Sgt Grit Marine Forums

By David Halberstam.

I started reading this and enjoying it and read some 300 pages into the book before Halberstam started critisizing George W. Bush and the war in Iraq. Now remember, this is a book about the Korean War during the winter of 1950-51 when MacArthur sent his troops into a huge Chinese ambush up near the Yalu. All the enjoyment I got from the book evaporated the minute I read that cheap shot against President Bush. It was so freakin gratuitous, just dropped in there at the end of a chapter. Ruined the book for me.

That's too bad. I guess it just shows that even authors can be self indulgent, opinionated dummies.

Still, I hope you read the rest of the book through, and tell us if it's good or not. I can overlook the rest.

This book got so many good reviews in the press that I had it on my "must buy" list...but not any more.  Screw them libs!!!

I read the whole book. As honest as I can be, it is good history and has good accounts of the battles involving the Army's 2nd ID and 23rd Regiment during the winter of 1950-51. I don't want to completely turn you off to it...it has value...if you can forgive a few liberal jabs here and there...Overall, I learned a lot from the account.

If we restrict our reading and learning to only what reinforces our already biased opinions our growth potential will be stunted. I don't hold GWB in high esteem, but I would buy his autobiography in a heartbeat.

There are many writers who singe my opinions sometime. Or at least bend my perception of what  and how I want things to have been. But facts and the context in which they are presented makes all the difference. 

Semper Fi

Roy