Chosin: Heroic Ordeal of the Korean War [Paperback]

Eric Hammel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 23, 1994

The epic retreat-under-fire of the 1st Marine Division offers a valuable perspective on war at the gut level.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Presidio Press (November 23, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891415270
• ISBN-13: 978-0891415275
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,296,785 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric Hammel's writing career began in the 1960s, when he was a teenager. He has had forty military history books, one novel, and more than sixty-five non-fiction articles published. Eric has worked as West Coast contributing editor for Leatherneck Magazine and as a publishing acquisitions and content editor, but he has spent most of the years since 1983 as a full-time author, editor, and publisher.

Free sample chapters from all of Eric Hammel's in-print books can be viewed at his author site, http://www.EricHammelBooks.com
All of his books are available on Amazon.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An in depth tactical account of the battle, July 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Chosin: Heroic Ordeal of the Korean War (Paperback)

I was with Able Co. 5th Marines, 1st MarDiv, and was wounded during this battle. Naturally, I was very interested in how a military historian saw it. Eric Hammil has done a thorough job of recounting the minute by minute and day by day events of the Chosin Reservoir battle. For one engaged, war becomes about a 10 square yard arena. You only see a small part and are emotionally involved with a very small group. The big picture is not available. Only from talking with others who were there can one begin to understand what happened. Hammil has done an excellent job. He covers it from the view of the individuals engaged, and from the overview of those who were in command. Excellent reading for anyone who is interested in how battles are won and lost. I could almost smell the cordite again when I read it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LIKED IT - WARTS AND ALL, September 12, 2004

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chosin: Heroic Ordeal of the Korean War (Paperback)

Very nicely done account of a very horrible event. Granted, I suppose it is not the type of book that is "everything to everyone" but it does give one author's perspective on one huge event. The author perhaps misses covering all the sides to all the hundreds of personal stories which unfolded here, but overall I enjoyed the work and suggest it's reading and indeed, it's addition to your collection.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great, except for Army side...., April 19, 2004

By 

Jeffrey J. Weber - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chosin: Heroic Ordeal of the Korean War (Paperback)

Hammel does a great job of recounting effectively the Marine breakout from the Chosin Reservior. It's obvious that he used the citations from many of the Medals of Honor and Navy Crosses that were awarded to add detail. The maps, though few, are nevertheless very helpful, and the TOO of the First Marine Division is a great addition. A great, exciting, and generally accurate read.

The only criticism I have is that Hammel's account is somewhat insulting towards the U.S. Army troops on the other side of the Reservior. I think part of this is because the U.S. Army itself had somewhat buried that story, and there were few good sources available.

Apart from that criticism, its an extremely worthwhile book. To get the full story, read this, and then Roy Appleman's fantastic "East of Chosin" for balance.