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The Last Stand of Fox Company: A True Story of U.S. Marines in Combat | 
 enlarge | Authors: Robert Drury, Tom Clavin
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
Category: Book
List Price: $25.00
Buy New: $16.50
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Avg. Customer Rating:  28 reviews
Sales Rank: 9762
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.5
ISBN: 0871139936
Dewey Decimal Number: 941.904242
EAN: 9780871139931
ASIN: 0871139936
Publication Date: January 6, 2009 (In 34 Days)
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
November 1950, the Korean Peninsula: After General MacArthur ignores Mao’s warnings and pushes his UN forces deep into North Korea, his 10,000 First Division Marines find themselves surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered by 100,000 Chinese soldiers near the Chosin Reservoir. Their only chance for survival is to fight their way south through the Toktong Pass, a narrow gorge that will need to be held open at all costs. The mission is handed to Captain William Barber and the 234 Marines of Fox Company, a courageous but undermanned unit of the First Marines. Barber and his men climb seven miles of frozen terrain to a rocky promontory overlooking the pass, where they will endure four days and five nights of nearly continuous Chinese attempts to take Fox Hill. Amid the relentless violence, three-quarters of Fox’s Marines are killed, wounded, or captured. Just when it looks like the outfit will be overrun, Lt. Colonel Raymond Davis, a fearless Marine officer who is fighting south from Chosin, volunteers to lead a daring mission that cuts a hole in the Chinese lines and relieves the men of Fox. This is a fast-paced and gripping account of heroism and sacrifice in the face of impossible odds.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 23 more reviews...
 An Historic Story of the Korean War December 3, 2008
This story of one small unit of Marines during the Korean War is a terrific read, detailing the heroism of one group of men with their backs against the wall. With relentless Chinese attacks this unit was nearly overrun on multiple occasions. With resolve and determination these Marines fought off the Chinese and survived.
This short history is well worth the read.
A fantastic recounting of a legendary defense November 30, 2008
There are entirely too few books recounting the engagements of the Korean War. At last readers are able to read of one of the most noteworthy engagements to take place during that time in _The Last Stand of Fox Company_.
Neglecting the many typos that found their way through publication, and they are minor when one really considers them (such things as a name being spelled differently in two places in the same paragraph grate the most), this book is a fantastic piece of writing. While I felt it started slowly, after getting through some of the lead-up to the days-long battle being retold, once the bullets start flying the pages do, too.
Focusing not on just one or two members of the unit, the paths and decisions and fates of a great number of the marines involved in the defense are followed. From dealing with the cold to the enemy (chinese army regulars) to the supply deficiencies, we see the brotherhood between the marines as they have to rely upon one another for survival without proper gear or sufficient food.
Repulsing wave after wave of chinese attacks, the marines are being whittled down and their defensive perimeter is shrinking due to lack of manpower. Having started with 256 marines, they lose over 2/3 of them to wounds, frostbite and death. The nearly constant sniper activity wears them down even further. As one might expect, there are accounts of grand heroism as well as recollections of unsavory deeds required in such a situation, such as using one's own dead comrades as shelter from enemy bullets.
Told as a narrative rather than bland assembly of interviews, anecdotes, and military records, this story of marines in combat is so noteworthy that it's one of four scenes depicted at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. While I had heard of it, I knew none of the details prior to this reading. I am richer for the experience. Having read a number of other military histories, I rank this one as near the top. While it does not have any of the first person narrative in many of those I have read, I don't think it lacks for any semblance of accuracy or realism. The grisly details related throughout the book convey quite well the nature of the war being fought. If for no other reason than to get a nicely detailed story of how three men won their Medals of Honor, this book is worth the price.
Heroism and courage under the worst of times. Why don't we know more about this war? November 27, 2008
The Last Stand of Fox Company: A True Story of U.S. Marines in Combat provides the little known account of the 246 Marines and corpsman that were sent into a battle that they had little chance of winning. General MacArthur ignored the signs of China's involvement in the war and the warnings of Chairman Mao and sent a small unit into battle to try to claim Toktong Pass deep in Korea. Many of these men had just the basic training, had never fired more than a few rounds and were not prepared for the brutal Korean winter. Covering a week's time this account follows several of the men of the Fox Company under the command of Captain William Barber, and their struggles to stay alive. Facing a Chinese army that out numbered them and working under unendurable conditions, these young men are facing possible defeat when Lt. Colonel Raymond Davis takes on a seemingly suicide mission to cut into the Chinese lines and lead the remaining men of Fox to safety. These warriors were from all backgrounds and levels of military. What bound them was a desire to serve and the willingness to survive at all costs. The surviving men give accounts of unbelievable heroism nod sacrifice.
Robert Drury and Tom Clavin have written a powerful account of this battle. They have used survivors' accounts and have pieced the battle together intertwining the various Marines in the company. This is a must read for anyone wanting to know more about the Korean War and anyone wanting an intimate view of the way war is waged.
 Alright read November 26, 2008
I am usually able to read through a book in less than a day. Anything regarding the military and conflicts is almost a sure fire fast read for me. That being said, it was hard for me to get into "The Last Stand." I did not feel a connection to the book.
 Memorable Heroism in the Forgotton War November 24, 2008
I have to admit, I had never heard or read about the Fox Hill battle of the Korean War. I knew that the Korean "Conflict" had extreme ebbs and flos where each side almost captured the all of other's territory. I recall that there was the danger and reality of the intervention by the Communist Chinese. I knew that the landing at Inchon was a key military gambit. I also knew that General MacArthur was recalled by President Truman in what seems to have been the most controvertial event in the conflict. I knew that the cease fire that occurred in the early 1950's has remained in effect through the present meaning that no permanent resolution has emerged to conclude the hostilities. However, other than Inchon, I was not aware of any specific engagements. For that reason, I am grateful that authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin have done the research, conducted the interviews, and skillfully written this reconstruction of a week-long battle that deserves to be a part of our military lore.
The events of the battle of Fox Hill serve as a insight to the Korean War because it ocurred as the Communist Chinese made their initial entry into the fray. What the Chinese brought to the conflict was numbers and the threat of escalation. Their battle plan seemed to focus on using their numbers to overwhelm rather than use of strategy to overcome. The roughly 250 marines at Fox Hill faced thousands of Chinese in a frozen tundra in which frost bite was more imminent than death. The mere act of digging fox holes for cover seems like chisling stone and the authors were adept at bringing to life to miserable conditions that these marines faced.
The description, day by day, of the attacks, recoveries, and preparations give us an intimate sense of the soldiers and their heroism. The book concludes with an Epilogue and Afterward that helps us know how many of the survivors fared.
I found "The Last Stand of Fox Company" to be similar to "We were Soldiers once...and Young" and "Hell in a very Small Place" although I found the other two a little more complete. There is a talent to bringing combat to life. It includes a balance between glorifying the warrior and acknowledging the individual. It gives us a descriptive account of the battle. It also includes a perspective of the background and impact of the event. Finally, having drawn us into a level of personal concern and appreciation of the soldiers, it gives us a postscript to remind us that these are gallent heroes who now live in anonymity amongst us. "The Last Stand of Fox Company" does very well in all four of those categories.
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