The Last Stand of Fox Company

A True Story of U.S. Marines in Combat

By: Bob Drury, Tom Clavin

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

November 1950, the Korean Peninsula. After General MacArthur ignores Mao's warnings and pushes his UN forces deep into North Korea, his 10,000 First Division Marines find themselves surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered by 100,000 Chinese soldiers near the Chosin Reservoir. Their only chance for survival is to fight their way south through the Toktong Pass, a narrow gorge in the Nangnim Mountains. It will need to be held open at all costs. The mission is handed to Captain William Barber and the 246 Marines of Fox Company, a courageous but undermanned unit of the First Marines. Barber and his men are ordered to climb seven miles of frozen terrain to a rocky promontory overlooking the pass. The Marines have no way of knowing that the ground they occupy - it is soon dubbed "Fox Hill" - is surrounded by 10,000 Chinese soldiers.

As the sun sets on the hill, and the temperature plunges to 30 degrees below zero, Barber's men dig in for the night. At two in the morning they are awakened by the sound - bugles, whistles, cymbals, and drumbeats - of a massive assault by thousands of enemy infantry. The attack is just the first wave of four days and five nights of nearly continuous Chinese attempts to take Fox Hill, during which Barber's beleaguered company clings to the high ground and allows the First Marine Division to battle south. Amid the relentless violence, three-quarters of Fox Company's Marines are killed, wounded, or captured. Just when it looks like the outfit will be overrun, Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Davis, a fearless Marine officer who is fighting south from Chosin, volunteers to lead a force of 500 men on a daring mission that cuts a hole in the Chinese lines and relieves the men of Fox Company.

The Last Stand of Fox Company is a fast-paced and gripping account of heroism and self-sacrifice in the face of impossible odds. The authors have conducted dozens of firsthand interviews with the battle's survivors, and they narrate the story with the imm...

©2008 Bob Drury and TO, Clavin (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Bob Drury and Tom Clavin have set the standard for wartime accounts on the Korean conflict.... This is a story that is almost too incredible to be true." (Dr. Charles P. Neimeyer, director of the U.S. Marine Corps History Division)
"A paean worthy of one of the most extraordinary battles in Marine Corps history.... A magnificent book." (Nathaniel Fick, New York Times bestselling author of One Bullet Away)

A tale of ordinary men doing extraordinary things

This is a great read that any Marine or history buff should pick up. History seems to hide the Korean war, and considering the modern political climate I feel it is important to remember the past. This story puts things into perspective.

Any Marine undergoing winter training should seriously give this book a try.

Wow

A story of ordinary men doing extraordinary things. Amazing. A must for all young men.

Heartbreaking

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I honestly will be listening to this book again because of how it made me feel both during and after this read. Like, why hasn't there been any movies recently that have been about the Korean War? Yes, it is still going on but that is more apparent in the lives of these Marines even today. I feel almost like some of them have never left that cold and its not fair that stories like this are not as well known as some other battles studied throughout high school and college class today.

S/F
Sgt Holm

Superb Historical Accuracy

As a Marine in Vietnam I was honored to serve in Fox Company, 2/7; the same unit this book is about. We had big boots to fill, and we did our very best. I later met three individuals who served in Fox during the battle described. All three were highly decorated, all three didn’t think they deserved awards for bravery, and none could talk about the battle more than 30 years previously.

The book was well researched, well written, and well narrated. Listening to it was riveting. I commend it to you.

Honor - Duty - Country - Cause

Uncommon valor against impossible odds. This story is for anyone looking for insight - - what drives people to stand together, sacrifice self for others, for a cause? The Marine Corps has a long history of maintaining the highest standards and attendant responsibilities- - first to fight. From these expectations arise heroes

Contains lots of info I didn't already know!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Probably not, unless I knew for sure that they liked "hard-core" war stories - most of my friends don't. I thought the story would have been better if it were more cohesive. It was really broken up into small vignettes with inconsistent characters.

What did you like best about this story?

I really liked learning more about this war which occurred just shortly before I came into the world. It really was a precursor to "that other war" in Asia, but less often discussed. Our soldiers are brave and that alone makes the story worth-while.

Have you listened to any of Michael Prichard’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It moved me to know how extreme the weather conditions were and how brave our soldiers were to fight under these conditions.

Any additional comments?

If you like war stories - it's a good one!

Gripping and interesting.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Last Stand of Fox Company to be better than the print version?

No

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Last Stand of Fox Company?

The marines having to stack their dead around the foxhole to use as barricades against snipers.

What about Michael Prichard’s performance did you like?

He did not intrude on the narrative. He did not attempt to use a range of different voices.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, it was.

Any additional comments?

The book is a gripping narative of a small unit and the experience of being cut off from from friendly lines, and at the same time having to fight at a place and under conditions so very hostile as to be deadly in themselves.

Great book

Narration was perfect - well written - the author opens the door for the audience to look back to a forgotten war. Outnumbered by Chinese troops, sub zero temps where firing pins freeze and sweat leads to frost bite. Our Marines never quit. Excellent read and I’d recommend it for any serious military history enthusiast

Highly recommend

A real life report of an important battle of the Korean War! Semper Fi Marines!

Remarkable story

This story recounts, in detail, the defense of a small area of land during an overwhelming winter storm. The men involved didn't know who or what they were up against, but in the end, the weather was their worst enemy. Drury and Clavin recount many of the individual struggles encountered by the men involved, their up-close encounters with their adversaries and their camaraderie. It makes you wonder how anyone survived. Riveting story!