Author:
Patrick K O’Donnell
ISBN: 978-0-306-82044-1
Publisher:
DaCapo
Year:
2010
Softvcover
Pages: 261
Photos/Maps:
28/4
O’Donnell’s
book, while touching upon the grander strategies of the Korean War – mainly for
context – is not about the larger picture. Rather it is a testament to the
resilience and endurance of the soldiers at the coal face of battle. It is the
story of the soldiers of the 1st Marine Division and, more
specifically, George Company (the 3/1st – 3rd Battalion/1st
Marines) and their epic, horrific retreat from the Chosin Resevoir in 1950.
Indirectly, it is also the story of the Chinese and North Korean soldiers that
they fought against and their tenacity in the face of horrible firepower and
conditions.
Sound tactical
and operational planning and effective logistics are the building blocks of
military success; however, the absolute foundation is represented by esprit de
corps, leadership and training. This is the message of this book. The author
has gathered first-hand accounts of the individual soldiers, senior NCO’s and
officers of the 1/3rd and has produced a fine rendition of their
experiences and motivations. Korea was unique in that, despite the lessons of
the recently finished Second World War, America and the West had very few
resources to draw upon to meet the North Korean threat and thus had to scramble
to reactivate and train units. Therefore, many of the Marines of the 3/1st
had only the most basic of training and had to rely very heavily of a small cadre
of officers and senior NCO’s to season them in the field (and very quickly). It
was this common experience glue and the reliance each had upon the other that
enabled these marines to overcome odds of greater than 10:1 and winter weather
that was the coldest in living memory for the region.
O’Donnell’s
narrative emphasizes the role of the professional NCO and officer cadre. They
are there not only to ensure the baseline training and professionalism of the
troops, but also that they stay focussed on the task at hand when everything
about them is coming apart. The example and standards set and enforced by these
individuals instilled the men with the capacity to endure the severe conditions
that they were faced with. It becomes quite evident as the Chosin battle
unfolded that it was not belief in the ‘cause’ but the desire to support one
another and the pride at being a marine that carried the day.
Another
aspect of leadership that was well conveyed in this book were the roles of the
officers and NCO’s. The officer’s role was to plan and fight the Company; the
First Sergeant and his NCO’s managed the men. These roles overlapped yet were
distinct and it is this delineation that is most difficult for junior officers
and NCO’s to learn and exercise comfortably. In the case of George Company, the
example and experience of the First Sergeant Zullo was critical to the
continued effectiveness of the Company.
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