What do you think?
Rate this book
A Task Force Called Faith: The Untold Story of the U.S. Army Soldiers Who Fought for Survival at Chosin Reservoir—and Honor Back Home
The forgotten heroes of Chosin—how Task Force Faith fought against impossible odds and a legacy of unfair shame.
On the 75th anniversary of the legendary Battle of Chosin Reservoir, Steve Vogel tells the little-known story of the Army soldiers who gave all during the Korean War’s most consequential battles and then were denigrated for their sacrifice. A Task Force Called Faith delivers a fresh perspective on Chosin, where 150,000 Chinese soldiers trapped 20,000 U.S. Marines and soldiers in the frozen mountains of North Korea in November and December of 1950. For seven decades, the Marines who successfully broke out from Chosin have been justly hailed as heroes, but the Army soldiers who fought alongside them have been reviled as cowards. In A Task Force Called Faith, Steve Vogel sets the record straight. What he’s learned is the culmination of twenty-five years of digging into the story, first as a reporter for The Washington Post and now as a leading military historian.
At Chosin, an Army force of 2,300 soldiers—a unit known as Task Force Faith—was positioned on the east side of the reservoir to protect the Marines’ flank but was overwhelmed by a Chinese force eight times its size. Fighting with little ammunition, support or food in temperatures that plunged to 35 degrees below zero, more than 80 percent of the Army soldiers were killed, captured, or wounded. After the battle, they were falsely accused of throwing down their weapons and feigning wounds. As Vogel documents, their brave fight through four days and five nights bought time for the Marines on the west side to consolidate and fight their way out. The Army survivors and their families have long sought to clear their names of those terrible charges and reclaim the honor they won at the frozen lake.
A Task Force Called Faith tells their story. Vogel carries the narrative to the present day, as the remains of many of the hundreds of soldiers still missing in action at Chosin continue to be identified and returned to their families.
During a time of growing tension and uncertainty in the relationship between the U.S. and China, A Task Force Called Faith provides an original, deeply researched look at the brutal, undeclared war the two countries fought 75 years ago. Chosin was the moment the Cold War turned into a savage and exceedingly hot conflict, leaving behind an uneasy standoff that looms ever larger with a nuclear-armed North Korea.
On the 75th anniversary of the legendary Battle of Chosin Reservoir, Steve Vogel tells the little-known story of the Army soldiers who gave all during the Korean War’s most consequential battles and then were denigrated for their sacrifice. A Task Force Called Faith delivers a fresh perspective on Chosin, where 150,000 Chinese soldiers trapped 20,000 U.S. Marines and soldiers in the frozen mountains of North Korea in November and December of 1950. For seven decades, the Marines who successfully broke out from Chosin have been justly hailed as heroes, but the Army soldiers who fought alongside them have been reviled as cowards. In A Task Force Called Faith, Steve Vogel sets the record straight. What he’s learned is the culmination of twenty-five years of digging into the story, first as a reporter for The Washington Post and now as a leading military historian.
At Chosin, an Army force of 2,300 soldiers—a unit known as Task Force Faith—was positioned on the east side of the reservoir to protect the Marines’ flank but was overwhelmed by a Chinese force eight times its size. Fighting with little ammunition, support or food in temperatures that plunged to 35 degrees below zero, more than 80 percent of the Army soldiers were killed, captured, or wounded. After the battle, they were falsely accused of throwing down their weapons and feigning wounds. As Vogel documents, their brave fight through four days and five nights bought time for the Marines on the west side to consolidate and fight their way out. The Army survivors and their families have long sought to clear their names of those terrible charges and reclaim the honor they won at the frozen lake.
A Task Force Called Faith tells their story. Vogel carries the narrative to the present day, as the remains of many of the hundreds of soldiers still missing in action at Chosin continue to be identified and returned to their families.
During a time of growing tension and uncertainty in the relationship between the U.S. and China, A Task Force Called Faith provides an original, deeply researched look at the brutal, undeclared war the two countries fought 75 years ago. Chosin was the moment the Cold War turned into a savage and exceedingly hot conflict, leaving behind an uneasy standoff that looms ever larger with a nuclear-armed North Korea.
655 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2025
5 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 5, 2025
Book Review: A Task Force Called Faith by Steve Vogel
Rating: 4.9/5
Steve Vogel’s A Task Force Called Faith is a masterful reclamation of honor for the U.S. Army soldiers unjustly overshadowed by Marine Corps lore in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. As a reader with a burgeoning interest in military history, I was gripped by Vogel’s meticulous research and impassioned narrative, which dismantles decades of mischaracterization with the precision of a historian and the urgency of a journalist.
Strengths & Emotional Resonance
Vogel’s dual lens as a reporter and historian shines in this work. His 20-year pursuit of truth transforms what could be a dry historical account into a visceral, human story—one of resilience amid frozen hell and bureaucratic betrayal. The chapters detailing Task Force Faith’s stand against overwhelming Chinese forces (eight times their size!) are harrowing yet infused with dignity, particularly when Vogel highlights soldiers’ letters and survivors’ testimonies. The interservice rivalry angle (Army vs. Marines) is handled with nuance, exposing how institutional biases can distort historical memory.
The book’s structure—moving from the political road to Chosin to the battle’s grueling aftermath—mirrors the inexorable march of fate. Standout sections like “Breakout Night” and “Part IV: The Aftermath” left me alternating between rage at the injustice and awe at the soldiers’ unyielding courage. Vogel’s prose is cinematic yet scholarly, evoking the chaos of combat without romanticizing war. His critique of the “cowardice” myth is devastatingly thorough, backed by declassified documents and oral histories.
Constructive Criticism
While exceptional, the book could benefit from:
-Global context: Deeper exploration of Chinese/Korean perspectives to round out the narrative.
-Visual aids: Maps or timelines might help readers less familiar with Korean War geography.
-Thematic expansion: A chapter explicitly linking Chosin’s legacy to modern military culture would elevate its relevance.
Why This Book Matters
This isn’t just military history—it’s a corrective to collective amnesia. Vogel’s expertise (Pulitzer-finalist reporting, Pentagon historiography) ensures rigor, while his empathy for Task Force Faith’s families—still fighting for recognition—adds profound emotional weight. The epilogue’s reflection on honor reclaimed is a tear-jerking crescendo.
Thank you to the National Book Network and Edelweiss for the advance copy. Vogel hasn’t just written a book; he’s restored a legacy.
Final Verdict:
Originality: 5/5 (Fills a glaring gap in Korean War narratives.)
Research: 4.9/5 (Archival depth meets narrative flair.)
Emotional Impact: 5/5 (You’ll grieve the lost and cheer their vindication.)
Accessibility: 4.8/5 (Military buffs and newcomers alike will be captivated.)
A must-read for anyone who believes history should honor truth over myth. 📖
Rating: 4.9/5
Steve Vogel’s A Task Force Called Faith is a masterful reclamation of honor for the U.S. Army soldiers unjustly overshadowed by Marine Corps lore in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. As a reader with a burgeoning interest in military history, I was gripped by Vogel’s meticulous research and impassioned narrative, which dismantles decades of mischaracterization with the precision of a historian and the urgency of a journalist.
Strengths & Emotional Resonance
Vogel’s dual lens as a reporter and historian shines in this work. His 20-year pursuit of truth transforms what could be a dry historical account into a visceral, human story—one of resilience amid frozen hell and bureaucratic betrayal. The chapters detailing Task Force Faith’s stand against overwhelming Chinese forces (eight times their size!) are harrowing yet infused with dignity, particularly when Vogel highlights soldiers’ letters and survivors’ testimonies. The interservice rivalry angle (Army vs. Marines) is handled with nuance, exposing how institutional biases can distort historical memory.
The book’s structure—moving from the political road to Chosin to the battle’s grueling aftermath—mirrors the inexorable march of fate. Standout sections like “Breakout Night” and “Part IV: The Aftermath” left me alternating between rage at the injustice and awe at the soldiers’ unyielding courage. Vogel’s prose is cinematic yet scholarly, evoking the chaos of combat without romanticizing war. His critique of the “cowardice” myth is devastatingly thorough, backed by declassified documents and oral histories.
Constructive Criticism
While exceptional, the book could benefit from:
-Global context: Deeper exploration of Chinese/Korean perspectives to round out the narrative.
-Visual aids: Maps or timelines might help readers less familiar with Korean War geography.
-Thematic expansion: A chapter explicitly linking Chosin’s legacy to modern military culture would elevate its relevance.
Why This Book Matters
This isn’t just military history—it’s a corrective to collective amnesia. Vogel’s expertise (Pulitzer-finalist reporting, Pentagon historiography) ensures rigor, while his empathy for Task Force Faith’s families—still fighting for recognition—adds profound emotional weight. The epilogue’s reflection on honor reclaimed is a tear-jerking crescendo.
Thank you to the National Book Network and Edelweiss for the advance copy. Vogel hasn’t just written a book; he’s restored a legacy.
Final Verdict:
Originality: 5/5 (Fills a glaring gap in Korean War narratives.)
Research: 4.9/5 (Archival depth meets narrative flair.)
Emotional Impact: 5/5 (You’ll grieve the lost and cheer their vindication.)
Accessibility: 4.8/5 (Military buffs and newcomers alike will be captivated.)
A must-read for anyone who believes history should honor truth over myth. 📖
Displaying 1 of 1 review