The Farthest Valley - by Joseph Wheelan (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A history of the legendary extraction of the Fifth and Seventh Marines from a Chinese trap, told for the first time using Chinese sources.

Knee-deep in snow, and under a leaden sky, American Marines thousands of miles from home watched more snow settle onto the frozen ground, glittering in the fading light. Suddenly, the still Korean night roared to life with the sound of Chinese mortar fire. The Fifth and Seventh Marine Regiments were besieged and surrounded by the Chinese 9th Army Group in a surprise attack at Chosin Reservoir in what is now North Korea. Vastly outnumbered and outgunned, defeat and death seemed guaranteed. Their improbable escape after a week of brutal combat required all the Marines' fighting skills and supreme combat leadership.

It has become the stuff of legend and is brilliantly brought to life in this book through first-hand accounts by Joseph Wheelan, himself the son of a Chosin veteran. However, The Farthest Valley also uses Chinese military documents to give a unique perspective on Chinese strategic and tactical failings which allowed the Marines to escape. Without the Marines the entire United Nations core strength was at risk of collapse which would have changed the outcome of the Korean War. This is a compelling history of the Marines' incredible tenacity and of woeful combat leadership as the Chinese gambled away their men's lives and ultimately victory.

Review Quotes

"Joseph Wheelan delivers a riveting telling of the heroic fighting withdrawal of the 1st Marine Division from the Chosen Reservoir under what were arguably the most challenging combat conditions imaginable... A must-read for Marine enthusiasts and lovers of history." --Major General Jason Q. Bohm, USMC (Former Commanding Officer, 5th Marine Regiment).

"Exceptionally well written history of the retreat of 1st Marine Division plus US and British Army units from the Chosin Reservoir to coast in November-December of 1950....While I've read about "Frozen Chosin" here and there, this is the first full-length book on the subject for me. Detailed and exceptionally well written, it's brilliant." --HMGS

"[T]he text really drives home what the Marines had to endure and how tenacity and the struggle to survive really endured and allowed many to escape this frozen vortex and persevere... It was an inspirational read despite being gut-wrenching at the same time... Highly Recommended for anyone looking to learn more of this particular campaign in the Korean War." --AMPS

"This latest work by an established author of military history stands out for its detailed and graphic depictions of the combat and suffering of both sides... Most accounts of the Korean War tend to leave out North Korean and Chinese viewpoints: this book is all the better for its inclusion of the Chinese experience. The Chosin Reservoir is one of the most famous battles of the Korean War but this new book adds a new depth of understanding for the reader, who can follow the action from both points of view in this well-written and readable volume." --Military Heritage

"Magnificent... Wheelan's descriptions of close-quarter battle are gripping and gruesome." --Military Officer Magazine

About the Author