The Battle for Old Baldy

General Van Fleet orders an attack on the two hills of Old Baldy and Pork Chop Hill.  The American attack is successful but the Chinese launch a series of counter attacks upon Old Baldy which are beaten off.  General Mark Clarke replaces General Ridgeway as the commander of American forces in the Far East.  A review of the performance of General Ridgeway and a biography of General Mark Clarke.  The treatment of the wounded during the Korean War.

The Korean War is now one year old but remember that there are only three more months of episodes to go before we end the series.  Last month was the best ever for downloads and September has began well.

Episode 67 the last but one, is a question and answer session about the Korean War, where I will attempts to answer your questions.  You can send me your questions either on the comments sections of this website or by emailing them to kendrick6@aol.com but please mark it ‘Korean War Podcast’ or you can write to Paul Kendrick, 33 Boundary Road, Norwich, NR6 5JF, United Kingdom.  Please can I have your question by the end of October.

My microphone is broke but as I have seven episodes stored up this should not affect the publication of episodes.

Truce Tents and Fighting Front

This book written by Walter Hermes details the fighting within the Korean War from the summer of 1951 to the end of the Korea War in July 1953.  It also details the peace talks between the United Nations and the Communists, which often broke out in bitterness and angry but which after the death of Stalin did finally bring about the end of the Korean War.  The story of the peace talks is a long and complex tale which the books covers well as is especially recommended for those who wish to know more about them.

The Aerial and Naval War

The fighting along the front line in March and April 1952.  The main effort by the United Nations Air Force is not to attack the enemy front line but to cut the Communist Armies lines of supply, they are not as effective as hoped for and the levels of supplies increase.  Later the Air force attack targets such as power plants, dams and rice warehouses.  The Naval blockade of North Korea remains in force for the rest of the Korean War.  Coastal raids are launched against North Korea. A biography of Admiral Briscoe the commander of American Naval forces off the shores of Korea.

Available from Saturday 10th September.

Rhee, the unfaithfully ally

Events along the front line during January and February 1952.  The retraining of the South Korean Army.  The Korean War causes inflation within South Korean, the living standards of ordinary South Koreans fall.  The repression nature of the President Rhee Government within South Korea.  Rhee is re-elected in 1952 but there is massive amounts of vote rigging.  Rhee opposes any peace deal with the Communists.  Relations between Rhee and the United States turn bad.  A biography of Tiger Kim a South Korean Police commander.

Available from Saturday 3rd September

Prisoners of War

The fighting along the front line reduces in November and December 1951.  The United Nations Air Forces attempts to block the Communist supply lines but the effort is not entirely successful.  A biography of General Otto Weyland the commander of the United States Air Force in the Far East.  The plight of United Nations prisoners of war held by the Communist.  The high death rates among American and South Korean prisoners of war.  The cruelty of the North Korean guards.  The poor conditions suffered by the Prisoners of War, who after the war became the forgotten vicitms of a forgotten war.

Available from Saturday 27th August

The Battle of Heartbreak Ridge

The American capture Bloody ridge and then move on the north to attack Heartbreak Ridge.  The battle is long and hard and the American suffer heavy losses.  1st and 9th Corp also but push slightly further but the 1st Cavalry Division suffers heavy losses too. The story of Communist prisoners of war held by the United Nations. A biography of Major General Byers the new commander of the Tenth Corp.

To the Last Round

This is another book by Andrew Salmon about Commonwealth troops during the Korean War.  This book deals with the Gloucestershire Regiments stand at the Battle of the Imjin River during the Chinese Fifth Offensive.  The Gloucestershire Regiment fought a brave but doomed stand which cost the Chinese Army heavy losses.  The ISBN is 9781845135331.

A map of the Eighth Army advance back into North Korea in May and June 1951

Stalemate

Both sides agree to peace talks but those talks quickly run into trouble.  The 8th Army launch military actions to encourage the Communist to take a more positive stance.  The peace talks drag on until September 1952 there is much abuse but little progress, the issue of the return of prisoners of war to their country even against their will bedevil the talks.  A biography of Joseph Stalin the rule of the Soviet Union who wishes to prolong the Korean War.

Available from Saturday 13th August.