U.S. Marines in Korea, 1952, Vol. 1 (The Outpost War)

In 1952, overriding American political objectives dictated that the tactics of UN forces in Korea shift from those of maneuver to those of holding on to territory recently gained at great human cost. In western Korea, along main lines of resistance, men of the 1st Marine Division patrolled from lonely outposts. Thus began the outpost war, a forgotten period of the forgotten warbut one during which 7800 Marines lost became casualties. Lee Ballengers THE OUTPOST WAR tells the story of the divisions move to the Jamestown Line in western Korea where the assault-trained-and-equipped troops must dig in and learn to fight an unusual defensive war. It describes their steep, deadly learning curve and reports on major battles of the period, including Bunker Hill and The Hook, while including the trials and tribulations of individuals who were there. The authors use of official archival sources blended with oral accounts places the reader on the battle line with the Marines. Nearly all of the material in THE OUTPOST WAR has never been published before. LEE BALLENGER served in U.S. Marine Corps reconnaissance and tank units during the Korean War.

U.S. Marines in Korea, 1953, Vol. 2 ( Final Crucible)

THE FINAL CRUCIBLE details the 1st Marine Division's harrowing close-quarters battles during the final seven months of the Korean War, January to July 1953. The terrible five-day Battle of the Nevada Cities in March and the Marines' bloody stand at Boulder City on the last day of the shooting war are just two of the engagements detailed here.

LEE BALLENGER served in U.S. Marine Corps reconnaissance and tank units during the Korean War.