I Remember Korea: Veterans Tell Their Stories of the Korean War, 1950-53 [Hardcover]

Linda Granfield (Author), Russell Freedman (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 17, 2003

While current events have focused the public’s attention on Korea once again, many veterans of the conflict that occurred there half a century ago worry that their time spent fighting in this "Forgotten War" will not be remembered or understood unless their story is told. Award-winning nonfiction author Linda Granfield has collected the personal accounts of thirty-two men and women who served with the U.S. and Canadian forces in Korea during the years 1950--–53 and has written her own introduction describing the main events of the war. The veterans in this book represent a variety of service areas, including medical, supplies, infantry, and naval, and their moving, sometimes graphic, recollections are illustrated with their own personal photographs. As commemorative ceremonies mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War this year, attempting to understand the human face of war is more important than ever. Timeline, glossary, bibliography, Internet resources, index.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-10--Granfield has compiled this collection of 31 reminiscences and two poems to introduce readers to the "forgotten" conflict in Korea. Noted author Russell Freedman, a Korean War veteran, recounts his own experiences in the foreword. Granfield divides the oral histories into four thematic chapters that offer insights into the fear and courage demonstrated on the battlefield, the food and recreation opportunities for the troops, the war's impact on both Allied and Korean families, and the lasting effect on those who fought in this war. The readings describe incredible bravery and sacrifice, humorous incidents, and the tragedies of lost lives and missed opportunities. Only one story was contributed by a Korean woman, but several of those written by American and Canadian veterans include their observations of the conflict's effects on the Korean population. Illustrations include a map of Korea and black-and-white snapshots of the veterans and the countryside. While this book does not provide specific details about the reasons for or the military operations in the war, it will help young readers see the human side of this often overlooked conflict. It complements battle histories such as Maurice Isserman's recently updated Korean War (Facts On File, 2003).--Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-12. A Korean War veteran who liked Granfield's books about World War I and World War II asked her to write about "his war," for people like him to share with their grandchildren. With each of the affecting, first-person accounts, she provides brief introductory notes as well as snapshots of the veterans and photos of the war and Korean civilians. There's very little historical or political analysis, just a short chronological account of events. The 32 subjects are predominantly male and white, but they provide a wide range of attitudes and experiences. Many were teen soldiers. Some memories are quiet ("My memories aren't of great gallantry and brave deeds"); some reveal excitement ("I saw interesting people and customs"); several refer to the brutality of war, being a POW, harm done to civilians. The voices ring true, and as well as being of interest to veterans' families, the accounts may stimulate curriculum research in what veteran Russell Freedman's foreword calls the "Forgotten War." Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books; None edition (November 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 061817740X
• ISBN-13: 978-0618177400
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #955,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The decency that lurks in all of us -- even in war, February 21, 2004

By 

Theodore A. Rushton (PHOENIX, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Remember Korea: Veterans Tell Their Stories of the Korean War, 1950-53 (Hardcover)

If Napoleonic warfare shattered concepts deeply rooted in the past century, this fact does not inavlidate reasons for studying warfare as waged in that earlier era, Col. Thomas E. Griess, of US Military Academy, wrote in July 1969.

Griess, head of the Department of History at West Point, wrote the foreward to "The Art of War in the 17th and 18th Centuries" which analyses the tactics of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, the "Lion of the North" in the Thirty Years War. Linda Granfield, in "I Remember Korea" about the 1950-53 Korean War, is a "historian in arms" fit for the company of any other military writer. Her book is a gem.

In contrast to the mob armies of his time, the army of King Adolphus was carefully trained, thoughtfully administered, well equipped, splendidly led. In contrast to the mob army the US sent to Vietnam, "The Art of War . . ." is a blueprint for the awesome military machine the US created after its defeat in Vietnam. The quality of American men-at-arms hasn't changed; but there is a vast improvement in leadership.

Granfield presents us with 31 poignant and telling snapshots of those who served in Korea, drawn from the experiences of the veterans of that war which ended 50 years ago. It is a reminder of the basic good nature, generosity and compassion of Americans and Canadians in the military as well as civilian life. One element of military history covers the Captains and Kings, which is part of training leaders; Granfield writes of the ordinary folks who are commanded by Captains and Kings, which is also part of training effective leaders.

Instead of writing like Napoleon, Granfield writes like Abraham Lincoln who believed, "God must love the common people, because he made so many of them." Today, any officer who doesn't respect and learn from the sergeants has zero future in the military; Granfield presents example after example of those fine qualities of the "common people."

She doesn't analyse the tactics and strategies and advances and retreats and blunders and triumphs of the war, the favorite pastime of armchair generals and obsession of real generals. Instead, her inclusion of stories such as "Lima Beans? No, thanks!" ought to be required reading for anyone and everyone, political or military, who wants to command. She has a superb sense of what matters to real people.

Unfortunately, some people may classify this as a "children's book" because of its straightforward style and concise clarity. If so, we should all be children. It's not a book to be read by freshmen at the Royal Military College in Kingston or West Point, they're still too young for it; instead, it should be assigned reading for the Senior Class with the admonition, "This is the type of people you want to command; now, as an assignment, find someone about whom you can write a story that matches Granfield."

It would be part of a useful graduation exam. If an officer-to-be cannot find a story to match these memories of a grim experience, are they really capable of seeking the best in commanding others?

As for the rest of us . . . . . it is a reminder of the decency that lurks in everyone, even under the rigors of war. She has written a gem.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some unforgettable memories of a 'forgotten' war, February 21, 2004

By 

Theodore A. Rushton (PHOENIX, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Remember Korea: Veterans Tell Their Stories of the Korean War, 1950-53 (Hardcover)

If Napoleonic warfare shattered concepts deeply rooted in the past century, this fact does not inavlidate reasons for studying
warfare as waged in that earlier era, Col. Thomas E. Griess, of US Military Academy, wrote in July 1969.

Griess, head of the Department of History at West Point, wrote the foreward to "The Art of War in the 17th and 18th
Centuries" which analyses the tactics of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, the "Lion of the North" in the Thirty Years War.
Linda Granfield, in "I Remember Korea" about the 1950-53 Korean War, is a "historian in arms" fit for the company of any
other military writer. Her book is a gem.

In contrast to the mob armies of his time, the army of King Adolphus was carefully trained, thoughtfully administered, well
equipped, splendidly led. In contrast to the mob army the US sent to Vietnam, "The Art of War . . ." is a blueprint for the
awesome military machine the US created after its defeat in Vietnam. The quality of American men-at-arms hasn't changed;
but there is a vast improvement in leadership.

Granfield presents us with 31 poignant and telling snapshots of those who served in Korea, drawn from the experiences of the
veterans of that war which ended 50 years ago. It is a reminder of the basic good nature, generosity and compassion of
Americans and Canadians in the military as well as civilian life. One element of military history covers the Captains and Kings,
which is part of training leaders; Granfield writes of the ordinary folks who are commanded by Captains and Kings, which is
also part of training effective leaders.

Instead of writing like Napoleon, Granfield writes like Abraham Lincoln who believed, "God must love the common people,
because he made so many of them." Today, any officer who doesn't respect and learn from the sergeants has zero future in the
military; Granfield presents example after example of those fine qualities of the "common people."

She doesn't analyse the tactics and strategies and advances and retreats and blunders and triumphs of the war, the favorite
pastime of armchair generals and obsession of real generals. Instead, her inclusion of stories such as "Lima Beans? No,
thanks!" ought to be required reading for anyone and everyone, political or military, who wants to command. She has a superb
sense of what matters to real people.

Unfortunately, some people may classify this as a "children's book" because of its straightforward style and concise clarity. If
so, we should all be children. It's not a book to be read by freshmen at the Royal Military College in Kingston or West Point,
they're still too young for it; instead, it should be assigned reading for the Senior Class with the admonition, "This is the type of
people you want to command; now, as an assignment, find someone about whom you can write a story that matches
Granfield."

It would be part of a useful graduation exam. If an officer-to-be cannot find a story to match these memories of a grim
experience, are they really capable of seeking the best in commanding others?

As for the rest of us . . . . . it is a reminder of the decency that lurks in everyone, even under the rigors of war. She has written
a gem.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OK if you like reading letters sent back home, January 29, 2007

By 

Richard Fuller "Fuzzed" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Remember Korea: Veterans Tell Their Stories of the Korean War, 1950-53 (Hardcover)

You may like this book if you're looking for a more personal side of the Korean conflict. The book consists of very short snippets (one or two pages) of the people who severed and may include a letter back home. The letters are very vague in nature, typical to the era. "Lost my buddy yesterday, things looking better today . . ." sort of thing but don't expect any details or circumstances.