Pork Chop Hill [Mass Market Paperback]

S. Marshall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 2000

A first-hand account of the battle which became legendary in the annals of combat--a dramatic true story of war at its most brutal...and of military valor at its best.

"A distinguished contribution to the literature of war."--The New York Times

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (June 12, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425175057
• ISBN-13: 978-0425175057
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 3.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #298,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > History > Military > Korean War

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intense account of military combat, April 27, 2005

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pork Chop Hill (Mass Market Paperback)

"Pork Chop Hill," by S.L.A. Marshall, is a nonfiction work about combat during the Korean War. The title page bears the subtitle "The American Fighting Man in Action--Korea, Spring, 1953." The book's copyright page notes that a William Morrow edition was published in 1956. In the preface, author Marshall recounts that he went to Korea in 1953 to work as a war correspondent, but at Army request he took on the job of investigating and analyzing infantry tactics. He describes how he held question-and-answer sessions with groups of soldiers who had been in combat. This interesting glimpse behind the making of the book adds to the text as a whole.

Marshall describes many intense, horrific, bloody scenes of combat. He vividly portrays the agonizing suffering endured by these combat troops. He covers many significant topics, among them the following: Chinese military tactics; how U.S. and Korean troops worked together; communication on the battlefield; leadership and organization; the impact of terrain on battle; and types of weapons used. I found one of the book's most interesting sections to be an account of the Ethiopian troops who fought in the war--Marshall praises these African soldiers greatly.

The book features maps and drawings by H. Garver Miller. Marshall includes a number of illuminating quotes from the fighting troops. He vividly describes how confusing the battlefield can become--the phrase "the fog of war" came to my mind over and over again as I read this book. Another phrase that this book brings to my mind is simply: "War is hell." This gripping, graphic work really makes me appreciate the remarkable challenge faced by troops in the Korean War, and the valor with which so many faced that challenge.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pork Chop Hill by S.L.A. Marshall, April 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Pork Chop Hill (Mass Market Paperback)

Marshall's spellbinding version of the battle of Pork Chop Hill remains one of the most comprehensive books about military strategy and ground combat ever written. War veterans and military strategists would love this book.

April 1953, while peace talks continue in Panmunjom, Korea, only 70 miles away the battle of Pork Chop Hill raged. Marshall's book analyzes of one of the last battles of the War to be fought--Pork Chop Hill. Someone not familiar with what stage of the war this battle occurs may be lost by its significance. Marshall's story is about the senseless loss of lives in a battle that had no real military significance. It is recounted from the perspective of surviving soldiers through interviews immediately following the fighting.

Marshall, as a war correspondent and military operations analysis officer, is directed by the military to interview the front line men, on the battlefield, in order to make recommendations to military command of anyone deserving medals. In doing so, Marshall conveys the excruciating effort put forth by American soldiers against crafty Red Chinese, who were familiar with hillside, secret underground tunnels and well-camouflaged holes to aid in the hand-to-hand combat. Most American soldiers, recently rotated to the platoon, had not acquainted themselves with the terrain and even became lost during the night advance. At a disadvantage and exhausted, some soldiers hid in the bunkers, not even firing their rifles at the enemy.

Marshall states in his book "Compared to Gettysburg or the Ardennes, Pork Chop Hill was hardly more than a skirmish. But within the force that engaged, losses were unusually heavy."
Marshall uses this analogy to emphasize the excessive casualties for a relatively minor battle. Marshall relates how American press rushed to cover the battle at Freedom Village (that was occurring simultaneously), which left the heroism and sacrifices at Pork Chop Hill unreported. Marshall states: "The neglect" from the press was worse because a few weeks earlier the 7th Infantry had been lambasted for the loss of Old Baldy and the staging Operation Smack. They had been described as weary, slipshod, demoralized troops, and, while the Pork Chop Hill fight was on, this caustic criticism from home was repeated over Red Chinese loudspeakers to the American fighters." Psychological propaganda, a common tactic used by the Red Chinese, blasted belittling statements about the American's over loudspeakers positioned directly on the battlefield.

Marshall prints the derogatory language used by soldiers in referring to the Red Chinese as "Chinks". However, quotes from the soldier's themselves are devoid of vulgarities, lessening the emotional effect, but necessary for a book written in the early 50's to be published. This book is a factual, chronological progression of the battle, containing great detail about military tactics, and an almost matter-of-fact account of injuries and deaths.

I do not prefer this type of book because as the reader I was not able to make any emotional attachment to any single character. It seemed as though this book lacked any real plot and was written strictly to retell this struggle of power between the United Nations and the Red Chinese.

The Korean War was once considered a "police action," but to the thousand of brave soldiers, who lost their lives and survived, it was a war.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic examination of the foot-soldier's war in Korea, May 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Pork Chop Hill (Paperback)

The thing that gets me about this book is that it appears that many of the problems Marshall points out from his on-the-spot interviews with Korean war troopers are EXACTLY the ones that had such a devastating impact on our Vietnam war soldiers. Individual trooper rotation among our forces while the enemy left veterans in place to familiarize themselves with the terrain. Casual attitudes to construction of U.S. fortifications and over-reliance of artillery support while the enemy maximized concealment and exploited it for movement and deployment. Reliance on unreliable native allies. Lack of communication about objectives. Insufficient manning of positions by understrength units. etc, etc... They say the military is always prepared for the LAST war, but typically the U.S. has always been prepared for the NEXT one.