This kind of war
by T. R. Fehrenbach · first published 1963
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10HN commenters
2013–2026first – last mentioned
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This Kind of War is the most comprehensive single-volume history of the Korean-American conflict that began in 1950 and is still affecting United States' foreign policy. Fifty years later, not only does this enlightening account give details of the tactics, infantrymen and equipment, but also chronicles the story of military and political unpreparedness that led to a profligate loss of American lives in Korea. The author T.R. Fehrenbach, an officer in the conflict, provides us with accounts of the combat situation that could only have been written by an eyewitness in the thick of the action. B
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…recommendation. A few more books worth reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Private_Life_of_Chairman_M... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_China_Blues https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/118690.This_Kind_of_War It may not be possible to fully understand China's 20th century struggles, but it's a fascinating subject.
on “Looking back on the Great Leap Forward” ↗…officers and troops more physically and mentally prepared than the enemy's?" "What's the best weapon I've got?" and "What's the best weapon they've got?" are critical questions. See T. R. Fehrenbach's "This Kind of War" for the US's brutal baptism into the darker side of their role as a superpower, a war no American wanted to get involved in. The short-hand in history for this necessity of readinesss is Task Force Smith…
on “Darpa Literally Reinvented the Wheel for Army Combat Vehicles” ↗…was a radio navigation system using a single radio beam. This proved correct, and the Royal Air Force was able to quickly render it useless through jamming." Read R.V. Jones book "Most secret* war" if this kind of war-engineering interests you. * Pay attention to "most secret" rather than the ghastly Americanism "top secret"!
on “O.mg Cable” ↗…is the kind of people that buy thousands of books with public money that nobody will read (written by their friends). - "Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card" is the only one from the list I have read. - "This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History, by T. R. Fehrenbach" seems interesting. South Korea still seems very grateful to the USA and commemorates the USA (and the rest of allies) that helped them during the…
on “War Books: The Marine Corps Commandant's 2026 Reading List” ↗…life – but if you desire to defend it, protect it, and keep it for civilization, you must do this on the ground, the way the Roman legions did, by putting your young men into the mud." T.R. Fehrenbach This Kind of War, 1963
on “The Bomb Didn't Beat Japan” ↗Against the US of that time (Truman disamement resulted in the military buying back "surplus" recently sold), the US Army of that time (read the chapter "Proud Legions" in This Kind of War), against one of the most overrated generals in US history ... they "were more than a match". So were the North Koreans prior to Ridgway taking command of the 8th Army and e.g. our cracking the problem…
on “Are Submarines About to Become Obsolete?” ↗…and collectively are unwilling to check each other basically in the name of political correctness(I won't spoil it beyond that, great book). "A society gets the military it deserves" -TR Fehrenbach, This Kind of War. The same is true of the media. I agree with what you said on the Economist. Probably 4-6 years ago, I saw the same thing happen with the Atlantic. Very sad. I use HN because it pulls from so many sources.…
on “Ask HN: Alternatives to The Economist Magazine?” ↗>- "This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History, by T. R. Fehrenbach" seems interesting. South Korea still seems very grateful to the USA and commemorates the USA (and the rest of allies) that helped them during the…
on “War Books: The Marine Corps Commandant's 2026 Reading List” ↗A quote from "This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History" "The single greatest weakness of a free people is always their moral doubts."
on “Why Young Men Go to War” ↗This Kind of War (reading list Marine Corps commandant 2026 Vietnam War) suggests the answer is that the US fought crusades through WW2. Then they got Korea; not absolute war, not a crusade. And the US had no reference…
on “Why is it so hard for the U.S. to win wars?” ↗