The Korean War was a rare tragedy in modern warfare. There were more civilian deaths than there were military losses.
So far, my book has been very interesting. The George Company was thrown together from untrained recruits and World War II veterans, when North Korea’s invaded the south in 1950. When they went ashore at Inchon, most of the men had never seen combat and barely knew how to handle their weapons. But their arrival tipped the balance for the barely holding on South Koreans. It began an offensive that drove the North Koreans nearly to the Chinese border by late October. That's when the Chinese army entered the mix. That invasion set up George Company’s defining moment. Surrounded by overwhelming numbers near the Chosin Reservoir, the company held out with strong determination to protect a vital intersection and haven for other units. General Oliver Smith’s response, when asked if his men would retreat, showed their resolve: “Retreat, Hell; we’re just advancing in another direction.” The Korean war is still important to modern day conflicts between North and South Korean. The two countries have been trying to repair their realtionship, using a variety of methods to do so. According to Britannica, "At the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, North and South Korean athletes marched together (though they competed as separate teams) under a single flag showing a silhouette of the Korean peninsula. (The countries also made a joint appearance—with separate teams—at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens but failed to reach an agreement to do likewise at Beijing in 2008.)" Despite this, relation between the two countries are anything but consistent. The love-hate relationship has been evident ion the mass propaganda from both sides, along with the occasional threat or comment via twitter. Britannica also explains, "The death of Kim Jong Il in December 2011 and the subsequent elevation of his son Kim Jong-Eun to the country’s leadership brought greater uncertainty to relations between North and South. In the years immediately following, North Korea once again instituted dramatic escalations of its rhetoric against the United States and South Korea, including verbal threats of missile attacks against both countries." These threats have continued to be evident through 2016 and 2017. This uncertainty is largely due to how the Korean War had no clear winner. The USA, China and the Koreas were tried of the bloodshed, and both sides pretty much just gave up. After the South Koreans got pushed back, nothing REALLY happened. War prisoners went back to their nations, South Korea got some extra land, and that was it. In general, the indecisiveness of that war, led to today's rivalries.
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The book, Give Me Tomorrow, takes place during the Korean War. The book is about the last stand of the Marines of the George Company in the war. The Marine Corps Association and Foundation explains, "This book tells the story of one of them, Company G, 3rd Battalion, First Marine Regiment, as related by survivors. What “George” Co endured following its involvement in the landing at Inchon, through the Chosin Reservoir and beyond, is a story involving heroism, endurance, sacrifice, devotion to duty and survival."
The book itself is a historical record of what happened. The things happening in the book are told from the perspective of the people in the George company, including their views and beliefs. It is a true recount of what occurred. In the prologue of the book, Cummings explains, "This book has been created using interveiws of the heroic men of the George COmpany." North Koreans were unaware that they were starting the war. They were told it was due to America. South Koreans however, knew the war started because North Korea invaded. In general, North Koreans supported the war, while South Koreans were against it. The American's in the book seemed to only fight to block Communism. They were also fighting to protect their buddies fighting next to them. This was admirable. In general, the book is loyal to all the real life events that occurred. |
SoniaStudent at Martin Middle School :D Archives
May 2017
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