The amphibious invasion taking place off the jetties and docks of Ichon - an action officially known as Operation Chromite - was among the boldest and most technically complex engagements in modern annals. The man who conceived the invasion, prevailing over enormous doubts in Washington was General Douglas MacArthur, and his name would forever be associated with it. But the officer most directly responsible for executing the details of the initial landing, the unsung and largely unknown architect of the marine assault, was in many ways MacArthur's opposite. He was Oliver Prince Smith, commander of the First Marine Division, one of the great underrated generals in American history.

The story of the battle of the Chosen Reservoir from The First Marine Division point of view. Surrounded by 300,000 Chinese soldiers who streamed across the border into what would be known as North Korea. General Douglas MacArthur and his underestimated the desire and will of Chairman Mao and his country. MacArthur sent 20,000 Marines disregarding what others were telling him to be surrounded by a Chinese trap. This story is the how the Marines fought their way out. The greatest battle of the Korean War. ( )

“Korea seemed a long way from home – a long way to come to fight and bleed and die, in a war that was not officially a war, for a cause that at times was not altogether clear, for an endgame that was anybody's guess.”

Narrative non-fiction that provides an account of a significant battle of the Korean War that took place at the Chosin Reservoir near the end of 1950. Sides begins his account with the Marines landing at Inchon to relieve UN troops, and their subsequent march to Seoul. The North Korean troops were in retreat, and General Douglas MacArthur, sensing a chance to end the war, made the decision to pursue them to the Yalu River. He either ignored or incorrectly interpreted reports that vast numbers of Chinese troops were massing at the border. Substantially outnumbered in a below freezing temperatures in a remote mountainous region, the Marines were left with no choice but to find a way back to the coast. The manner in which this was accomplished is an amazing story of courage and ingenuity.

Sides provides all the necessary background and context, leading up to the climactic set piece. He describes the differing leadership styles of the commanders. General Oliver Smith comes across as heroic, in contrast to the hubris of General MacArthur and imprudence of Major General Edward Almond. He describes their failure to act on the gathered intelligence, basically denying the evidence. It probably could have included a bit more about the Truman-MacArthur disagreements.

Once the author gets to the major set piece, the Chosin Reservoir, it is a riveting story, focused on the individual soldiers’ experiences. The gruesomeness of war is on full display. After reading this book, I have no issue with calling it a war regardless of whether or not it was “officially declared.”

As time goes on, we lose more and more of the veterans who fought this war, I want to ensure that I understand what they experienced. This is a well-written and well-researched book describing the beginning of the war, the mistakes that were made, and the reasons it endured for so much longer. ( )

This is about the Korean War. The Marines were ordered to come in to North Korea from the water, then over mountains during the coldest time of the year (in what turned out to be one of the coldest winters). There were a lot of stupid decisions made by two people higher up in the chain of command (sorry, I don’t know the military well enough to remember titles and who outranks whom), though the next in that chain knew they were stupid decisions and he did his best to follow orders, but to find ways to keep damage to a minimum.

I really liked this; it was really interesting. I know very little about the Korean War, and not only did this tell the stories of these Marines and how they (most? some? of them) got out of a bad situation, but I got a bit of insight into how the war started. ( )

The passage of seventy years, rigorous and creative research, and, most importantly, brilliant writing of Hampton Sides gives the reader a fascinating look into the events of the winter of 1950 at the Chosin Reservoir, Korea. It is difficult reading this without coming away with a horror and disgust for the senselessness, the cruelty, the criminality in some cases, the stupidity in many cases; yet, with an almost religious regard for the heroic sufferings, courage and fortitude of those who fought there.