This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History, Fiftieth Anniversary Edition 50th Anniversary Edition

by T.R. Fehrenbach (Author)

413 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-1574883343

ISBN-10: 1574883348

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Updated with maps, photographs, and battlefield diagrams, this special fiftieth anniversary edition of the classic history of the Korean War is a dramatic and hard-hitting account of the conflict written from the perspective of those who fought it. Partly drawn from official records, operations journals, and histories, it is based largely on the compelling personal narratives of the small-unit commanders and their troops. Unlike any other work on the Korean War, it provides both a clear panoramic overview and a sharply drawn "you were there" account of American troops in fierce combat against the North Korean and Chinese communist invaders. As Americans and North Koreans continue to face each other across the 38th Parallel, This Kind of War commemorates the past and offers vital lessons for the future.

This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History, Fiftieth Anniversary Edition [Special Edition]

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

"The author has chosen to alternate the broad view of events on the Korean and international scene with narratives of the contemporaneous experiences of individual soldiers at the front and in rear echelons," said LJ's reviewer (LJ 1/15/63). Fehrenbach's assessment is frank and often unflattering to America's abilities and the motivation of the common soldier.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Immensely readable.”—New York Times

(New York Times)

“A comprehensive and impressively written history of the Korean War.”—Washington Post

(Washington Post)

“The lesson of the Korean War as it has not yet been told by anyone . . . terse, machine-gun bursts of common sense.”—Life magazine

(Life magazine)

“This Kind of War has been studied by two generations of soldiers. Fehrenbach describes good decisions and bad ones with insight and expertise. But what he does best of all, and what is so memorable, is his eloquent, sometimes painful description of the GIs who must bear the burden of those decisions. That is the awful beauty of this book—it cuts straight to the heart of all the political and military errors, and reveals the brave souls who have to bleed and die for mistakes made. A timely reissue of a military classic.”—Gen. Colin L. Powell

(Gen. Colin L. Powell)

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Product details

Paperback: 540 pages
Publisher: Potomac Books; 50th Anniversary edition (March 1, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1574883348
ISBN-13: 978-1574883343
Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.4 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 413 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #9 in Books > History > Military > Korean War > Campaigns
- #66 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Military
- #511 in Books > History > Asia

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Top customer reviews

Good Book. Good amount of on-the-ground accounts.

ByKampinKarlon May 1, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This author delves into some of the details by using anecdotes of a few companies' experiences in the war. While these accounts are well written and give an idea of what the combat was like, one does not feel the exhilaration or fear that one might feel reading a story authored by the soldier himself. In spite of not making the reader 'feel as though he were there', this book does a good job of describing the feeling of desperation and frustration that a commander or soldier would feel in a war in which the United States had to refrain from using its full arsenal - not just in terms of technology, but in strategy. One might feel the futility of fighting an enemy whose factories are not allowed to be destroyed because such action would have resulted in full-fledged war with China and possibly the USSR.

The author describes the new 'tactics' with which the US and UN forces had to fight. Instead of all-out, large scale action, UN forces had to hold back and especially during peace negotiation, had to hold the line against Chinese and North Korean forces.

Fehrenbach also details some of the UN forces' actions and those of the Republic of Korea; which is great for me as an American totally ignorant of the fact that the UN had committed forces to this war. The losses by the South Koreans' military were far greater than those of the Americans and that was not taught in my history class.

This account also goes into the treatment of prisoners of war by the North Koreans and Chinese and the American strategy for treating and containing their POWs.

Overall, it is a good book and I recommend it, especially to Americans unfamiliar with the war and why it was fought.

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I cannot say enough good things about this book

ByJoseph E. Demartinoon April 28, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I cannot say enough good things about this book, which sheds light on much more than the mere facts of the Korean "Conflict". AFAIK the chapter Proud Legions, which can be read as a stand-alone essay (and should be) is still required reading for candidates for promotion to general. I fear far too few in the Pentagon, in the WH and on the Hill read it, much less the full book.

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This is an excellent account of the Korean War - a thorough history ...

ByHeckelmanon April 21, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is an excellent account of the Korean War - a thorough history of the events, easily readable. You'll have a very good overview of this tragic conflict and all the events, the changes in the flow of action, as the action swept up and down the peninsula...My only reservation is the author's political-philosophical commentary - regarding overall US policy, and his preferences and opinions. Here he gets away from fact and evidence...but these parts are readily identifiable. To his credit, he manages to keep the actual events rather separate from his own editorial commentary. Good read, and very good account of the war itself.

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Plus ca Change...

ByD. J. Leedhamon January 13, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

We may now have advanced technology and "Shock and Awe" weaponry and tactics. But, as Iraq II made abundantly clear, we still need boots on the ground, blood on the soil and lots of treasure expended. And a LONG TERM commitment hard to sell in a popular democracy. And still with indecisive results. Lessons we seem not to have learned in the Korean War are with us still.

Fehrenbach lays out the military and political origins of this American anguish. The deep ambiguity of the idea of America as the World's policeman super power.

If you are looking for one of the earliest (relatively) non ideological attempts to learn the lessons it has to teach, this is a good start. Fehrenbach brings a clear-eyed perspective and seems to draw a fair minded overall picture. He is able to identify the major fault lines of Executive political-military doctrine-making in a democracy. Unfortunately he cannot offer any prescriptions. And as the rest of the 20th Century American diplomatic - war fighting policies sadly demonstrate, there are still no clear prescriptions. (Vietnam/Gulf War 2) Even into the 21st Century. Still a "work in progress".

A small caveat is that the book feels dated; very conventional and even trite in places. But the underlying reality of what he describes is enduring.

Written within a decade of the end of the Korean conflict, Fehrenbach lays out the bare bones of the major events, political and military decision-making and implementation over three torturous years. The story is horrifying and depressing. He sprinkles the base narrative with well chosen anecdotes that enliven the narrative. Illustrating the naivete, arrogance and bone headed stupidity, whether well meaning or venal - civilian political or military.

The most harrowing part of the book is not the bone headed isolationist-inspired and popularly supported destruction of the most powerful military fighting force assembled since Rome. (or maybe the Red Army) - the worst part of the book is the two years while the Chinese negotiated America to a "stalemate" while bleeding the troops to death.

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Required reading

ByDragon Flyon March 7, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This should be required reading for military personnel, politicians and those who study the history of war. Excellent sequential detail of the Conflict-Police Action-War from both military and political aspects of what happened there. With China and North Korea acting up these days lessons from the past well defined in this book may well be worth reviewing today.

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Most recent customer reviews

Three Stars

Interesting topic, but drawn out and a lot of atrocious English grammar and typos.

Published 23 hours ago by Denis Crane

Four Stars

The language may be a bit dated, but the details are accurate

Published 5 days ago by shellback

An excellent one volume history of America's baptism into limited war

An excellent one volume history of America's baptism into limited war. But, also, given its documenting the pitiful state of the Army that was sent to Korea, a cautionary tale of...Read more

Published 1 month ago by Robert

This is a great book. Tells it like it was

I was there, and this is a great book. Tells it like it was.

Published 1 month ago by Penman

Explains the War and the soft-politics that left it unfinished.

Very informative, ...like watching a movie about the Korean war.

Plus the best assessment of the harm of liberal politics and mentality that has affected America since...Read more

Published 1 month ago by A.LL.

Excellent by a trained historian who fought in Korea as an infantry officer.

Maybe the best readable history of the ground war in Korea. Does not get too much into top command structure and while some of that is discussed most is regimental level and...Read more

Published 1 month ago by Cheju Do

It was well researched and easy to read

This was one of the early works written regarding the Korean War. It was well researched and easy to read.Read more

Published 1 month ago by Spark

I was fortunate not to be in combat

Having was drafted in this war,( and it was a war, not a conflict), I was fortunate not to be in combat, but in a MASH unit which saw the results of this very "political...Read more

Published 2 months ago by Glenn H. Montgomery

A long difficult read but worth every minute. Being ...

A long difficult read but worth every minute. Being there as a teen everything in the book was essentially unknown to me.

Published 2 months ago by dennis

Although written fifty years ago, the lessons still apply.

Absolutely phenomenal treatise on the Korean War, with clear points of view and perspective from the participants.Read more

Published 2 months ago by Amazon Customer

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