The Marine: A Novel of War from Guadalcanal to Korea

by James Brady

A rousing new Marine Corps adventure from the author of the New York Times bestselling Warning of War and The Marines of Autumn

The Marine is Colonel James ("Oliver") Cromwell, a warrior forged at Notre Dame and the Berlin of Hitler's Olympics, and honed by combat at Guadalcanal as one of Carlson's Marine Raiders. With the world at peace, the thirty-five-year old Cromwell is restlessly, if pleasantly, beached on garrison duty in California, aware of how much he misses the war, when he is ordered to fresh duty beyond the seas, as military attaché to the American ambassador in a dull Asian backwater half a world away. There, at dawn on a June Sunday, Ollie gets his wish for action. Korea violently erupts and Colonel Cromwell is caught up in the early, panicked, rout. While South Koreans cut and run, the first GIs hurried into battle are brushed aside by advancing Red tanks and tough peasant infantry.

The Marine chronicles the war-hardened Cromwell's experience of the dramatic First Hundred Days of a brutal three-year Korean War, the chaos and cowardice of retreat, the last-ditch gallantry of the Pusan Perimeter, MacArthur's brilliant left hook sending Marines against the deadly seawall at Inchon, and the bloody assault to liberate Seoul and promote MacArthur's 1952 presidential ambitions. Ollie Cromwell's is the story of a "forgotten war" that never truly ended, but for a bitter truce along what a recent U.S. president called "the most dangerous border in the world."

In The Marine , James Brady crafts a powerful novel of one man's service to his country and Corps.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Military Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2003

About the author

James Winston Brady was an American celebrity columnist who created the Page Six gossip column in the New York Post and authored the In Step With column in Parade for nearly 25 years until his death. He also authored numerous books about his time serving in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War.

Brady was born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. His career in journalism started working as a copy boy for the Daily News, where he worked while attending Manhattan College. He graduated in 1950. He left the paper to serve in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War.During the war, he was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines first leading a rifle platoon and later acting as an executive officer of a rifle company at one point serving under John Chafee. The majority of his service took place in the North Korean Taebaek Mountains during the fall and bitterly cold winter of 1951 and 1952. Brady was awarded the Bronze Star with the Combat V (recognizing an award resulting from combat heroism) in November 2001 for his actions on May 31, 1952 in a firefight with Chinese forces near Panmunjom.

Brady died at age 80 on January 26, 2009 at his home in Manhattan.

James Brady is the father of Susan Konig.

Reviews

[S.L. Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really glad I decided to finish this one! I haven't read anything by Brady until now. I aspire for this writing style, really. I enjoyed POV being overarching, rather than first or third person. The main character isn't just Ollie Cromwell, but the entire Marine Corps. I loved the third part the most. My favorite characters besides Ollie would have to be Arzt and Buggy.
One thing I deeply appreciate is that Ollie is a man who has feelings... but this book doesn't become some strange love affair with a woman he met 2 days ago. He has relationships, but his focus is his Marine family and the war and god, I appreciate that.
One thing I don't appreciate though... I got the paperback book for $1 at my library sale. It's a very cumbersome size. This book doesn't exist as an eBook at any of my libraries... so I made the executive decision to buy it on Kindle... for $12. Tell me why this eBook from 2004 is rife with typing errors and doesn't contain page numbers. I'm glad I bought the eBook and I did enjoy it very much but WHY was this eBook $12!

[Tyler Gamba · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Grandfather, Rest In Peace, Was Seaman Andrew Polick, Aged and Gracefully Passed at 97 in 2024. He loved Studs Terkel's The Good War because they were testimonials from brave women and men from a time long gone forever. This is a work of fiction, but he knew those names.

Thank you, sir. This book is vastly underrated, and I am a South Korean-Adoptee American by way of Busan/Pusan and Seoul from 1996.

You did the hard things not because you were one of the old breed. You were one of the forgotten legends. And I live.

Thank you, sir. I cannot say the motto as an Army Reservist Librarian, but I am proud to be an American. I am free.

[Philip Dolson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story. The author does a very nice job of fitting fictional characters in with actual events and real people. As with other Brady novels about the USMC and their role in wartime, the ending isn’t the happiest of endings, but at least the main character in this one seems to have an optimistic outlook. I’d like to think that things will work out for him…

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars...an enjoyable read about the beginning of the Korean War. I haven’t read much on the beginning of this war and it was informative and fast moving.

[Francis Gahren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abstract: It has been 50 years since the end of the Korean War, and Brady sets his latest novel during the first 100 days of the conflict--beginning on June 25, 1950, when the North Koreans launched their surprise attack on South Korea. Cromwell joins General Douglas McArthur in the invasion at Inchon and in his fiercely fought drive to reach the capital city of Seoul. Brady paints Cromwell as a true patriot who--when not fighting--reads Caesar's Gallic War in Latin.

The Marine is Colonel James ("Oliver") Cromwell, a warrior forged at Notre Dame and the Berlin of Hitler's Olympics, and honed by combat at Guadalcanal as one of Carlson's Marine Raiders. With the world at peace, the thirty-five-year old Cromwell is restlessly, if pleasantly, beached on garrison duty in California, aware of how much he misses the war, when he is ordered to fresh duty beyond the seas, as military attaché to the American ambassador in a dull Asian backwater half a world away. There, at dawn on a June Sunday, Ollie gets his wish for action. Korea violently erupts and Colonel Cromwell is caught up in the early, panicked, rout. While South Koreans cut and run, the first GIs hurried into battle are brushed aside by advancing Red tanks and tough peasant infantry.

The Marine chronicles the war-hardened Cromwell's experience of the dramatic First Hundred Days of a brutal three-year Korean War, the chaos and cowardice of retreat, the last-ditch gallantry of the Pusan Perimeter, MacArthur’s brilliant left hook sending Marines against the deadly seawall at Inchon, and the bloody assault to liberate Seoul and promote MacArthur's 1952 presidential ambitions. Ollie Cromwell’s is the story of a "forgotten war" that never truly ended, but for a bitter truce along what a recent U.S. president called "the most dangerous border in the world."

Author of Warning of War (2002), The Marines of Autumn (2000), and 12 other novels, Brady served in the Korean War. In The Marine, James Brady crafts a powerful novel of one man’s service to his country and Corps.

Recommendation: Outstanding book about the Korean War—read it!

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the fourth book about the Marines written by James Brady that I have read. James Brady has a style of writing about the Marines that make his stories very moving and entertaining. His books are based upon his personal experience and other factual sources in his real life experience. Brady was a rifle platoon leader with 7th Marines in North Korea's Taebaek Mountains during the fall and winter of 1951-52. In November 2001, he was awarded the Bronze Star with combat "V" for his actions during a firefight against the Chinese army.

This book was about Ollie Cromwell, a Marine Colonel who fought in WWII and Korea. Many of the Events written in the book I remember reading about in the news. Further my friends who also fought in the Korean war confirm what Mr. Brady wrote.

This book is a must read for those who want to learn more about contemporary history of this country and the military who fought to protect our freedom.

[Frank Cavanaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 4/17/13 this is a novel / biography. It follows one man from prior to deciding to become a Marine, through his experiences and disappointments from pre WW2 through the early days of the Korean War. Strangely chosen timeframe and battles. The lead character is not in the major battles but is involved in interesting events such as bodyguard to MacArthur and an Ambassador. There is plenty of fighting both first hand and discussions of strategy and troop movement. His personal life while included is inadequately addressed. It isn't omitted, just left hanging in a way that doesn't properly fill out the story. Your left with a story about an above average man who doesn't quite achieve his potential. If it were true it would be insightful. As fiction it is worth a read but like his character, it misses greatness.
FC

[Bill Shuey · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time I have read a James Brady book and in all honesty, I thought this author was the James Brady who wrote "Flags of our Fathers." While they share the same name, they are not the same person.

The Marine is a fictional account of Colonel Cromwell, but the events described in the book as pertains to the Korean War is filled with detail and insights not normally cited for wide consumption. The Korean War was a mess, filled with poor intelligence, both of the human and generalship of the conflict.

This is an excellent book and I would suggest it to anyone who is interested in military history and the Korean War.

[DROPPING OUT · Rating 2 out of 5]

After finishing Tomasi di Lampedusa's The Leopard earlier this week, I decided to follow this gourmet banquet with a bite of "fast food." I know a lot of people like James Brady's books - and I admit this is the first one I read. The story line was good, especially capturing the first disastrous months of the "Korean Conflict." But the protagonist is two-dimensional, surrounded by caricatures. A nice book for the beach or airport. That's about all.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I've read on the Korean War. It was written through the eyes of a Marine who also fought in WWII. It only touched on the first few months of the invasion which showed how unorganized and chaotic it was run by the top brass, named MacArthur whose presidential ambitions got in the way of making wise decisions.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like I read 2 books. The first part was pre-WW2 & during the war. That read like fiction. The second book started with Korea. That read more like history with a bit of fiction thrown in. All said & done it was a good read.