The Last Stand of Fox Company: A True Story of U.S. Marines in Combat by Bob Drury
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This gripping account of U.S. Marines in combat during the Korean War is a must-read! I was thoroughly engrossed by the storytelling. Despite the fact that it is a historical work, it reads like a novel.
The descriptions of bravery and selflessness of the Marines of Fox Company, 2d Battalion, 7th Marines fighting to defend Toktong Pass near the famous Chosin Reservoir in some of the most austere winter combat conditions imaginable (think alpine fighting where temperatures did not rise above minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit for weeks on end, with deep snow and howling winds) is truly remarkable. While the combat itself is old-fashioned, consisting mainly of static fighting positions and human-wave tactics by the Chinese volunteers, the lessons for dealing with the environment are still relevant for a possible new fight on the Korean Peninsula.
The commander of the company of Marines, William Barber, won the Medal of Honor for leading his troops through several days and nights of siege by Chinese forces that far outnumbered his forces, despite being seriously wounded himself early on. In all, “The Last Stand of Fox Company” is an inspiring account of leadership, comradeship, and perseverance in the face of severe adversity. Highly recommended.
Tags: history, Korean Peninsula, Korean War, People's Republic of China, Recommended reading, United States Marine Corps
November 30, 2011 at 9:37 pm |
Do you know anything about the picture on the cover of The Last Stand of Fox Company. In particular i most interested in the tow marines looking at the camera to the very right. If not can you point me in the right direction where I could find out more about the photograph.
December 1, 2011 at 11:29 am |
John, I don’t have any information about the cover photo. I tried to Google something up so I would have at least a lead to give you, but I wasn’t able to find anything useful there either. If I come across something, I’ll post back here again. Thanks for reading!
May 26, 2012 at 3:04 pm |
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