio and television broadcasting, commercial voice-overs, and audiobook narration. He has recorded over one hundred and fifty audiobooks.

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"A comprehensive and impressively written history of the Korean War." —-The Washington Post

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This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History 5 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. 4 reviews.
JEldredge on LibraryThing More than 1 year ago
Simply put, the most well researched and written account of the Forgotten War available.
Guest More than 1 year ago
This book is simply outstanding. The war is described as a military lesson by viewing the blunders that led to war, going as far back as the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905 to traces causes and events. The factor of human suffering in war is depicted throughout, to put a historical 'human face' on the wars which are often merely described as battles and actions with broad colored arrows. The impact of culture is brought into play by contrasting the performances of different nations' military personnel in the field of combat and in the POW camps. And to top it off, the author transliterates the Korean names for many of the major players and roles, instead of addressing all the players from his own point of view. Read this book, and you will gain an understanding of the lessons of history and war. 'It is while men talk blithely of the lessons of history that they ignore them.'
Guest More than 1 year ago
I have read virtually every book written on the Korean conflict and none can touch this book. If our current civilian leadership and their Liddell Hart-wanna be swamis screwing up the military would read it then they might not repeat the horrendous mistakes described here.
Guest More than 1 year ago
This is a timeless classic on warfare and how America responds to armed conflict. No other book that I've read during my 12 years in the Army has described battle, its effects on soldiers, and the hardships of warfare so well. If you only read one book about the Korean War this should be it. Written before Vietnam, the book foretells some of the problems of that war with eerie accuracy. I found myself shaking my head as I read similiarities between the pre Korean army and the active army today.