Ridgway Duels for Korea

With this sequel to Disaster in Korea , Appleman confirms his position as the premier military historian of the Korean War. Based on unit records, Chinese military reports and interviews, this combat history covers battlefield events from General Matthew Ridgway's assumption of command in Korea in December 1950 to the beginning of truce talks in July 1951. When he took over, U.N. forces were in full retreat, being driven southward by overwhelming numbers of Chinese and North Korean troops. Appleman describes how Ridgway provided the strategy and leadership that kept the Americans from quitting Korea altogether, and how he gradually transformed a defeated and demoralized army into a strong, motivated fighting force. Allied with South Korean divisions and U.N. contingents, the U.S. Eighth Army won back the territory lost after the Chinese intervention and established the new border, north of the original one, along the 38th Parallel. Appleman's book reveals, almost day by day, how this great military feat was accomplished. Ridgway Duels for Korea is a virtual textbook on high-level field command under seemingly hopeless conditions. Photos. (Nov.)