Able: Which “Lesson” from the author do you most strongly agree or disagree with? Why?

In my opinion the lesson I most agree with from the author is the need for ‘legions’. The United States fought on the policy of containment. In this it was successful, but at a great cost. However, by doing this the nation sends the message that democracy and h…[Read more]

HAMMER: Korea was the first war where the US Army rotated Soldiers in and out of theatre in significant numbers, a practice that has continued ever since. In doing practical and instructional knowledge is lost and lessons have to be re-learned, sometimes at great cost. How would you change the manner in which we now rotate Soldiers into different…[Read more]

HAMMER: In that chapter Proud Legions the Doolittle board and their effect on the Army’s ability to create disciplined units able to fight. Officers and NCOs were ‘stripped’ of their power. How are we still feeling the effects of those changes? What tools do we have now to overcome this? Are they effective? Later on in that chapter he states “…[Read more]

Alpha: Respond to the author’s commentary on “defending the frontier,” if you still think it is a valid perspective, and relate that to the nation’s last two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“They would not, except as a last extremity, accept general war. They would fight; they would reluctantly spill the blood of their nation’s young men, but if…[Read more]

HAMMER: As UN forces marched north, there was evidence of the Chinese joining the conflict. Despite the evidence, General MacArthur and his staff believed “the Chinese would not dare intervene” They assessed that they lacked the Military capability to bring significant forces into the conflict and even if that was possible the US air superiority…[Read more]

ABLE: What is your response to the steadfastness of MacArthur’s insistence on the Inchon landing? How does it change, had the mission gone otherwise?

MacArthur’s insistence on the Inchon landing was a sound military decision. By Landing at Inchon he effectively attacked where the North Korean Army was weakest and cut off their supply lines. It…[Read more]

HAMMER: During the battle of Osan Soldiers of TF Smith talk about how their bazooka rounds “burned out against the thick Russian Armor without penetrating.” The narrative Fehrenbach gives us is the equipment was too old and the Russian armor to strong. Challenge this. Look at the steps required to put a bazooka into operation and the armor stats…[Read more]

S4: How did the enemy exploit sustainment weaknesses to contribute to the US withdrawal to the Pusan Perimeter?

The North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) used the elements of surprise and audacity to deliver a devastating blow to the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA). Not only where the ROKA completely taken by surprise by heavy artillery fire and tanks,…[Read more]