In many respects; all wars are alike. All soldiers compete for position and mobility; all forces struggle for the larger territory; the greater power. Yet each war has as well its distinguishing characteristics--its unique features; its most-remembered events; its particular frustrations that haunt the dreams of its veterans. In Korea; it was the hills. The Korean hills offered observation; artillery; and mortar advantage to whichever country controlled them. On these hills; thousands of soldiers fought decisive battles for a few feet of land or for higher elevation. This reference work identifies more than 400 hills; outposts; complexes and phase lines that were key components of the Korean War; allowing researchers to relate individual battles to the larger narrative of the war. Each entry details major operations fought in the area; including the units involved; the area's strategic value in the overall war; the type of combat; and the munitions involved. Geographic features known by both numbers and names are cross-referenced for ease of access.
#5092882 in Books 1995-02-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .97 x 5.98 x 9.22l; 1.41 #File Name: 0786400161331 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Great book for family history buffsBy T. E. RodenThis book is a treasure trove of information for Civil War enthusiasts--especially those like me who are from Missouri; a divided "western" border state. There is so little published information on this area;compared to the deep south. It was extremely interesting and well written.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Informative book on one of the war's most elite regimentsBy Jonathan WellerWesterners in Gray: The Men and Missions of the Elite Fifth Missouri Infantry Regiment; by Philip Thomas Tucker; is the essential work on Colonel James C. McCown's famed Fifth Missouri Infantry Regiment from its inception to its consolidation with other forces in 1863. This elite and long forgotten regiment of Missouri “tigers†has too long been relegated to the back-burners of Civil War history; and I am certain with Tucker’s book that that will change.When it comes to accolades and honors; few units during the war earned as many as the fighting Fifth Missouri of Francis Cockrell’s famed Missouri Brigade. The regiment was semi-unique for its blending of inner-city Irish St. Louisans with very rural eastern and western Missouri farm boys; bonding together to forge an élan that was just about unsurpassed by either army. This mixture; at first; seemed to create immense tension in the ranks; but these young men from Missouri formed an unshakeable bond that resulted in immense casualties and even greater military glory.Philip Thomas Tucker does an admirable job of retelling this regiment’s brief individual history. The problem; however; is with Tucker’s writing style and grammar. Those who have ever read anything else that he has written will surely know what I mean: excessive use of words like crack or elite; and often bludgeoning the reader to death with redundant phrases of the “lost cause†belief system. The book is actually one of the better Tucker books that I have read; it doesn’t totally inundate the reader with repetition and redundancy; and flows along well through most of the story. There are; however; at times when the praises heaped on the Fifth Missouri seem to stem more from romanticized memory than actual military prowess.The book covers the regiment’s social makeup and reasons for their service with the South quite effectively; but Tucker’s assertion that the men cared little about slavery; or that slavery was somehow “different in Missouri than the rest of the Deep South;†never seemed to convince this reader enough throughout the book. The book then winds its way through the regimental formation as the Fifth Missouri; all the way through the bloody battles and consolidation with a fellow Missouri regiment in 1863.Tucker holds nothing back in his assessment of the Fifth Missouri as the best fighting unit; North or South; but at times the reader is left to wonder just how he raised this assumption. Were the Fifth elite on all accounts? There is no doubt in many people’s minds. However; were they the best fighters of either army North or South…. that’s shaky ground that Tucker is standing on right there. Tucker undoubtedly holds the Fifth Missouri in high regard; and why not; they were orphaned men fighting for a cause that had deserted them and their homes before the war was even lost. This lofty praise; though; often keeps Tucker’s book from remaining objective and clear throughout; and leads the reader to wonder if Tucker was not too connected to his work while writing this book.Overall the book is an easily readable and worthy edition to any Civil War fan’s library. There are so few books on the Missouri Brigade (Confederate) that any seem welcome; but perhaps a little more objectivity would have served the writer in several spots. I liked Tucker’s book quite; and its information is terrific; just remember that sometimes passion and truth run a fine line for writers.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy TJGreat civil war regimental history
