Chosin: Heroic Ordeal of the Korean War

by Eric Hammel

Book Overview

Told from the point of view of the men in the foxholes and tanks, outposts and command posts, this is the definitive account of the epic retreat under fire of the 1st Marine Division from the Chosin... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0891413782
• ISBN13: 9780891413783
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Presidio Press
• Length: 457 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

I LIKED IT - WARTS AND ALL

Very nicely done account of a very horrible event. Granted, I suppose it is not the type of book that is "everything to everyone" but it does give one author's perspective on one huge event. The author perhaps misses covering all the sides to all the hundreds of personal stories which unfolded here, but overall I enjoyed the work and suggest it's reading and indeed, it's addition to your collection.

Great, except for Army side....

Hammel does a great job of recounting effectively the Marine breakout from the Chosin Reservior. It's obvious that he used the citations from many of the Medals of Honor and Navy Crosses that were awarded to add detail. The maps, though few, are nevertheless very helpful, and the TOO of the First Marine Division is a great addition. A great, exciting, and generally accurate read.The only criticism I have is that Hammel's account is somewhat insulting towards the U.S. Army troops on the other side of the Reservior. I think part of this is because the U.S. Army itself had somewhat buried that story, and there were few good sources available. Apart from that criticism, its an extremely worthwhile book. To get the full story, read this, and then Roy Appleman's fantastic "East of Chosin" for balance.

An in depth tactical account of the battle

I was with Able Co. 5th Marines, 1st MarDiv, and was wounded during this battle. Naturally, I was very interested in how a military historian saw it. Eric Hammil has done a thorough job of recounting the minute by minute and day by day events of the Chosin Reservoir battle. For one engaged, war becomes about a 10 square yard arena. You only see a small part and are emotionally involved with a very small group. The big picture is not available. Only from talking with others who were there can one begin to understand what happened. Hammil has done an excellent job. He covers it from the view of the individuals engaged, and from the overview of those who were in command. Excellent reading for anyone who is interested in how battles are won and lost. I could almost smell the cordite again when I read it.