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on April 28, 2017
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.
on April 21, 2017
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.
on January 13, 2014
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.
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.
on March 7, 2017
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.
on August 14, 2015
One of the main values of the book for me is connected with the author's having served in Korea. He is a clear thinker, and reading his analysis of events that he was seeing firsthand gave a perspective that is acquired no other way. I realize that historians after the fact also provide a necessary perspective. However, there is often the temptation to interpret the decisions made as if the participants in those decisions had access to what became known only with the passage of time. In retrospect, it is easy to argue that Truman should have allowed the military to go for the same kind of victory as it enjoyed in Japan.
And while I think that we never should have agreed to the partitioning of Korea, this book has helped me to understand why things developed as they did. In particular, I see better the logic of "limited war" a good deal better than before. (I note that understanding is not the same as agreement.)
The author's understanding of those events is necessarily not perfect. But there is much in which he understands better than anyone else.
And while I think that we never should have agreed to the partitioning of Korea, this book has helped me to understand why things developed as they did. In particular, I see better the logic of "limited war" a good deal better than before. (I note that understanding is not the same as agreement.)
The author's understanding of those events is necessarily not perfect. But there is much in which he understands better than anyone else.
on January 3, 2014
T.R. Fehrenbach served in the Korean War as an officer in the U.S. Army. His experiences shaped this book. "This Kind Of War" is an account of the military aspects of the Korean War (1950-1953) with a fair amount of social commentary to go along with it. Fehrenbach addresses the conflict in American society between the social liberalism that the civilian world values and the more Spartan, totalitarian world that the military prefers. Ferenbach comes down on the side of the military, but he makes a good case as to why armies can't engage in the more easy-going existence of the civilian world. War isn't a game and it sure isn't easy-going.
The book was first published in 1963. It's about a war that had ended (well at least the shooting stopped) ten years earlier. It's still relevant in 2012. I first read it in 1991 when I was going through the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. At that time we were focused on Iraq. Though the Communist threat had faded by then (Fehrenbach is concerned about how the Communists are more serious than the West) I still felt like it had many lessons to teach. I would argue it still does. For while one's enemies might change war doesn't. However the tone of the book isn't militaristic or warlike. The book takes a professional military viewpoint and that's significant. Those who are unfamiliar with how the U.S. military works might not understand how important that difference is, but it matters.
The book itself very readable. Dramatic and suspenseful it moves along at a brisk pace. While long ,with over six hundred pages, it never drags. If I can find any fault it would be the lack of a bibliography, footnotes and/or end-notes. There is an acknowledgement at the beginning of the book in which Fehrenbach states that the book was compiled from many sources. That's all well and good, but it would have been better to have listed those various sources. Nevertheless it's a well written book. I've held onto my copy for the past twenty-one years and ,while I long ago stopped serving in the U.S. Army, I have no intention of getting rid of it.
The book was first published in 1963. It's about a war that had ended (well at least the shooting stopped) ten years earlier. It's still relevant in 2012. I first read it in 1991 when I was going through the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. At that time we were focused on Iraq. Though the Communist threat had faded by then (Fehrenbach is concerned about how the Communists are more serious than the West) I still felt like it had many lessons to teach. I would argue it still does. For while one's enemies might change war doesn't. However the tone of the book isn't militaristic or warlike. The book takes a professional military viewpoint and that's significant. Those who are unfamiliar with how the U.S. military works might not understand how important that difference is, but it matters.
The book itself very readable. Dramatic and suspenseful it moves along at a brisk pace. While long ,with over six hundred pages, it never drags. If I can find any fault it would be the lack of a bibliography, footnotes and/or end-notes. There is an acknowledgement at the beginning of the book in which Fehrenbach states that the book was compiled from many sources. That's all well and good, but it would have been better to have listed those various sources. Nevertheless it's a well written book. I've held onto my copy for the past twenty-one years and ,while I long ago stopped serving in the U.S. Army, I have no intention of getting rid of it.
on April 3, 2015
There are many positives for this book and there are many negatives. The author has presented a series of facts which detail how the war progressed from early disasters to brilliant victories to an unsatisfactory conclusion. Since there are no maps the details of the progression of the war is difficult to follow. There are numerous typographical errors which, although are annoying, detract from the enjoyment of the reading. Furthermore the author repeatedly presents a biased view of the principal players in this war, so much so that it detracts from the book rather than adding insight. This could have been an excellent treatise, but instead it is a just a detailed presentation of a series of events which is difficult to read.
on October 30, 2015
As a West Point graduate, we studied the Korean War largely through the Atlas of American Wars by Brigadier General Esposito which was written not long after this book. I still have it and compared what I learned to this book. I wished we had been required to read this book simultaneously as, at times, almost two different wars are being described, although neither is wrong. Whereas BG Esposito looks at the war from a 50,000 foot level, this book written by a Captain who was on the ground in the war, gives the sense of the men and junior leaders fighting the war. Since Fehrenbach is also a historian, you also get a better appreciation for the historical factors that caused Americans to do so poorly in the war at various times. This is a book that all military leaders should read, particularly Company Grade officers. The United Staes has forgotten the lessons of this war and will repeat them as they attempt to force liberal, decent, ideas on the military and its structures. Unfortunately, the people forcing these ideas do not understand the needs of war and wreck havoc on the military, crippling it such that many American lives are lost before we relearn the necessary lessons on how war must be fought.
on February 25, 2015
I knew very little about the Korean War. I've studied both World Wars, Vietnam, and the Cold War in general, but Korea hardly ever comes up. I never realized how strong an effect Korea had on American policy until now. If you are interested in Foreign policy and the Cold War, I highly recommend learning about this chapter in history (if not from Fehrenbach, then from somewhere).
The writing itself is somewhat heavy on military details and will likely be difficult for someone unfamiliar with that sort of terminology. Fehrenbach also occasionally gives grand descriptions to events and players, with 'legions on the far frontier' coming fairly often in various arrangements. Having served in the military myself, I can appreciate themes like this. Given Fehrenbach's own service, it is hardly surprising to see, though I imagine others might have a lesser view of such things.
The greatest strength of the book is the ease with which Fehrenbach transitions from macro level strategic and political concerns (written in an easy to follow manner) to the micro level experiences of individual men, who are used to illuminate the struggles faced by men in all areas of the war. Having completed the book, I can see the frustration of the men in the field, unable to understand why Washington and the UN was tying their hands partway into the war; I can see why the U.S. and UN leaders were trying to hold back, hoping to avoid a general war with the Soviets; and I think I understand a little bit better what the Communists were trying to do in Korea, though I despise their leaders actions.
Personally, I reacted with a bit more emotion to this book than I expected. The events of the Korean War seem like some sort of tragic, pointless fiction rather than reality. I can understand why no one wants to dwell on it. But I think it is history that, bitter as it tastes, should be better known. I saw faint reflections of modern times reflected in this history of the Korean War, and I think there are lessons in it which should not be tossed aside.
In summary, I give 'This Kind of War' 4 stars. It is an excellent book which is perhaps a bit heavy on military maneuvering. I think some might get bogged down in these details, but it is worth pressing through. It is also far less dry than you might expect.
Note: The Kindle edition is riddled with a huge number of typos, to the point that I almost rated this three stars instead of four. Some were so baffling that I had to come to a dead stop just to figure out what I was looking at. It's still very readable as a whole, but whoever is responsible for this version should be embarrassed.
The writing itself is somewhat heavy on military details and will likely be difficult for someone unfamiliar with that sort of terminology. Fehrenbach also occasionally gives grand descriptions to events and players, with 'legions on the far frontier' coming fairly often in various arrangements. Having served in the military myself, I can appreciate themes like this. Given Fehrenbach's own service, it is hardly surprising to see, though I imagine others might have a lesser view of such things.
The greatest strength of the book is the ease with which Fehrenbach transitions from macro level strategic and political concerns (written in an easy to follow manner) to the micro level experiences of individual men, who are used to illuminate the struggles faced by men in all areas of the war. Having completed the book, I can see the frustration of the men in the field, unable to understand why Washington and the UN was tying their hands partway into the war; I can see why the U.S. and UN leaders were trying to hold back, hoping to avoid a general war with the Soviets; and I think I understand a little bit better what the Communists were trying to do in Korea, though I despise their leaders actions.
Personally, I reacted with a bit more emotion to this book than I expected. The events of the Korean War seem like some sort of tragic, pointless fiction rather than reality. I can understand why no one wants to dwell on it. But I think it is history that, bitter as it tastes, should be better known. I saw faint reflections of modern times reflected in this history of the Korean War, and I think there are lessons in it which should not be tossed aside.
In summary, I give 'This Kind of War' 4 stars. It is an excellent book which is perhaps a bit heavy on military maneuvering. I think some might get bogged down in these details, but it is worth pressing through. It is also far less dry than you might expect.
Note: The Kindle edition is riddled with a huge number of typos, to the point that I almost rated this three stars instead of four. Some were so baffling that I had to come to a dead stop just to figure out what I was looking at. It's still very readable as a whole, but whoever is responsible for this version should be embarrassed.
