Synopses & Reviews
A decorated veteran of three wars, and author of two nonfiction classics—The Marines and The U.S. Marines: A History—Edwin Howard Simmons has written a novel of the Korean War that is earning unparalleled praise from both the military and literary communities. Emotionally moving and intensely authentic, it is the story of George Bayard, a Marine reserve captain who is recalled to active duty for a command-and a challenge-he never would have chosen.
Review
Will bring you to tears of sorrow and tears of joy. (Leon Uris)
Review
An intense, psychological novel by a retired Marine general who fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam and knows how to write. (USA Today)
Review
Not just an action-adventure story-though it is that, to be sure-but a starkly realistic portrait of infantry combat. (Marine Corps Gazette)
Review
The best autobiographical novel to come out of the Korean War. (Leatherneck)
Review
“Ed Simmons’s evocative writing cuts through the mists of half a century to bring into stark relief a proud Corps of Marines in one of their darkest
and finest
hours.”
W.E.B. Griffin “A superb novel. It works as a story of the Korean War and the U.S. Marine Corps, but also as a probe into the deepest reaches of the human condition.” Jim Lehrer
“An intense, psychological novel by a retired Marine general who fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam and knows how to write. [Simmons is] a master at technical details.”USA Today
“A fresh, compelling look at the forgotten war and the tough men of the old breed who fought it. General Simmons’s insights into the tactics, personalities, and minutiae of battle make this a first-rate combat narrative.”James Webb, author of Fields of Fire
“Will bring you to tears of sorrow and tears of joy.” Leon Uris
“Excellent…Simmons writes with the salty authority of a man who has seen war.” Publishers Weekly
“Not just an action-adventure storythough it is that, to be surebut a starkly realistic portrait of infantry combat.” Marine Corps Gazette
“The best autobiographical novel to come out of the Korean War.”Leatherneck
About the Author
Brig. Gen. Edwin Howard Simmons, USMC (Ret.) served with the Marine Corps from 1942 to 1978, including combat in both World War II and Vietnam, and was the director of Marine Corps History and Museums, retiring in 1996. His previous books include The United States Marines: A History, and The Marines. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.