Korea: Veterans Tell Their Stories of the Korean War 1950-1953 ANNOTATION
Personal accounts of more than thirty men and women who served with the American and Canadian forces in Korea during the years 1950-1953.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
What is it like to go to war? How does a war affect the men and women who are fighting in it? Here are vivid first-person accounts that address these questions and offer powerful insights into what it means to serve in the armed forces in an unfamiliar country far from home. Award-winning author Linda Granfield has collected the stories of thirty-two men and women who were part of the U.S. and Canadian forces in Korea during the years 1950-53, and has set them against a backdrop of historical and geographical information. The veterans in this book represent a variety of service areas, such as medical, supplies, infantry, and naval. Their sometimes grim, sometimes lighthearted recollections are illustrated with their own personal photographs. From a prisoner of war's gripping description of being held captive for nearly three years to a machine gunner's fond memories of the canned hamburgers and bacon his battalion loved to eat, these stories emphasize the human face of war at a time when it's more important than ever to try to understand the many different ways that war changes people's lives. A foreword by renowned author Russell Freedman relates some of his own experiences while serving in Korea with the Counter Intelligence Corps. Also included are a timeline, glossary, bibliography, Internet resources, and index.
FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Rebecca Watson
From rice paddies to the DMZ, from leaving home for the first time to returning home after the war, this book tells the stories of American and Canadian service men during the Korean war. There was the night Arnoldo Muniz was sure his unit was under attack by the Chinese, only to discover the loud cracking sounds were actually made by the near-by stream freezing in the extreme cold. After he volunteered to replace a telephone operator stationed at the top of a dangerous hill, Marshall Schack discovered that war in real-life is not as glamorous as it had seemed in the movies he'd watched as a young boy. And Jim Ramsay recalls eating a dead Chinese army mule when his group was sick of the lima beans they had been rationed. Although some of the stories are sad, and a few present the reader with slightly disturbing scenes—such as the bodies of those killed in action, many are touching accounts of young boys growing up quickly in situations they would like to have changed for the better. This book brings up many possible topics for discussion including prisoners of war, responsibility for war orphans, wartime conditions, and the suffering of those left at home. Although the accounts are accurate, they are appropriate for upper elementary through high school ages—graphic and gory details are omitted. Included are many black and white photos of the men and women whose stories are told. 2003, Clarion Books/ Houghton Mifflin Company, Ages 12 up.
Library Journal
Gr 6-10-Granfield has compiled this collection of 31 reminiscences and two poems to introduce readers to the "forgotten" conflict in Korea. Noted author Russell Freedman, a Korean War veteran, recounts his own experiences in the foreword. Granfield divides the oral histories into four thematic chapters that offer insights into the fear and courage demonstrated on the battlefield, the food and recreation opportunities for the troops, the war's impact on both Allied and Korean families, and the lasting effect on those who fought in this war. The readings describe incredible bravery and sacrifice, humorous incidents, and the tragedies of lost lives and missed opportunities. Only one story was contributed by a Korean woman, but several of those written by American and Canadian veterans include their observations of the conflict's effects on the Korean population. Illustrations include a map of Korea and black-and-white snapshots of the veterans and the countryside. While this book does not provide specific details about the reasons for or the military operations in the war, it will help young readers see the human side of this often overlooked conflict. It complements battle histories such as Maurice Isserman's recently updated Korean War (Facts On File, 2003).-Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal
Granfield offers a short chronology of events in what is often termed "the forgotten war." Thirty-two men and women who were part of the U.S. and Canadian forces in Korea recount their experiences, emphasizing the human face of the conflict. Included are personal photographs, a time line, a glossary, suggestions for further reading, and a list of relevant Web sites. A good choice for reluctant readers. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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