The Final Crucible: U.S. Marines in Korea, Vol. 2: 1953

by Lee Ballenger

The Final Crucible details the 1st Marine Division's harrowing close-quarters battles during the final seven months of the Korean War, January to July 1953. The terrible five-day Battle of the Nevada Cities in March and the Marines' bloody stand at Boulder City on the last day of the shooting war are just two of the engagements detailed here. This volume follows The Outpost U.S. Marines in Korea, Vol. 1: 1952 .

350 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 2006

Reviews

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the style of Ernie Sledge and Robert Lecki's World War II works on the Marines in the Pacific, Ballenger draws on his personal experience as a Marine enlisted man in the second year of the Korean War. He also uses a large number of interviews and memoirs. This, the second volume of a two volume series, takes a down to earth look at the Marines in combat, both good and bad. Thia is a must read for the Korean War buff.