Combat Ineffective

Jock Miles-Moon Brothers Korean War Story #1

by William Peter Grasso

Summer 1950: the atomic euphoria of America’s WW2 victory still lingers; no man who has joined its postwar military thinks he’ll ever have to fight. The complacent American ground forces are ill equipped, badly trained, poorly led, and painfully unaware of just how combat ineffective they’ve become. That ineffectiveness becomes shockingly clear when they’re quickly overwhelmed by the North Korean People’s Army as it swarms across the 38th parallel to invade South Korea.American units and their equally weak South Korean allies are forced into a headlong retreat that promises to end only after they’ve been pushed off the Korean peninsula and into the sea. It will take hardened WW2 veterans—proven, combat-effective leaders like infantrymen Jock Miles and “Top” Patchett, tanker Sean Moon, and his brother, fighter pilot Tommy Moon—to stem the rout and turn back the North Korean red wave.

Genres: Historical Fiction

426 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2018

About the author

A lifelong student of history, William Peter Grasso served in the US Army and is retired from the aircraft maintenance industry. His devotion to all things historical, military, and aviation remains unabated and continues to inspire his fiction.

Reviews

[MICHAEL MOGILEVSKY]

I was 20 in 1950. I followed this conflict through the armistice. I also spent thirteen months in Chunchon, South Korea, in 1953 plus. I thoroughly enjoyed this fictionalized history of the grave early period of this conflict, and recognized many scenes and incidents. The title of this book, "Combat Ineffective," spoke volumes for me, as this was as it actually was. Also, Mr. Grasso's description of the American Japanese Occupation with the "PX soldiers" not undergoing any serious military preparations for the KPA invasion of South Korea was on point: I lived in Tokyo as a civilian foreign national at that time, and witnessed those younger troops having fun - until the KPA invasion. I enjoyed the description of some of the high military officers of the Supreme Commander's staff...!

I am looking for the Rest Of The Story by Mr. Grasso! When can I get it? M.M., ex- USAF, Member, VFW (Lifetime Member).

[Robert Johnson Jr.]

A very good read

Not enough is written about what really happened in the beginning of the Korean Conflict. Mr. Grass provides a well researched view of the real world that existed at the start of the Conflict and the almost unbelievable of caused by politicians and military high command. The lack of rapid effective corrective action is hard to believe.

[walter r machnicz]

Disappointing

Simplistic take on a complex situation. Korea was deliberately not part of MacArthurs Japanese command. The Sec of State disavowed US interest in Korea. MacArthur force's were understrength, undersupplied, under budgeted. IS Mac was in bad relations with the Pentagon (military senior officers and command). Weapons were early WW2 supplies. 2.6? rather than the much more effective 3.5 in. First actual command I remember shipped out with 6 antitank shells for their battery of 105 mms howitzers. They were overrun.
Political reasons kept the Korean army without heavy arms, US military advisors.
The first combat effective force's were an Army unit from stateside (I think) and the marine division. Essentially 1st and 2nd marine divisions were so understrength one division was formed from both and required volunteers to ship out. Marines and Wolfhounds? (Army) were early effectives.
Lots more. Book is readable just depiction of men, units, and action is more R rated comic book than history.

[D. E.]

A WPG. Korean War Novel (CI) (AJM-MBKWSB - 1)

WPG. has penned a Korean War Novel titled "Combat Ineffective" which begins wit North Korean soldiers and armament headed south and across the 38th parallel. A Colonel, freshly promoted and just returning from a four year tour in Australia is contacted, personally by a two star General and given a near impossible task to getting the US Army to get its collective arses moving. That's s is war novel about he first few months in South Korea and how the North Koreans were teaching the US and Korea that this was not to be a walk in the park. This us an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

[Corey]

If you like combat/military novels this one is pretty good. I like that it is set in the Korean conflict which is a criminally ignored war in which American soldiers stood up for our country and its beliefs but rarely get recognition for it. Rant over. The book is well written and while the development of them and the plot is a little well-worn it is entertaining reading.

[bruce bottolfson]

Great read

What a great idea of merging the two story lines of the Jock Miles books and the Moon brothers series.It was handled very well and the action is non stop. If you have not read any of Grasso's books look at the two series. Hours of great reading. Enjoy

[Wallace Merrow]

Useless tanks

The battle scenes are as real as it gets. As a former tanker the US army kept accepting tanks that were next to useless. The M-48 and the M-60’ are good examples of screwups continuing from the M-4 Sherman.

[John Swessel]

God book kept me interested. Easy to follow all the. Characters. Just about all there is to say about the book. Don't need to keep

Pretty good book. Kept me interested. Easy to follow all the characters. Just about all there is to say about this book.

[Bill Barnes]

excellent read

having been in Nam this is an eye opener and a description of what happens when politicians control combat or try to. it would be safer walking o Chicago with hundred dollar bills pinned to your tee shirt at one in the morning

[Jack P Lifton]

Real people only a little of the history is changed

This excellent writing brings all of the characters alive. Harry Turtledove's books are marred by wooden characters. Peter Grasso's are just the opposite.

[Steve Minnick]

Grassy is One of the Best War Author’s of the day

This is my second reading and o learned more about the Korean War in this than the first. I wasn’t trying to gobble through the story, but enjoy it and learn.

This purely a wonderful way to learn and be enthralled by the story.

[Dave Hammett]

Korea cluster

Interesting story of our usual unpreparedness. I haven't read the others in the series but I enjoyed this one. I don't like to go back in a series but this one is so good that I might.

[Tim Chappell]

Dugout Doug

Very well written and excellent story of the ass kicking we took at the beginning of the Korean War. Our troops were slaughtered by the N Koreans because of the arrogance of MacArthur and his sycophants.

[Gene Rosso]

this was the first book in the series I have read. I enjoyed it so much I'm going to get the first in the series to read next.

[Mike Phillips]

A two fer!

I liked both stories, Jock Miles and the Moon brothers... now I get them together, who could ask for more... waiting for the next installment. Thanks Mr Grasso.

[Andrew Niemann]

I was overjoyed to discover more books about this great group of characters....cannot wait to see the next installment.

[Robert L Baxley]

Good read, story about “The forgotten war”

A interesting book. Little is know how the US struggled at the beginning of the Forgotten War. Recommended for history buff.

[gerald morson]

Very good

a great read plenty of interesting character,s to get your head around also it shows the difference between combat operations and people dictating things from afar

[Genie Higbee]

Rick's opinion

Just finished Mr Grasso book. The third one this week. If you like reading about combat then this book is for you. Will be starting fourth today. Thanks

[Carl Gillespie]

Korea

Weak us. Retreated constantly. Poor equipment. Worse leadership at higher levels. Tokyo full of fantasies. MaCarthur egotistical. Lots of foolishness.

[Sam Carpenter]

Well done

Not for the weak of mind or the timid. tell it like it is, The upper command has no clue as always, why do politics always rule the situation. Tell it like it is.
Rock on!

[Phillip Mclaughlin]

Korea

Just following jock Miles and now it’s to Korea.
No matter what is written the bravery in this war is equal or greater than given credit.

[Jack Rilkoff]

This was a good read. This was an interesting story about a conflict that is not often discussed.

[Mike Perry]

good read

Kind of started out slow with Jock Miles, but has started to get a little bit better at the end of the book.

[Jeff]

Just as good the second time a year later.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin]

Another war story-Korea

I have read all the Moon bothers novels and the Jock Miles stories, combining them into a new situation is a great move.