Brady doesn't judge. I like that most about his reflections on a horrible war in a freezing place. If you want to hang Truman, MacArthur, Eisenhower, and John Foster Dulles, this is probably the wrong book for you. It is brilliant but it tells only the story of one man-boy's experience placed in charge of 40 men in combat.

To some extent we look down on those boys. We judge them, forgetting that like us, they too were caught in the flotsam of other people's decisions. Although with most of us, the whole world doesn't subsequently judge us. War's change, the technology of killing becomes more sophisticated, sides change, enemies become friends, and bad guys become good guys. Frequenly we forget that it's the young men who take the fire. The greatest homily to Brady and the only self serving remark he makes would be truly understood by a few. When he leaves the fields where 54,000 died, he says, "I hadn't lost any men . . "

Brady reminds us that young men are faced with terrible decisions when politicians, frequently never in harm's way, put them into unexplained and perhaps unnecessary combat. We should not judge those boys. And we should not judge them after they become men. 5 stars. A sobering read.To Jim Brady, if no one told you, welcome home.

Mr. Brady has an interesting combination of elitism for being a Marine Corp officer and humility. He admits to being a regular guy trying to survive extrodinary circumstances. Without trying to do so, Brady has written an interesting guide on leadership. I'd recommend this book to history buffs as well as anyone who manages a group of people. Both will learn something valuable.

A chronology of life as a platoon leader in the static, bunker warfare of Korea's second year, I found Brady's book a refreshing contrast to many first person accounts, Korean War accounts in particular. No exhilirating offensives here; no retreats, no advancing in a different direction. Only night patrol warfare with its attendant, alternate boredom, tragedy, hollow victories. Marines lost to mines, to frostbite, to friendly fire, to random shell or mortar fire. Starlight was enough for Brady to patrol by--moonlight cast too many shadows. John Chafee-- later Governor and Senator from Rhode Island-- urged the young author to know his troops 'as Marines, as professionals; but not as men.' A frozen turd once cued Brady that an injured Chinese was too far ahead to make further pursuit worthwhile. Brady the Marine agonizes if Chinese fleeing a napalmed village were women or men-- but Brady the journalist uses an economy of word thats conveys the intensity of combat; the need to reach a quick decision, stick-- and live-- with it

There is reflection and commentary here, too. Brady compares tactical approach of Army vs. Marine rifle companies. The latter were better organized and equipped. "NO way a man in combat can give orders to more than 3 men." In battalion reserve Brady's Marines tangles with civilians, even were accused of rape. He lamented the loss 'of pride, of discipline, of professionalism' that came from being away from the War. On a hospital ship in In'chon harbor for a routine examination, he decries the poor treatment from Sailors.

Perhaps Dean Acheson can claim to have been 'Present at the Creation' of the post WWII cold war order. Brady was more than present--he was a part. And he trumps the cocky Secretary of State: Brady was there at its final destruction--the Berlin Wall-- as well. Admittedly as a paunchy journalist, but hey, the guy paid his dues. He has just raised one too many for the New World Order.