Breakout: The Chosin Reservoir Campaign, Korea 1950

After the triumphant success of the Inchon Landing, American and U.N. forces found themselves encroaching upon the northern border of North Korea. In the early winter of 1950, X Corp, a combined U.S.Army and Marine Corps expedition advanced from the east coast of North Korea to the Chosin Reservoir, an artificial lake in the mountains, over 70 miles from the coast.This force was badly led by one incompetant army general, Edward Almond. The ordeal that resulted from his ill-conceived plan, became a disgraceful disaster for the army units involved, ...but for the United States Marine Corps, it became a glorious deed of arms that echos of Thermopylae!The author, Martin Russ, utilised reminiscence of various survivors: mainly personnel from the Marines and Navy, some from the army, a Republic of Korea army-officer, and even a British Royal Marine Commando.They describe a hellishly savage battle in freezing sub-zero weather, in mountainous terrain. Small units of Marines repeatedly repelled and decimated enormous waves of communist-Chinese infantry. An estimated 60,000 Chinese surrounded 12,000 Marines, and a similar number of army troops. These two American service-branches were to exhibit vastly different reactions to the coming onslaught.The enemy threat:At least six divisions, maybe ten, of the Chinese communist army, were expended recklssly against U.S. Marines, who were far better trained and armed. Wave after wave of Chinese infantry were decimated, often slaughtered to the last man, with very little change in tactics. No one can debate the bravery of the badly led and badly used Chinese infantryman. An estimated 25,000 were killed in action, and 12,500 wounded. The Marines suffered 700 dead, almost 200 missing in action, 3,500 wounded and 6,200 non-battle casualties (mainly frostbite).Some prominent characters who contributed their reminiscence:-1st.Lt. John Yancey, a veteran of the Marine Raiders, a few years before. He was shot several times while leading his platoon in defense of Hill 1282. At one point, he was shot in the face by a submachinegun round, which knocked out his eyeball. He shoved it back in, and kept on fighting!-Military-policeman, Sgt. Guillermo Tovar. Suffering a bullet-wound to the head, he was captured by the Chinese. They left him behind, and he made his way back to allied forces.-1st.Lt. Chew Een Lee, a born battle-leader! Being of Chinese ancestry himself, Lee was reluctant to utilize his fluency in the language for interrogation, as he feared that he would be transferred to Intelligence. Despite a shrapnel wound to the arm early in the battle, he led his Marines through the entire ordeal until he was too badly wounded to fight.-Capt. Edward Stamford was a Marine forward air-controller assigned to the army units operating on the east side of the Chosin Reservoir. He witnessed first-hand the despicable panic of the army personnel, and guided a steady bombardment by Corsair fighters, to protect their retreat. Keeping his head when higher ranking army officers lost theirs, Stamford truly demonstrated the superior leadership of a Marine Corps officer.-Pvt. Hector Cafferata, with two other Marines, destroyed two enemy platoons. Cafferata, without his boots, intercepted several grenades, throwing and deflectig them back at the enemy. He lost part of his hand in the effort, as one exploded while in the act of throwing.-Major General Oliver P. Smith: The Marine commander whose aggressive tactics decimated the Chinese forces, and allowed the Marines to fight their way out of a certain death-trap.The most striking overall contrast, is that of the Marines, who fought their way out to the sea, evacuating the wounded, and much of the dead, ...and the army, who were shamefully ROUTED. Vast numbers of army personnel threw away their weapons, abandoning ammunition, artillery, and vehicles intact to the enemy. Even worse, the wounded were abandoned, even run-over, by the fleeing army soldiers. At Hagaru-Ri, where wounded were being evacuated by air, army stragglers were assembled, fully expecting to be CARED FOR. They were resupplied with arms by the Marines, but the army REFUSED TO FIGHT. Large numbers of army personnel faked injury, to be flown out harms way, ...while REAL CASUALTIES WAITED their turn. Some of those wounded who had to wait, ...did not survive.Some people are "offended" by this book, because of its portrayal of the two services. Well, thats how things happened. The historical facts are there to see, and there is nothing you can do about it. The author tells a story that glorifies the U.S. Marine Corps, because they conducted themselves in a valorous manner. Again and again, the Marines stood their ground, and repelled the enemy. Consider the case of a Mrine artillery battery, toward the end of the battle. They were assaulted by repeated waves of Chinese infantry, firing point-blank into their ranks. Over 600 rounds were fired, at ranges so close the gunners were in danger of shrapnel from their own ordnance! Over 500 enemy dead were counted, but far larger numbers had been vaporized beyond recognition. The Marines lost three men, and 34 wounded.In the centuries to come, military historians will speak of the Marines at the battle of Chosin Reservoir, in the manner which we remember the Spartans at Thermopylae.

Korea. A "police action". If you are under 40 you probably have not heard much about the Korean Conflict never mind a little known place called the Chosin Reservoir.There are probably a good dozen books that excellently tell at least parts of the Chosin story and some expand into the attempt to portray it all which is rather hard. I've read six well written books on the campaign and, while they are generally about different 'pieces' of the story ("The Last Stand of Fox Company:A True Story of U.S. Marines in Combat"; "Give Me Tomorrow: The Korean War's Greatest Untold Story"; "The March to Glory"; "On Desperate Ground" and "Breakout" to name the best in my opinion), Russ' work is accurate, encompasses as well as can be a large area of the campaign and is not biased about the bravery of the U.S. Marines. Just count the Medal of Honors.The book goes into the basic makeup of the 1st Division and how the four regiments (as well as the battalions, company, platoons and some individuals) were used in the campaign. Particular emphasis is given to the singular leadership that molded the Marine's responses to various actions initiated by the Chinese as they attempted to destroy the Marines. Not all are named, and some incidents, even as they greatly impacted the Marine's actions (Fox Company at the Toktong Pass or George Company at Hagaru and East Hill), are written about at length but not nearly as completely as in books dedicated to "that" particular area. This is far more complete than a simple overview but in reading the other books I gained a very great understanding of the extremes faced by the 1st (and of course the Army as well when the eastern side of the Chosin is discussed but in a limited manner).I note there are reviews here that feel this book glorifies only the Marine Corp (of course it is "about" the Marine Corp primarily so I'm not sure of the complaint) and goes out of its way to belittle the U.S. Army. I sincerely doubt that this author (or any other author of the other books I've read that more or less fully support the viewpoint expressed in 'Breakout') has any personal animus against the 'persons' who made up the Army and Task Force Maclean/Faith but simply presents the outcome and suggests leadership, or lack of it en masse, lead to the debacle. Certainly X Corps leader, Gen. Ned Almond, proved to be inept at grasping intelligence early on and continued to order his forces further north, into the Chinese trap. Certainly any author would discuss these significant gaffs in leadership and even down to Maclean's sudden departure onto the ice. A reader has to ask why and Russ tries to answer it. Leadership and training were less obvious on the Eastern Chosin Reservoir area and probably lead to more casualties. Anyone who fought in the conditions present and against the overwhelming odds is a magnificent warrior. Those who had the leadership and training to survive did so but no one would 'individually' attack the personhood of any participant. In fact Russ discusses the respect that many participants had even for their Chinese opponents. I found this common throughout all the books I've read on this just as I found the failings of certain leaders and groups which sadly lead to greater losses.If you want a great overview of a moment in time when all America thought WWIII was just around the corner and The Chosin was the tinder that would start the conflagration then this book should be on your short list. The others I mentioned also do a great job of describing in smaller detail all those involved and can provide a bigger picture. All the books agree, the 1st Division of the U.S. Marines faced nearly insurmountable odds against their existence and persevered and overcame and marched home. The ones who did not are heroes to the ones that did and ALL are remarkable men of an era perhaps gone forever... when a few felt strongly enough about oppression and its spread to heed the call. Semper Fi.

First of all, I will review the edition. Like any Penguin Classic it is sturdy and holds up well, despite being a paperback. My first order came with a badly bent cover but Amazon replaced it free of charge.Mr. Russ's story reads like an epic, except an epic where every occurrence is hard historical fact. Most non-fiction books are an incredibly difficult read, listing endless troop numbers and regiment labels until the most incredible events of human history are mind-numbingly dull. Mr. Russ manages to avoid most of this by telling the story through the eyes of the men who lived it. After first explaining the battle officially, he switches to an interview of a soldier describing what his experience was in the line of duty. It is one thing to read that several thousand Chinese soldiers attacked the Marine entrenchments, it is quite another to read a Marine tell his harrowing experience of having a seemingly endless enemy charge at him in the middle of the night.I was not very familiar with the Korean War before reading this book, and it does not cover the entire war either. However, it does provide enough information to understand the larger situation, so you may realize how hopeless the Chosin campaign seemed to the world at the time. It is definitely an excellent source about the campaign, and the author sources several more academic histories if you are interested in learning more. My only complaint was that Mr. Russ had a very obvious bias against the US Army. Although their performance was poor, and the Marines despised them, there are several times throughout the book when you may notice a very strong dislike from the author. That being said, these moments are few, and overall I consider this to be an excellent book both for its storytelling and its history.

How on earth did they get out? This book is the most immediate piece of war writing I have ever read - extraordinary. I wore extra clothes throughout the read!

Well written in everyday soldiers terms, illustrating every day living for survival by young men just above their teens, yet giving and maintaining discipline and comradeship of the highest in the worst of conditions.

Un compte-rendu tactique impressionnant et hyper-réaliste d'un grand moment du Corps des Marines en Corée. A lire et relire comme un classique de la littérature de guerre.