This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History

by T. R. Fehrenbach Narrated by Kevin Foley

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.

Editorial Reviews

bn.com

Drawing from official records, operations journals, and histories, this is an authoritative and hard-hitting account of the Korean War. Fehrenbach, himself a former commander in Korea, includes an overview of events along with personal stories from soldiers. A timeline and a descriptive index of the weapons used is also included.

Booknews

Originally published by MacMillan in 1963 as This Kind of War: A Study in Unpreparedness. Fehrenbach (a former commander of US Army units in Korea) presents a broad view of events in the Korean and international arenas along with the personal narratives of individual soldiers. Includes a chronology and a descriptive glossary of the principle weapons used. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

From the Publisher

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

FEBRUARY 2011 - AudioFile

Even though the author asserts that every struggle for every meaningless hill is not meticulously described herein, it seems that way as he describes the horrors of “The Forgotten War.” Interspersed are ruminations regarding the “police action’s” impact on international relations and military strategy, as well as the public response to a conflict that seemed to have no coherent goal, unlike the World Wars that came before it. Narrator Kevin Foley plods along with a listener-friendly cadence, something like that of a radio newscaster, avoiding high emotion or monosyllabic detachment—professional to the nth degree but adding little to a true and sad tale. Nevertheless, things are learned that are relevant today. D.R.W. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171014605
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	07/26/2010
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	675,240

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