A Christmas Far from Home: An Epic Tale of Courage and Survival during the Korean War

Description

In the tradition of his Silent Night and Pearl Harbor Christmas , historian Stanley Weintraub presents another gripping narrative of a wartime Christmas season- the epic story of the 1950 holiday season in Korea, when American troops faced extreme cold, a determined enemy, and long odds. A Military Book Club main selection

Stanley Weintraub is an award-winning author of notable histories and biographies, including the bestselling books on wartime Christmas seasons Pearl Harbor Christmas and Silent Night. A National Book Award finalist and Guggenheim Fellow, he earned a Bronze Star as a young officer in the Korean War. He lives in Newark, Delaware.

Praise for A Christmas Far from Home "An epic tale of courage and survival in a war that is too often forgotten by folks back home."--Minneapolis Star Tribune "A story of heroism and cowardice, of brilliant leadership and bungling stupidity, of mud- and snow-slogging endurance... A tale of danger and courage, well-researched and engagingly composed."--Roanoke Times "A terrific tale...a story of how Americans in uniform...prevailed against overwhelming obstacles."--San Diego Union-Tribune "Not a joyous holiday tale but a useful one... [It] shows the dangers when commanders fail to use intelligence wisely and let hubris get the better of them."--USA Today "A detailed explanation of what went wrong woth the American 'end-the-war-by-Christmas' strategy."--New York Post "Weintraub, himself a Korea veteran, expertly delineates the unraveling disaster for the trapped, frozen, dispirited men on the ground."--Norfolk Virginian-Pilot Booklist, 10/15/14 "[Weintraub] portrays MacArthur as ego-driven and politically ambitious; he surrounded himself with yes-men when he would have benefited from those advising caution...The heroes in this account are the troops in the field who endured appalling conditions, maintained discipline, and staved off complete collapse." Military Review, August 2016 "An essential read for all combat and service support commanders throughout the chain of command...Reads like a novel...A Christmas Far from Home is a true Christmas story that offers a broad view of the American and Chinese offensive while incorporating personal accounts of heroism. This book is not just relevant to the historical community, but also to the security and logistical professions...Weintraub's book reminds soldiers that their actions have a direct impact on geopolitics and that they have a responsibility to make well thought-out decisions."