ORB review of The Forgotten.
Old men,Old war,Old memories!,
This review is from: The Forgotten - Volume One (Paperback)
The Forgotten - Volume One
The concept of attempting to tell a story in the words of the participants after so many years gone by is rather daunting. In that the author was not in that conflict even further makes for mistakes. The chronological setting of stories is somewhat confusing and have no apparent set pattern.
The initial story in re the Marine and the flag at Seoul is great in that it explains the mental state initiated in basic training to all Marines. His exploits and that of his comrades in arms during and after the initial invasion that lead to horrendous losses is well written. However I feel personally that his actions and life after Korea although exemplary are covered to excess.
From the stand point of "been there,done that" I arrived in The Land Of The Morning Calm well before the USMC came ashore at Masan. This during the rather rapid southerly "advance to the rear" of our forces that evolved into the Pusan Perimeter. When it appeared that maybe we would need a whole fleet to get our buns out of the fire. I was in Tac Air Control Squadron and was actively engaged with the Army ground units hightailing out of harms way. My team had the honor of covering the Marines arriving as they entered the fracas prior to their controllers being available. My admiration for the American Dog Faces and what they accomplished is without equal.
Later during this "Police Action" I was assigned to the Thirteenth
Bomb Squadron, Third Bomb Group, and flew combat sorties in the Douglas
Invader, B-26, aircraft. My story is included in this tome for which
I'm duly proud. On the whole what Cummins has tried to do is commendable
but the participation of other early birds to the fray is needed to
flesh out the job the American G.I.s did in the first four months. Now
friends that was scary!
