[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: The Bridge at No Gun Ri - A Book Review



I must say that while I am no fan of the 1st Cavalry Division nor the 7th
Cavalry this book appears to be a real diatribe with little of value and the
review which YS included supports that feeling.

While the 7th Cavalry is not the best example of a high quality unit -- the
"Battle" of the Washita in 1868 being one of their less sterling adventures
-- trying to hang Indian war mentality operations on the unit in Korea is
pretty lame. Someone forgot about the actions of the division in WWII among
other things.

Most things of this caliber have a historical reputation of not seeming right
at the time and having a rather odious reputation over the course of the war
in which they occured. Examples from WWII such as the Katyn Marshes and Baba
Yar are good examples of massacres which were roiling around after they took
place, with the events at Malmedy probably being the best known to Americans.
But there appears to have been zero on this sort of thing from the UN or
American forces until the "truth" surfaced only a few short years ago.

Overall with the publicity, the debunking of the author as not having been
present or party to any such events, and that gaulling review, this doesn't
seem to be worth the read.

Cookie Sewell
AMPS

PS My dim view of the 1st Cav is from having been on division staff from
1984-1985. This headquarters was 50 commanders and no staff officers, which
made it very difficult to get things done right.