Tales of the Yellow Sea

Allen M. Park
iUniverse (2006)
ISBN 9780595377190
Reviewed by William E. Cooper for Reader Views (2/07)

“Tales of the Yellow Sea” is a Korean War study of a strategy aimed at reducing the loss of life and the duration of the war by cutting off enemy supply lines and re-capturing Seoul.  Mr. Park describes a particular operation wherein the United States and Korean Marines quietly entered the waters off the designated landing area and cleared mines to allow landing craft access to the beaches, provided pre-operational intelligence about the geography and enemy at the sites, and cleared enemy troops from critical locations, each of which would have compromised the integrity of the landing operation.

Mr. Park follows these actions with the landing itself.  He is very descriptive about the ferocity and tactics during the fighting, particularly describing that the landing force was engaged against significant odds, and at the end of the fight emerged victorious.  Mr. Park brings a perspective that is both descriptive and holds the reader’s attention.  His writing style is different, but clear.  The reader is able to follow the action, almost from a position of being involved as a participant.  The length of the book is definitely appropriate to the actions described.  The reader is able to associate with the major characters in the book – the emotions, courage, and fear are there – Park succeeds with what he tried to do with each player in the operation.

Mr. Park’s window of time for describing this critical action is well defined – it is neither too short nor too long.  The telling of the stories does justice and honor to the good people who were there and who engaged in dangerous actions that resulted in the achievement of the intentions – shortening the war and saving untold numbers of lives.  As a frequent reader of historical books, I enjoyed reading Mr. Park’s “Tales of the Yellow Sea.”  Historians, particularly those who follow and study military history, should read this book.  There are not enough books about the Korean War, and this one is one to add to your library.

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