"At the end of 1950, the UN forces in Korea had suffered a series of decisive defeats by the Chinese. They were in retreat, fleeing south, perhaps even out of Korea altogether. Eighth Army's commander, Lt. Gen. Walton H. Walker, had just died in an accident. The situation was as bleak as the wintry landscape." "In this third volume of Roy E. Appleman's operational histories of the Korean War from November 1950 to July 1951, the author follows the UN forces as they about-face and maneuver the Chinese and North Korean armies back to the 38th Parallel. It covers the Chinese so-called 3rd, 4th, and 5th Phase offensives, during the course of which the UN army was initially forced 50 miles south of the Han River and then rebounded north toward Seoul, which changed hands twice during this period." "This volume is based on the official records of U.S. units at all levels and on interviews and correspondence with survivors and the commanders involved, including General Ridgway. Illustrated with photographs and two dozen situation maps, it meticulously chronicles the bitter facts as well as heroic efforts in a tragic and costly war that has been institutionalized as a television sitcom. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET.