The Outpost War: The U.S. Marine Corps in Korea Volume I: 1952 (History of War) (Vol 1) (Paperback)

~ Lee Ballenger (Author) "As 1952 began, the Korean War had run a course of twenty-one months..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In 1952, overriding political objectives compelled UN forces to abandon the pursuit of decisive victory in Korea. "The Outpost War" tells the story of the 1st Marine Division's move to western Korea, where these assault-trained troops were ordered to dig in and fight a defensive war. It describes their deadly learning curve and includes reports on such battles as Bunder Hill and The Hook. The use of previously unpublished archival material blended with first-person oral accounts places the reader on the battle line.

From the Publisher

Close-quarters combat during the Korean War

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Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Potomac Books Inc. (April 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574887394
• ISBN-13: 978-1574887396
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,156,141 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Spectacularly Accurate Account, April 24, 2009

By	William T. Cole Jr. "wcole67" (Naples, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was a Marine inductee (draftee) who served in Korea from September 1952 till August 1953. This was the so-called "Stalemate" portion of the war. Just read this volume of Lee Ballinger's account of "The Outpost War" and you'll laugh at the use of the word.."Stalemate". Lee tells it like it was..a vicious, bloody conflict with crummy little pock marked hills being fought over every night and scores of Marines being killed and wounded for a few useless acres of ground. What a terrible waste of young Americans! Lee has also written another (follow up) book (The Final Crucible") which takes us through the final battles of 1953 to the armistice at Panmunjom.
I urge everybody who has the slightest interest in the last years of the Korean War to purchase these two wonderful books from Amazon.

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the way it was ..., January 12, 2008

By	Hugh Hunt (Jackson, MS USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Lee Ballenger's book is a spot on account of the First Marine Division in action in Korea in 1952. As a 22-year-old artillery forward observer on line with the First Korean Marine Regiment at the Punchbowl in the East through March 1952 and Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, in the West through September 1952 I occupied many of the outposts he describes. The detail is accurate and the narrative is first-rate. This is the way it was.
For those who were there this is living history. For those who weren't it is the next best thing. Highly recommended!