ader an account of pure aggression from the “Red” North. The U.N. rallying together under the one banner to stop “one single nation attempting to impose its will upon another by force of arms”. Simple and clear cut, this book was just what the doctor ordered for a West where a decisive victory was not achieved in effect damaging egos and pride. The War in Korea is one of those books introducing a history which is to become the government yardstick for how we are to view the war. The other, published in 1988, shows a stark contrast to this blinkered view of justice and crusading against the “Red North”. 35 years on, Korea: the unknown war, gives the reader an analytical view of political posturing, atrocities and accusations of atrocities by both sides, propaganda !
             as well as a detailed account of the battle front campaign. More emphasis is placed on the great suffering of the Korean people as a whole while also confronting the question of whether the U.S. used chemical and other weapons of mass destruction also giving an insight to how close the U.S. was to using nuclear weapons. 35 years later, through this book, America is addressing her skeletons in the closet, the start of the long path of reconciliation and peace on the peninsular.
             As outlined in his Author’s note, Major R.C.W. Thomas makes no illusions as to the kind of work he was undertaking in writing The War in Korea. The sole purpose of the book “has been to try and give the story of the campaign as a whole, together with some information about Korea as a country and various background events, which affected the course of the war.” he spells out clearly for the reader. This is indeed a military history with little consideration taken for political niceties regarding the “enemy” or “the Reds” as Thomas so eloquently labels the Korean People’s Army and the Chinese Communist Forces of the ti...