Book Review : Roy E . Appleman ’ s East of Chosin
SA as an army of young South Koreans compelled into service by President Syngman Rhee ’ s impressment unit . They had virtually no training before the US Army attached them to X Corp . In the Battle of Chosin Reservoir , the KATU- SA became a hindrance to the 31st RCT . Yet , Appleman also praises the KATU- SA as good soldiers when they obtained the proper training and , indeed , they produced some great officers . Appleman believes that any study of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir required the inclusion of the KATUSA ( 61 ).
Additionally , the maps , pictures , and appendices are a noteworthy addendum to the book . Interspersed throughout the paperback edition are maps and pictures of the region , allowing the reader to discern the movements of the 31st RCT in the challenging terrain . The appendix is useful for grasping the elements of the command structure .
Another compelling component of the book is the arrangement of the chapters . Beginning with an introduction to the Korean War in “ War in Korea , November 1950 ” ( 3 ). Appleman poses many questions , which he proceeds to answer in “ Could Task Force Faith Have Been Saved ?” ( 305 ). By taking his readers through the journey with him , exhibiting all the elements , Appleman ultimately elucidates the disaster at the Chosin Reservoir .
However , Appleman has not included all of X Corp in his analysis since he has not examined the 1st Marine Division ’ s combat on the western side of the reservoir . Furthermore , he has not asked why the Marines had fewer casualties than 31st RCT or why the Marines had not disintegrated into chaos when the CCF had surrounded them . Without researching the 1 st Marine Division , Appleman excludes a significant part of the battle , and yet , he has still written a compelling 31st RCT ’ s history of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir .
Among Korean War historiography , East of Chosin in an excellent and important history of the battle , supported by a wealth of documentation and oral history , which presents a coherent chronicle of the 31st RCT at the Chosin Reservoir . For any inspiring historian of the Korean War , Roy E . Appleman ’ s East of Chosin : Entrapment and Breakout in Korea , 1950 , is a must-read book .
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