I Remember Korea: Veterans Tell Their Stories of the Korean War, 1950-53
by Linda Granfield

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Book Reviews of I Remember Korea: Veterans Tell Their Stories of the Korean War, 1950-53

Book Review: Some unforgettable memories of a 'forgotten' war
Summary: 5 Stars

Griess, head of the Department of History at West Point, wrote the foreward to "The Art of War in the 17th and 18th
Centuries" which analyses the tactics of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, the "Lion of the North" in the Thirty Years War.
Linda Granfield, in "I Remember Korea" about the 1950-53 Korean War, is a "historian in arms" fit for the company of any
other military writer. Her book is a gem.

In contrast to the mob armies of his time, the army of King Adolphus was carefully trained, thoughtfully administered, well
equipped, splendidly led. In contrast to the mob army the US sent to Vietnam, "The Art of War . . ." is a blueprint for the
awesome military machine the US created after its defeat in Vietnam. The quality of American men-at-arms hasn't changed;
but there is a vast improvement in leadership.

Granfield presents us with 31 poignant and telling snapshots of those who served in Korea, drawn from the experiences of the
veterans of that war which ended 50 years ago. It is a reminder of the basic good nature, generosity and compassion of
Americans and Canadians in the military as well as civilian life. One element of military history covers the Captains and Kings,
which is part of training leaders; Granfield writes of the ordinary folks who are commanded by Captains and Kings, which is
also part of training effective leaders.

Instead of writing like Napoleon, Granfield writes like Abraham Lincoln who believed, "God must love the common people,
because he made so many of them." Today, any officer who doesn't respect and learn from the sergeants has zero future in the
military; Granfield presents example after example of those fine qualities of the "common people."

She doesn't analyse the tactics and strategies and advances and retreats and blunders and triumphs of the war, the favorite
pastime of armchair generals and obsession of real generals. Instead, her inclusion of stories such as "Lima Beans? No,
thanks!" ought to be required reading for anyone and everyone, political or military, who wants to command. She has a superb
sense of what matters to real people.

Unfortunately, some people may classify this as a "children's book" because of its straightforward style and concise clarity. If
so, we should all be children. It's not a book to be read by freshmen at the Royal Military College in Kingston or West Point,
they're still too young for it; instead, it should be assigned reading for the Senior Class with the admonition, "This is the type of
people you want to command; now, as an assignment, find someone about whom you can write a story that matches
Granfield."

It would be part of a useful graduation exam. If an officer-to-be cannot find a story to match these memories of a grim
experience, are they really capable of seeking the best in commanding others?

As for the rest of us . . . . . it is a reminder of the decency that lurks in everyone, even under the rigors of war. She has written
a gem.

Summary of I Remember Korea: Veterans Tell Their Stories of the Korean War, 1950-53

Canadian Books

• Books > Subjects > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical
• History > Military > Korean War
• Teens > History