Customer Reviews

Short Straw: Memoirs of Korea

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Authentic history should be recorded by those who were there and had a part in making it, not some later revisionist who wasn't there. Marine Captain and pilot B.W. Peterson was actively involved in the war with Korea and his memoirs are a most worthy source of valid personal history in his book,"Short Straw." The book is Peterson's sequel to his first book, "Briny to the Blue, Memoirs of WW2 by a Sailor/Marine Fighter Pilot." His qualifications include 27 service awards, with the Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, nine Air Medals, the Bronze Star with Combat V, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and the Purple Heart.

The author reminds us that the U.S. and the United Nations were in Korea in order to save the newly established Republic of Korea (ROK) from the invading Communist hordes, first the North Koreans and then the Chinese. Following WW2, as has been our history after a war, the U.S. again greatly reduced its military forces and was ill-prepared for another war.

Although Peterson had more than volunteered his patriotic desire during WW2, yet seeing his country poorly prepared to fight, it made him see the need to volunteer again for the Marine Corps. It was a difficult decision, leaving a loving family, comfortable home and fine job. However, he willingly tackled re-training as a Marine fighter pilot and an assignment in Korea to a Fighter Squadron (VMF-212), flying F4U Corsairs.

Much of this exciting book contains letters by Peterson written to his wife and family. In his letters, the Marine pilot portrayed his day-to-day thoughts and "gut-wrenching reality of the conflict as it unfolded from an eye-witness standpoint." The book also describes Captain Peterson's tour and experiences as a Forward Air Controller with the 1st Marine Division.

Flying the WW2 prop-driven Corsair, Peterson tells about his first in-flight encounter with the Russian made jet MIG-15 in Korea: "Suddenly, right off my cockpit and right wingtip, basketball-sized fireballs with six foot tails shot by. Then, like a shot, a Communist MIG, with that familiar swept-wing and tail, blue nose, and red star on the fuselage, went streaking by and I knew it had come from his 37 mm cannon fire. Here I am in the Jet Age, in another war, still flying a Corsair, but with my role now switched from a fighter to bomber, and being dependent on our jet fighters for our support. Nothing stays the same for long."

Peterson selected the title of his book, "Short Straw," from the situation where Forward Air Controllers were needed and his name was drawn, as in drawing straws. For a pilot who loved to fly, the ground assignment had to be a blow, but he accepted it in stride. Unfortunately, much of the responsibility of the Forward Air Controller was in the front line of the ground war, where he received a minor wound.

This is a heart warming book about a true patriot, love of family, and war. It has my enthusiastic endorsement.