Rating: 
Summary: Marine Slanders Army Dead and Wounded
Review: While an excellent history of a remarkable war incident, "Breakout" is simply slander of the US Army. The author finds every opportunity to slam the courage and manhood of every US Army participant in Korea -- in a self-serving vehicle to promote the Marines as military gods. Understand, of course, that the author is a Marine.In the process, he names names, calling a collection of Army officers cowards and incompetents by name -- based on 50-year-old hearsay and a very Marine-biased and incidental view of the war. How do you suppose the relatives and sons and daughters of those (mostly) dead US troops feel when reading this supposed history book? Completely overlooked are the facts: The Marines, as a volunteer force, and exceptionally well trained and equipped, performed a miracle in escaping the Chinese trap. Of course they had esprit -- they signed up to be professional soldiers, and a volunteer military force is, literally, a mercenary force. However, the Army was made up of conscripts off the streets, who were given completely inadequate training and totally inadequate equipment (some arrived in tennis shoes!). They had absolutely no reason to be motivated -- they were slaves of the military, with no American interest to defend, and they had no personal desire to be trained killers and martyrs, as the Marines did. In essence, the Marines were a well-trained and well-equipped professional fighting machine, while the Army troops were cannon fodder, created by weak-spined politicians, and pushed, stumbling, into a horrible war where they were outnumbered at least six to one. 37,000 young men died in Korea, and as many were crippled. The vast majority of the casualties were Army. The politicians simply lined up American boys to be shot by the Chinese. Taking shots at their courage and manhood 50 years later, while hiding behind a pen, is simply criminal -- cowardice in and of itself. The author should be ashamed, and the Marine Corps should be ashamed of him. Young men who die in war at the command of their country should be honored, not slandered.
Rating: 
Summary: A Well-Written Tale of True Heroism!
Review: Seldom does a reader get the opportunity to read a true account of modern battle that is so gripping, so detailed, and so unforgettable as is this story of the attempt by 12,000 American Marines to fight their way out of an encirclement by seven divisions of Chinese and Korean troops at the Chosin Reservoir in Korea. Written by an ex-Marine who was himself a wounded veteran in Korea, its lines wring of the accuracy and poignancy only eyewitnesses could tell about the plight of the men caught in the snow, wind, and sub-zero cold to fight off the vastly superior number of Chinese and Koreans and escape from the trap that had been set for them. This is a riveting story well told. The situation was bleak; it was mid-winter, and the Marines were cut off from supply lines and exposed to the extremes of weather, surrounded by seven divisions of better equipped and better situated Chinese and Korean troops who were most fanatical in their pursuit of them, ready to move in and annihilate the whole Marine force. The Marines, meanwhile, had little or no air support due to the terrible weather conditions, were relatively low on ammunition and other supplies, and the terrain was so formidable that they were quite effectively cut off and isolated and on their own. There could be little or no help from outside to save them. Yet through all these obstacles and with the numbers so much against them, the Marines slowly but methodically fought their way out, hill by hill, bluff by bluff, regiment to regiment, battalion to battalion, company to company, whatever it took to inflict such terrible casualties on the Chinese and Koreans as they went, as they fought, from Division level all the way down to small groups of 3 or 4 men fighting with unvarnished tenacity to kick ............... out of the opposing force through sheer guts, grit, and courage. This is a tale that will long be told in beer halls and at all Marine functions with pride and enthusiasm, for it is truly one of the finest moments for the Marines in modern combat, detailed here with such verve in the words and recollections of many who fought there. The reader feels like a member of the force as he reads through stirring accounts of men who just would not surrender, retreat, or desert their friends and buddies, who instead fought back with sustained vitality and surprising tenacity under the worst conditions imaginable. This was a fighting force that single-handedly destroyed seven opposing Divisions of enemy forces to walk out of the Chosin Reservoir under their own power, through the crucible of combat, and out the other side to a victory so memorable it will love forever wherever Marines gather. Read it and understand. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Miracle of Men Defending Life in a Real Crucible
Review: This is the story of the breakout from eastern "pincher" of the United Nations offensive at the Frozen Chosin in the words of the 12,000 Marines who did it, despite being outnumbered surrounded and cut off by 60,000 Chinese soldiers. Yes, it needs more maps, uses the politically incorrect words of the men who were there, and may not be entirely fair about what bravery and skill the Army showed. But it is right on about what the Marines did for their buddies and their country, and what they said about why. Our own interest is in how the primarily infantry action proceeded, as it reflects on preparedness against terrorism. Terrorism may use mass weapons of destruction, but it is an infantry attack supported by infantry weapons against civilians. Since it occurs among civilians and requires widespread security with precision and intelligence, skilled infantry is the best and almost only counter for it. The peasant Chinese army was numerically far superior to both pinchers of the UN offensive which sought to finish the North Korean Army. It abandoned most artillery, armor, and transport to maximize mobility in the severe winter mountains of northern Korea. It employed pure infantry tactics, surprise, weather, and terrain exceedingly well. They were a very hardy force with no regard for casualties. They were a much larger conventional version of the terrorism threat we face in modern America. The Western Army "pincher" employed modern artillery, armor, air, naval, and infantry units and was on the verge of winning the war according to General MacArthur. But the air couldn't fly in the weather and terrain, the armor got isolated in the valleys or stuck in the mud, the artillery couldn't move fast enough, and many of the soldiers didn't have the confident skill to face death to kill the enemy (many were conscripts with little training). This force was already being destroyed and forced to retreat when the Army gave the final order for the Marines to disperse and attack from the eastern "pincher" by the Chosin Reservoir. The Marine position was dire. They were far from Naval support in the middle of winter in the Korean mountains, widely separated and often lacking air recon & ground attack due to the terrain and weather. Yudam-ni was the farthest point of the Marine advance in the greatest danger. The CO of the 5th Marines, Lt Col Ramond Murray: "Upon receipt of information that the enemy had cut the roads to our rear, I realized we were in a serious predicament". He later admitted: "Once I learned we were being hit from virtually all sides in considerable strength, and knowing we were out there all by ourselves, I figured we were finished. Frankly I thought that Yudam-ni, North Korea was where I was going to die." Col Murray's brief order at that time was: "ALL HANDS MAKE SURE EVERY SHOT COUNTS." (page 162) When terrorism strikes our conventional war machine like the Army western pincher is not designed to defeat it. It will take many more men who can quickly learn discipline, marksmanship, integrity, and teamwork under severe pressure, yet live and work in the target areas. Many men who can carry out Col Murray's order in the face of death. It is our firm belief that every potential marine or soldier must be able to gain the skill to carry out that order with a rifle, the trust in buddies with rifles, in order to counter terrorism. This will only happen with the necessary mental & physical skill BEFORE being drafted into the Army, or during training as a military reserve or as a state defense reserve force.
Rating:
Summary: For Right and Freedom
Review: The story of a historic battle frequently looses the element of suspense because we know how it will turn out in the end. Not here. Russ is able to bring us in touch with the men and to show us how they felt about the battle and their comrades. In so doing, the reader sympathizes with them and wants to know how things work out for the individual participants. It gives the book a suspense usually associated with historical fiction. This is simply the story of one of the greatest military campaign in history. Semper Fidelis.
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Summary: "Those poor bastards....they've got us surrounded....."
Review: Adding my pennies worth of commentary to another Marine's memoir that is already a classic. With men such as James Webb and Lt. General Trainor, USMC (Ret) writing so eloquently about this book it seems almost pointless to add anything else. However, if your a devotee of military history and have been looking for a Korean War treasure, BREAKOUT is it. Two other books that come to mind regarding this same war and piece of real estate are Joe Owens' COLDER THAN HELL and James Brady's THE COLDEST WAR. Mr. Russ has done his former Marine buddies proud as well as the memory of all our forces sent to that hateful conflict. Here's to the 1st, 5th and 7th Marines!
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Summary: Maps ... Martin, where are the maps?
Review: Actually, I enjoyed reading this book even if the author didn't provide basic maps and seemed to slam the U.S. Army whenever he could. In fact, I would have rated it 5 stars if I hadn't had such a hard time relating the actions and locations of each unit. It certainly appears that the U.S. Army screwed up and didn't perform well during this engagement. However, I found it a bit amusing to see the author minimize the Marines' own shortcomings, including their failure to bring back all of their dead and having to acknowledge "cowards" were actually present in Marine uniforms. Understandably, they always accomplish the first, which Marines "always" do even if it doesn't make sense but failed to do at times during this engagement. The author made up for it by repeatedly including agonizing descriptions of these failures. As for those deemed cowards, the attitude appeared to be "we know they are but gosh, they're still Marines!" Given Mr. Russ' thoughts, you'd think the Marines have never failed: I'm sure he won't write a book on the Moscow Marine Embassy Guard embarrassment or the failure to properly guard the Marine barracks in Beirut. The first point could have easily been overcome with decent, even basic, maps. I wanted (I needed) to know the approximate locations of the units/personnel the author wrote about. Not knowing was at times frustrating. Maps would have only enhanced this inspiring narrative by providing a visual aide to understand just how isolated certain teams were from each other. I consider the lack of adequate maps simply inexcusable on the part of the author and the editor. Over-all, I considered this to be a very good read on a piece of history that needed to be told and highly recommend purchasing this book. I especially enjoyed the comments on Lt. Chow En-Lee (sp.), quite the character and by all accounts not only a man you would definitely want on your side but a fine example of what a U.S. military officer should be. I also enjoyed the descriptions and comments attributed to Lt. (?) Yancey and General Smith.
Rating: 
Summary: "Breakout" a muddy trip, but has its moments
Review: I was not familiar with the Chosin Reservoir campaign until I talked to one of the survivors from Fox company, 7th Marines in 1998. I am convinced it was the toughest fight in America's military history since the Civil War. "Breakout" was overall a disappointment to me. The book is too chopped up, making it hard to follow what is happening. Luckily I had read some other books on the battle or I would have been lost. This could have been remedied had there been adequate maps. If you want to read about Chosin, do not make this your first book to read. I thought Owen's "Colder Than Hell" was much better. If you are a veteran of the battle I think you will like this book. A friend of mine who served in Able Co., 7th Marines really liked it.
Rating:
Summary: Breakout by Martin Russ-The book was magnifico/estupendo
Review: As a former Korean Marine Corps veteran, even though I arrived in Korea after the conflict; I talked to many survivors of this conflict of the Chosen Reservoir and was very proud of their "spirit De Corps". I am sure that the army has an excellent record and history; but one has to be honest with oneself. I talked to a British outfit tied in next to us in the front lines, as well as Army units; and after I heard them talk "When we were surrounded by commies our commanding officer told us every man for himself" I wasnt too impressed. We always brought back our own dead after combat; and stayed and fought together as a fire team. I Have lived in the terrible cold of Northeastern Korea in the mountains; and have nothing but gratitude for our marines, the british marines, and army units that fought their way out of entrapment as painted by this wonderful author. All I can say is Gung Ho, Semper Fidelis to this author.
Rating: 
Summary: Marine propaganda
Review: I received this book as a Christmas present and am grateful that at least my money was not wasted on it. While to a certain extent it chronicles the miraculous survival of a military outfit, the author delves too much into petty squabbles with the U.S. Army, into trivial and inane reflections of the solidiers involved, and into racial and sexual biases. I was much more interested in learning the details of this operation than I was in the personal prejudices of soldiers, which were borne out in virtually every page of the book. I concur with a fellow reviewer that additional maps should have been enclosed to assist the reader to more easily digest information. This is not a piece of literature by any stretch of the imagination; it is, instead, simply a work of Marine propaganda and I now think much less of the U.S. Marine Corps than I did before I read this awful book.
Rating:
Summary: Fine Book Would Benefit from Maps
Review: Martin Russ' liberal use of the words of the Chosin veterans gives this book an authenticity regarding individual combat that's hard to match. Russ also does a good job of keeping the reader abreast of the extremely fluid battle situation. His cause would have been aided immeasurably, however, had the publisher included detailed maps of the area and the action as it unfolded. (The three bare-bones maps that are included are of minimal help.) It's hard to understand why someone would publish a book about battle without including good maps, which are an integral part of battle while it's happening and as it is studied .
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