PDF United Nations Participants in the Korean War: The Contributions of 45 Member Countries by Paul M. Edwards in History

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. UNITED NATIONS PARTICIPANTS IN THE KOREAN WAR: THE CONTRIBUTIONS ...By Robert A. LynnUNITED NATIONS PARTICIPANTS IN THE KOREAN WAR: THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF 45 MEMBER COUNTRIESPAUL M. EDWARDSMCFARLAND PUBLISHING; 2013QUALITY SOFTCOVER; $39.95; 216 PAGES; PHOTOGRAPHS; NOTES; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEXKorea was the first major battleground; the first international hot war; of the Cold War-era. From the point of view of the nations of the self-styled "Free World;" the war was a confrontation between those countries espousing personal freedom and those nations espousing a totalitarian anthill. According to the vision of those nations residing behind the Iron Curtain; the conflict was between countries advocating Marx and those advocating Mammon. The clash of ideologies lasted three years and one month; involved 19 nations as combatants; and resulted in at least 1.5 million deaths; making it the fifth deadliest war of the 20th Century-after the two world wars; the Chinese Civil War; and the Vietnam War.While the United States provided the overwhelming majority of air assets for the U.N. forces in Korea; other United Nations countries also provided air force units to the war. At a cost of 152 aircraft lost; land-based friendly foreign aircraft flew 44;873 sorties; including 6;063 close air support; and 15;359 interdiction missions where they expended 20;000 tons of bombs; rockets; ammunition; and napalm. During their 3;025 counter-air sorties; including escort of bombers over North Korea; they destroyed three enemy aircraft. They also flew 6;578 cargo missions and 13;848 miscellaneous flights.The peak strength of U.N. ground forces in Korea stood at 932;539 personnel on 31 July 1953-590;911 from the Republic of Korea Army and Marines; 302;483 from the U.S. Army and Marines; and 39;145 from other U.N. countries. In regard to the naval forces; the United States provided the majority of warships but other countries did provide naval forces to serve under the operational control of the commander; U.S. Naval Forces Far East. Other U.N. naval forces contributing were from the British Commonwealth; Columbia; France; the Netherlands; Thailand; Denmark; and Republic of Korea Navy.UNITED NATIONS PARTICIPANTS IN THE KOREAN WAR: THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF 45 MEMBER COUNTRIES provides a very readable and well researched account of the forty-five nations that not only provided troops but also equipment and medical supplies. Author Paul M. Edwards; a Korean War veteran and Executive Director of the Center for the Study of the Korean War; is well qualified to write a book of this type. He gives an enduring insight into the many contributions made by these countries to the Korean War. This book documents for the first time the important but often overlooked and neglected chapter of these nations and their roles in "The Forgotten War."Lt. Colonel Robert A. Lynn; Florida GuardOrlando; Florida0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The Forgotten Allies of the Forgotten WarBy Albert A. NofiA summary of the review on StrategyPage.Com:'Edwards; himself a Korean War veteran and director of the Center for the Study of the Korean War (Graceland U.); looks at what he rightly calls “a forgotten part of a war that has been vastly ignored.” Virtually all histories of the Korean War concentrate on American forces; with at best a little attention to unusually heroic exploits by other UN Contingents; such as the English at “Gloster Hill” or the Turks in front of Seoul. Even the ROKs are hardly mentioned; although they were; if not initially highly capable; always the most numerous forces in the fight. Edwards opens with an overview of the origins and course of the war. Then he examines how the UN came to be involved and efforts to have as many members as possible contribute forces. Edwards then breaks the 45 nations contributing to the war into four categories; those sending combat troops; those providing medical services; those supplying food; fuel; and other commodities; and “Silent Partners” countries that made contributions quietly. For each country; he gives an appropriately longer or shorter account of the services rendered; so the larger military contingents; ROKs; Turks; Commonwealth; get more attention than the Belgians; Colombians; Luxembourgers; French; or Indians. Edwards usually goes into the political and strategic for countries to make or not make a contribution to the UN effort; which is often quite enlightening. Although it could have used more careful editing and needs maps and a tabular summary of the various contingents that served; this is a valuable book for anyone interested in the Korean War.'For the full review; see StrategyPage.Com