"I Guess it is the "Forgotten War"!" Topic

Sixty-six years ago, 25 June 1950, North Korea, aided by China and the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea in an attempt to unify the divided country.

The UN Security Council immediately declared this an invasion and ordered an immediate ceasefire.

On the 27th of June the Security Council ordered the formation and dispatch of UN military forces to Korea to stabilize the situation. The U.S. eventually supplied almost 90% of the military forces involved.

I'm guessing the international forces involved, the years of fighting, vast numbers of casualties and occasional heroics on both sides, and worldwide military, social and political consequences of Little Bighorn have more gravitas…

I remember … I served in a Mech Bn Jan '84 – Nov '85. With 2 tours on the DMZ. What happened in '50-'53 was still alive and very much visible. The minefields along the "Z" were still marked and many may have been there since '53. We medevac'd a local farmer who found one. And I have a few more memories from then. And that was 30+ years after the "Peace Talks" started. And continued on to that time I was there.

If Russia had not been playing cute and boycotting the Security Council at the time, the UN Security Council resolution would have never passed.
Which shows it was as much a surprise to the Soviets as it was to the rest of the world. Which also shows that the Kims have always been unpredictable, even and especially to their "allies".

Legion: What battalion were you in? I was in 1-17(M) from Nov '85 to Nov '86. And yeah, I hear you about the scars of war still being visible – on one of my patrols on the DMZ we found a rusty pineapple grenade exposed by the rain. Made a perimeter around it, called in the find and waited for two hours while some EOD from 8th Army came out to our location. He took a look at it, picked it up, wrapped it in duck tape, and chucked it in the back of his truck and drove off.

I'd strongly recommend "The Last Parallel" by Martin Russ. He was in the USMC and wrote a very engaging and vivid account of his experiences in 1953 to the truce,….very WW I like in it's actions and conditions.

Might be time to rewatch a few MASH episodes.

Time for all of you to join the Gaming the Forgotten War forum:

link

Eumelus

Legion: What battalion were you in? I was in 1-17(M) from Nov '85 to Nov '86. And yeah, I hear you about the scars of war still being visible – on one of my patrols on the DMZ we found a rusty pineapple grenade exposed by the rain. Made a perimeter around it, called in the find and waited for two hours while some EOD from 8th Army came out to our location. He took a look at it, picked it up, wrapped it in duck tape, and chucked it in the back of his truck and drove off.

Nice to hear from another 2ID Vet. I was in 1-31(M), 3d Bde, out of Cp Howze. Looks like I was leaving as you were coming onboard.

Yes, back then the DMZ was still a pretty "busy" place. A lot back home or even here today didn't know how "busy" it got at times. It was one of the few places in the US ARMY/military that was running "live" patrols, etc., … The RANGER Rgt sent over a couple of Officers to get our LTs to go to one of their Bns. When they returned stateside, short cutting the standard channels. A number of our LTs ended up in one of RANGER Bns that way.

Many times you could see or be on some of the locations well known or not so well known battles were fought during the war.

Might be time to rewatch a few MASH episodes.

Not so much … MASH took place during the Korean War. But really was more about Vietnam in tone, etc., …

Oh Eumelus … I almost forgot. You may want to look it up on line or talk to the VA. I was informed last year in different Vet magazines, from other Vets, etc., the we were eligible for a Korea Defense Service Metal. link Just had to send a copy our DD-214 to Records Branch in St. Louis. I figured after 22 months there, I'd waste a stamp. And about 3-4 months later a "shiny" "new" KDS metal arrived in the mail with orders. I put it on my bookcase to collect dust with some others. Better late than never I guess.

Huh, I'd never heard of that medal, but thanks to a couple of Team Spirits back in the day I suppose I rate one.

You had to have tour there. AT would get you a reserve overseas ribbon.

AT?

I was USMC, 3rd MarDiv. I suppose I was never officially stationed in Korea, despite a few deployments there.

Ah, well, no biggie.

Well … read the link … I think you may be eligible for the KDSM, Scott … My unit worked with the USMC on deployment there a few times…

But as you said, "no biggie" … I can't wear it, it is only a "trinket" of my 22 months/2 DMZ tours there. And it only cost me a stamp. However as I said, it is only collecting dust along with some others.

I also found out when I was in the Army Res. in '91. I was eligible for some sort a metal. I don't even know where it is now ? Somewhere with all that old uniform stuff that no longer fits …

Weasel, I recommend you watch the movie (Robert Altman 1970) instead of episodes of the tv series.

Glenn – Appreciate the suggestion but I've watched both. Never did read the books.

Read the actual history … Does a much better job than the movies. Here's some recommendations -

Top Ten Korean War Books (in alphabetical order):

Breakout: The Chosin Reservoir Campaign, Korea 1950, by Martin Russ
This controversial but riveting account of the Chosin Reservoir debacle is told by a Marine participant who pointedly disparages Douglas MacArthur and the Army. Russ moves seamlessly among American, Korean, and Chinese perspectives in telling a story of arrogance and ineptitude among the brass and misery, courage, and perseverance among the troops.

Colder Than Hell: A Marine Rifle Company at Chosin Reservoir, by Joseph R. Owen
The one word that seems to be used most often in describing the Korean War is "cold." Marine lieutenant Owen's memoir vividly relates how Marines on the front lines at Chosin fought and endured in temperatures that approached 25 degrees below zero.

The Coldest War: A Memoir of Korea, by James Brady
Another Marine veteran, Brady's memoir is most compelling when he relates the progress of his on-the-job-training as a combat leader. He also offers insights into the relations between officers and enlisted Marines and the differences between Marines and soldiers. Brady has written extensively about the Marines including the well-received novel The Marines of Autumn: A Novel of the Korean War and the forthcoming (April) The Scariest Place in the World: A Marine Returns to North Korea.

East of Chosin: Entrapment and Breakout in Korea, 1950, by Roy Edgar Appleman
Chosin gets a lot of attention and rightly so. It was a pivotal battle and an epic catastrophe. Appleman focuses on the fate of the 7th Division task force surrounded by the Chinese at Chosin. "It would be hard," the author notes, "to find a more nearly hopeless or more tragic story in American military history."

The Forgotten War: America in Korea, 1950-1953, by Clay Blair, Jr.
An exhaustive study of military decision-making in Korea. Blair, a respected military writer, is critical of President Truman and harshly critical of MacArthur.

The Hunters, by James Salter
An accomplished novelist and Korean War pilot, Salter captures the essence of aerial warfare as few have. Often compared to Hemingway's war writing, The Hunters ranks among the very best Korean War literature.

The Last Parallel: A Marine's War Journal, by Martin Russ
This is Marine Russ's (see above) memoir of Korea. Told from the perspective of the grunt -- with scant notice of the larger geopolitical picture -- this is perhaps the most colorful and the best memoir of the war.

The Price of Courage, by Curt Anders
Grim and desperate -- like war itself -- this is an overlooked novel of the Korean conflict. Anders, an infantry officer in Korea, gives the reader combat in all its fear and confusion. Plain-spoken and unsentimental, it deserves to be a classic.

This Kind of War, by T. R. Fehrenbach
The classic history of the Korean War. Col. Fehrenbach's study has been on several Army Chiefs of Staff's list of recommended reading.

We Were Innocents: An Infantryman in Korea, by William D. Dannenmaier
A compelling personal account of the author's transformation from an innocent youth to a warrior. Dannenmaier illuminates with wit and warmth an odyssey that millions of youth have traveled.

I mostly agree with Legion 4. If you're doing a historical game, the background reading will be really helpful and will enrich your experience.

Movies, if they paid attention to historical accuracy, can help you understand how things looked, particularly how they looked in motion, and that, likewise, will help your production of a gaming table and miniatures.

Most movies I've seen about the Korean War made in the US … were not very good or too accurate …

Appreciate the suggestions but I am well read enough on the conflict.

I was merely remarking that it seemed proper to commiserate in some manner, given the date.

Well my post was in response to your's but not generally directed at you. It was for all who may be interested in the subject. And even I have not read all those recommended books, either … yet …

Never hurts to have a book list :)

If we had the ability to have stickied threads, it'd be nice to have a recommended reading list on each board.