Foreword by Gen. Robert W. Sennewald; USA (Ret.) Evoking all the powerful emotions of a frustrating; bitter; bloody; stalemated Korean War; Bill McWilliams takes readers into the trenches and bunkers of Pork Chop Hill with the men of the 7th Infantry Division’s 17th and 32nd Regiments as they withstand repeated assaults by the Chinese in July 1953. Their individual accounts of small victories and defeats; fear and valor bring alive the final battle for the hill. While a popular movie starring Gregory Peck made Pork Chop Hill a public legend; only one other book has been written about the subject and it focuses on earlier assaults. This book includes the never-before-told stories of the riflemen; machine gunners; forward observers; sergeants; platoon leaders; and medics whose heroic efforts helped hold the hill and produced two Medals of Honor and ten Distinguished Service Crosses; some awarded posthumously. The author succeeds at giving the reader both a feeling of being in the midst of the fighting and stepping back to view the bigger picture. He blends official documents; personal letters; interviews; oral histories; and other sources; to acquaint readers with the first three years of the war and prior assaults on Pork Chop and highlights the contributions made by combat support units and others to the mission. As the narrative progresses the whys of battlefield decisions become evident with an examination of the influence of national policies; protracted truce negotiations; a fledgling South Korean democracy; and the evolving American military policy of active defense; providing painful lessons for America’s future struggles. Published in cooperation with the Association of the United States Army; the book pays tribute to the greatest testing ground of U.S. soldier resolve since Valley Forge.
#66510 in Books Shambhala 2015-06-30 2015-06-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .50 x 5.60l; .0 #File Name: 1590308883160 pagesShambhala
Review
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful. What It IsBy Michael ErlewineI have run a Karma Kagyu meditation center since the mid-1980s (The Heart Center KTC – Karma Thegsum Chöling) and have; fortunately; been able to meet and spend time with many of the Kagyu teachers.This book on Karma by Ven. Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche is brilliant; a much needed antidote to our lack of authentic knowledge regarding karma. An odd suggestion I suppose; but I found this book (for me) was best read by starting at the last chapter; and reading each chapter successively in reverse order.Why? Because I find the frontage of the book a little formal and Traleg Rinpoche IMO gets more direct and practical as he goes on. By the time I read from the back up to the front I am ready to understand it more formally. Just my two cents.This book goes into depth not only on karma; but on death and the difference between reincarnation and rebirth. In general; Traleg Rinpoche speaks to just what most of us wonder about; what happens at death and exactly what attains rebirth. In essence; Traleg Rinpoche has embedded many kernels for deep thought in this text; each one capable of being expanded into an illumination. These years I practice more than I read; but this book is not only worth reading; I consider perhaps the most direct transmission I have read (aside from ancient pith instructions) for many years. I cannot recommend it enough!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. ExcellentBy C. D. VarnThis is a great book in that it messages to explain the complications of an often misunderstood Buddhist doctrine; but Kyabgon goes further and explains the pre-Buddhist developments of the concept and contrasts Buddhist ideas of karma with its development in Hinduism and; in the second half of the book; contrasts and compares with Christian doctrines as well. Kyabgon makes more references and explains in the concept in a rational way; but does "modernize" the traditional concept in a way that changes it. Kyabgon also shows the various developments and shifts in the meaning of idea of Karma in its development in classical Indian and Tibetan Buddhism without invalidating other Buddhist understandings or denying significant developments and differences. An excellent book.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Karma ExplainedBy Edward A. DickeyThis short book offers the clearest explanation I have seen of this difficult and often misunderstood term. Careful to distinguish Buddhist usage of the word from very different notions of karma in Hinduism and in Western pop culture; the book is well grounded in a thorough understanding of western as well as eastern thought and belief. We are fortunate to have this book.
