On Desperate Ground

The Marines at the Reservoir, the Korean War's Greatest Battle

By: Hampton Sides

Narrated by: David Pittu

"Superb... A masterpiece of thorough research, deft pacing and arresting detail... This war story - the fight to break out of a frozen hell near the Chosin Reservoir - has been told many times before. But Sides tells it exceedingly well, with fresh research, gritty scenes and cinematic sweep." (Washington Post)

From the New York Times best-selling author of Ghost Soldiers and In the Kingdom of Ice, a chronicle of the extraordinary feats of heroism by Marines called on to do the impossible during the greatest battle of the Korean War.

On Oct. 15, 1950, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of UN troops in Korea, convinced President Harry Truman that the Communist forces of Kim Il-sung would be utterly defeated by Thanksgiving. The Chinese, he said with near certainty, would not intervene in the war.

As he was speaking, 300,000 Red Chinese soldiers began secretly crossing the Manchurian border. Led by some 20,000 men of the First Marine Division, the Americans moved deep into the snowy mountains of North Korea, toward the trap Mao had set for the vainglorious MacArthur along the frozen shores of the Chosin Reservoir. What followed was one of the most heroic - and harrowing - operations in American military history, and one of the classic battles of all time. Faced with probable annihilation, and temperatures plunging to 20 degrees below zero, the surrounded, and hugely outnumbered, marines fought through the enemy forces with ferocity, ingenuity, and nearly unimaginable courage as they marched their way to the sea.

Hampton Sides' superb account of this epic clash relies on years of archival research, unpublished letters, declassified documents, and interviews with scores of marines and Koreans who survived the siege. While expertly detailing the follies of the American leaders, On Desperate Ground is an immediate, grunt's-eye view of history, enthralling in its narrative pace and powerful in its portrayal of what ordinary men are capable of in the most extreme circumstances.

Hampton Sides has been hailed by critics as one of the best nonfiction writers of his generation. As the Miami Herald wrote, "Sides has a novelist's eye for the propulsive elements that lend momentum and dramatic pace to the best nonfiction narratives."

©2018 Hampton Sides (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Superb...a masterpiece of thorough research, deft pacing and arresting detail...Sides shows how brave Marines - officers and grunts - innovated, organized, and blasted their way out of the trap their fabulously famous boss had helped set. This war story - the fight to break out of a frozen hell near the Chosin Reservoir - has been told many times before. But Sides tells it exceedingly well, with fresh research, gritty scenes, and cinematic sweep." (Washington Post)

“To this pantheon [of the best books on the Korean War] we can now add Hampton Sides’ On Desperate Ground, which hits all the right notes.... It’s a story Marines are rightly proud of and one that should be of interest to anyone who wants to know more about the remains that just returned home from Korea, and why those men deserve to be remembered.” (Wall St. Journal)

"No one writes war and extreme life-and-death tales as vividly and authentically as Hampton Sides. As a veteran of the 1st Marine Division, I found his new book about one of the most desperate battles in American history to be riveting and beautifully told. Sides gets it all right, from the heroism of the Marines trapped in the frozen mountains to the chess moves of the generals and politicians who put them there. An incredible page-turner of a book, a must-read." (William Broyles Jr., acclaimed screenwriter of Jarhead, Apollo 13, Flags of Our Fathers, and Cast Away)

“What a book! Through moment-by-moment, intensely-researched details, On Desperate Ground utterly immerses the reader in this harrowing battle. Hampton Sides gives us a better understanding of the history behind current US relations with Korea and China while offering a series of captivating profiles in human courage - an absolutely riveting read.” (Anthony Doerr, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All the Light We Cannot See)

Exceptional history, storytelling & narration

I was thoroughly impressed by this book. Poignant, captivating, and fascinating lesser-known history of the Korean war. The narration was moving, the pace of the book kept me interested (enthralled is more accurate!), and the first hand accounts and individual actions were simply incredible. For the first time in my life I have a solid understanding and appreciation for what the Korean war was all about. Bravo Hampton, thanks for contributing this to the world of literature and history.

So much information that I didn't know!

So much information about the USA, Truman, McArthur, and both North and South Korea that I never knew. This books is a must for those lovers of history that want to know why our country and North Korea are still at odds (and the Chinese) . Hampton Sides' well researched book is fantastic!

Phenomenal recount of a grim battle

What an incredible story of terror, valor, and survival. This book lays it out in great detail following notable events and soldiers.

One of the Best Korean War Epics

Hampton Sides does it again. "On Desperate Ground" is without a doubt one of the very best books on the battle of the Chosin Reservoir, and also an overview of the Korean War itself. Sides recalls the fall of MacArthur and Almond, largely due to hubris and catastrophic strategic blunders, but then counters with tales of some of the most brave acts in all of warfare. The conditions the soldiers faced at Chosin were unparalleled and truly desperate in the very since of the word. It's a miracle any survived, much less made the battle one where each side could claim victory. The Allies were caught completely off guard and the cold was so extreme it went down in the record books. But they prevailed against all odds.

The Korean War is one that cannot be written about enough. Though it was not as massive in scale as the world wars, there are so many tales of heroism that have gone nearly forgotten over the decades. But as time goes on and more stories are told, appreciation for the heroes of the forgotten war grows exponentially. Thank you Hampton Sides. And David Pittu's narration is as good as it gets. Five stars!!!

Highly Recommend

A very well written and well orated book. I had no idea what those men endured. Inspiring and horrifying. I was freezing just reading about it. My next read is going to be "Devotion", a more in depth look at two pilots featured in this book.

You'll be telling your friends about this book!

On Desperate Ground is hand down one of the most compelling war narratives I've ever come across. I first discovered Side's writing in his acclaimed Ghost Soldiers, and here his work excels even that book.

Firmly rooted in research, first-hand accounts, and primary source documentation, ON DESPERATE GROUND provides a memorable—and riveting—account of the Korean War's most epic standoff—when the United States marched toward Manchuria and encountered a massive Chinese army.

Along the way he introduces you to the characters that defined these events and helps readers understand their struggle personally, highlighting the human in the Marines who became the 'frozen chosen.'

You will never regret spending time with this book, and the narrative will help you gain a greater understanding of what US soldiers endured in Korea.

Well Told and Concise With Much Bias

This is a great story told very well, much as you would expect from Hampton Sides. While “Blood and Thunder” and “Hellhound on His Trail” are two of my favorite books, this effort is weaker, and at times seems slightly unfocused.

For example, there is a sub-story about a North Korean who escaped to the South that seems shoehorned in. I kept waiting to see how it would connect to the larger story, but it never really got there.

He also seems determined to lambast every American officer that wasn’t on the ground during the battle - often coming off as sarcastic or just nasty. Yes, mistakes were made, and yes there were problems with the conduct of the Korean War. But there is very much a hero/villain mentality presented between the officers on the ground and those commanding from a distance.

The narrator was wonderful, but he often took a far too sarcastic approach with how he delivered simple words and phrases from people like General MacArthur. Yes, he is just following the tone the author set in motion, but adding a tinge of sarcasm or judgement to quoted dialogue goes a little far.

These small problems aside, it’s a very interesting story told very well. Just don’t let it be your only source of information on the motives and decisions of the Korean War commanders.

great

Great book, increase my knowledge of the Korean war albeit one conflict focused. Great book

Excellent. Riveting. Comprehensive

My Grandfather fought in Korea. My respect for his sacrifice grew while listening to this.

Compelling history; undaunted courage.

Must listen. Compelling and vivid narrative of brutal battle and courageous soldiers; unflinching and heart rending.