The Korean War by Max Hastings

The Korean War by Max Hastings
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After finish this I could help but see this as a precursor to American War in Vietnam in flared up in the following decade. It is often the conflict that receives less attention(at least in the United States) than it should squeezed in between World War 2 and Vietnam. Perhaps because it was perceived as a draw with no obvious winner could be declared. Even veteran's were treated differently who came home. In World War 2 servicemen received ticker tape parades . Fast forward to the Vietnam veterans getting yelled or spat upon the Korean veteran's were often unrecognized or just blended back in society with little or no fanfare other than perhaps their immediate family or friends.

It also seemed that the United States learned little from the Korean War with a high industrialized nation fighting against an underdeveloped agricultural nation who just gained it's sovereignty relatively recently much like Vietnam a generation later. Also add in that both counties(Vietnam and Korea) had leadership that was barely any better than the Communists that were trying to take over.

This is a decent book that covers a war that should be more recognized. It has a blend of on the ground military action, what the General's see, what the politicians see and then the folks back home. I have to admit even being a U.S. History buff I knew little details of the war itself. The author also dives into subjects like POW's on either side, undercover action behind the lines of battle. It was also interesting to listen to it from an English perspective on what is mostly perceived (at least in America) as an American effort where the contributions from other nations especially since the action was under (at least officially) as a United Nations banner. The book in general gives a good overall picture of the war especially if you knew little of it before.



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