The Coldest War

Despite the fact that America's "forgotten war" lasted only 37 months, 54,246 Americans perished during that period, nearly as many as killed in 10 years in Vietnam. James Brady relates the account of his life as a young marine lieutenant in Korea on the fiftieth anniversary of the tragic combat.

In 1947, Jim Brady, at nineteen years old, enlisted for a Marine Corps program to evade the draught, and on the day he graduated from college, he was a lieutenant in the reserves. He hadn't expected to be in charge of a rifle platoon three years later, confronting a genuine adversary, but that's precisely what occurred after the Chinese escalated a "police action" into a war.

Brady's fast schooling in the reality of battle and the rigors of command is clearly described in The Coldest War. Death comes in fits and starts as too-accurate artillery on both sides seeks out men in their bunkers; constant alertness is crucial for survival, while brutal cold and a seductive silence conspire to lull soldiers into an often fatal stupor; constant alertness is crucial for survival, while brutal cold and a seductive silence conspire to lull soldiers into an often fatal stupor.

The Korean War impacted the lives of all Americans, yet it is seldom remembered outside of "M*A*S*H. This is the inside narrative that has to be told, and James Brady is a powerful witness to a pivotal moment in our nation's history.