Document created: 10 December 01
Published Aerospace Power Journal - Winter 2001

The Korean War by the Korea Institute of Military History, introduction by Allan R. Millett. 3 vols. University of Nebraska Press (http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu), 233 North 8th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0255, 2001, 2,621 pages, $95.00 (paper).

One of the enduring problems of American military history is that operational history is written from an American viewpoint. Not only do we have little material on our former enemies (with the possible exception of the Germans), but also we have precious little on our allies. In some cases, however—Vietnam, for example—we have more on the Vietcong and North Vietnamese than on our South Vietnamese allies. This bold effort by the Korea Institute of Military History attempts to come to grips with this situation regarding the Korean War.

The series consists of three huge volumes (volume one is over 900 pages, and volumes two and three are each over 800 pages). They are updated and condensed versions of an earlier 11-volume study begun in 1967. The study makes use of US and Republic of Korea (ROK) sources as well as Communist documents. The first volume relates the conflict from its beginnings to the Chinese intervention in late November 1950; the second traces the story up to the stalemate and armistice of June 1951; and the third follows the final course of the war.

On the positive side, these books offer a detailed and candid view of the war from an ROK perspective. The English is fairly fluid although not altogether smooth in places. Language problems and frequent typographical errors are sometimes annoying but not serious—readers will have no trouble overlooking them. The tone is rather flat and devoid of hyperbole, reflecting both the professionalism of the authors and the 50-year perspective. Numerous maps helped this reader considerably.

On the negative side, the books are very long and dense. They spend an inordinate amount of time on US forces and thus place too much reliance on US sources. Frequently, the reader follows units day by day and place by place with seemingly little purpose. In short, we have much narrative but little analysis.

Clearly, all students of the Korean War—and twentieth-century warfare, for that matter—should be aware of this series. For that reason, major libraries should include it in their collections. Personally, I much prefer the less detailed and shorter (thus narrower) From Pusan to Panmunjom (Dulles, Va.: Brassey’s, 1992) by Paik Sun Yup. It is shorter, much better written (and perhaps translated), and more clearly gives the ROK view. The Korean War is an important contribution to military history, but is not for the everyday reader.

Kenneth P. Werrell
Maxwell AFB, Alabama

Disclaimer

The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.