The Graybeards – KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

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“Hills of Sacrifice is a magnificent
history of `Hawaii’s own’, the 5th RCT
during the Korean War. It will be widely
read, and deserves to be.” Governor
Benjamin J. Cayetano, State of Hawaii.
“At last, after 49 years, the best and
most definitive book on infantry combat
at the bayonet level in Korea. It grips the
reader into the firestorm, fury, terror and
grief of it all.
Hills of Sacrifice is deeply
researched, grimly detailed, personalized
historiography of battlefield infantry
action by American `grunts’ fighting
determined North Korean and Chinese
soldiers.
This superb book is not for the fainthearted.
Graphic descriptions of the
bloody details of close-in grunt infantry
battle and the love of soldiers for one
another.” LTGEN Harold G. Moore
“A hell of a read! Hills of Sacrifice,
explodes like a hand grenade and is riveting
combat reportage. It’s the most
detailed account of the bloody Korean
War that 1 have read.
The reader is there in the trenches,
with the Grunts, stopping massed attacks
or storming enemy held hills. The 5th
RCT was a great regiment, with top leaders,
brave warriors, and this remarkable
book captures their gallantry and sacrifice
dead on target. A must read for anyone
wanting to know the Grunt’s heroic
story from the Korean War and how a
gallant regiment became the Fire
Brigade of the Korean War.” COL David
H. Hackworth
(The above gives you a very good idea
what the book is about. 288 plus pages of
text and photos describing the history in
the Korean War of the 5th RCT. Great
reading for any veteran. The 5th RCT
was assigned to many units. Published
by Turner Publishers. I see nothing on
cost. Contact Michael P. Slater, 7871
Unbridled CT., Manassas, VA 20112.
Tel: 703-791-4626. E-mail
slater55@msn.com or Web page hillsofsacrifice.com.
Michael is hard at
work on his second book on the Korean
War. Its subject is the Battle of Outpost
Harry fought in June 1953. I look forward
to doing a review on your new
book.)
��
Wild Goose
By Colin Baker
Wild Goose is the name given to the
many thousands of Irishmen who left
their native land and, like the wild birds,
migrated to other countries, to fight as
mercenaries in foreign armies after the
Battle of Aughrim and the Surrender of
Limerick in 1691. The Wild Goose was
adopted in the 1960s as the symbol, flag
and shoulder flash of members of 5
Commando fighting in the Congo. One
of the 5 Commando mercenaries was
Hugh van Oppen
About the Author
Colin Baker, Professor Emeritus in
the University of Glamorgan, specializes
in the post-war political history of
Central Africa, primarily Nyasaland-
Malawi and is the author of eight books
in this field, including the biographies of
Nyasaland’s last three Governors. He is
currently working on the biography of
Sir Richard Turnbull , the last Governor
of Tanganyika. His earlier posts included
Principal of the Institute of Public
Administration in the University of
Malawi, Director of the Institute of
Administration in the University of Ife,
Nigeria, and founder Director of the
University of Glamorgan Business
School.
In this biography of Hugh van Oppen,
Colin Baker examines the extraordinary
life - and death - of a remarkable and
extremely colorful man. After schooling
at Oakham, and a year as a trainee tobacco
planter in Rhodesia, van Oppen
joined the army. He was court martialled
at Sandhurst and sent to Korea and later
Egypt. Leaving the army in 1956, he
joined the Northern Rhodesia Police,
where he again came unstuck and
resigned just before being dismissed. He
then served with the Royal Rhodesia
Regiment during the 1959 state of emergency
in Nyasaland, and played the key
role in quelling the most serious riot
there. Following a precarious and unsuccessful
period in business in Rhodesia,
which he combined with clandestine
intelligence gathering work in Katanga
for the federal government, he returned
to England, where he found life distinctly
uncongenial. He went to Holland and
worked in the Rotterdam docks for six
months and then went back to South
Africa where he took up trawler fishing
with an incompetent crew and in an
unseaworthy boat. He then spent several
sponsored months in the USA, lecturing
on the evils of communism in Africa and
lobbying politicians to do something
about it. Virtually penniless on his return
to South Africa, he joined Colonel Mike
Hoare’s mercenary 5 Commando in the
Congo. He proved himself a gifted
leader and military commander, but was
killed just before he was due to take over
as commanding officer of 5 Commando.
The author examines in detail each of
these phases in van Oppen’s fascinating
life and concludes with an analysis of his
constant search to prove himself, his
relationships with women, his right wing
political stance, his tendency to embroider
many aspects of his life and career,
and, finally, his death.
(A book for those interested in history.
Book cost and information on Colin
Baker misplaced or never sent to me.
Contact your local book store. I am sure
they can obtain book and cost.)
��
Patton’s Bulldog
The life and Service of General
Walton H. Walker
By Wilson A. Heefner
The Author
Wilson A. Heefner is a retired physician
who has begun a second career as
military historian. A native of
Pennsylvania, Heefner holds degrees
from Gettysburg College, the University
of Maryland School of Medicine, and the
University of Hawaii. He retired from
Note from the Editor. I have gotten so
many books. The space in our magazine is
limited, so I ask those of you that have not
seen your review to be patient. We will print
all as space allows. We print these reviews
to let our veterans know there are many new
books on the Korean War and on subjects of
veterans interest. We all know at one time
books on these subjects, mainly the Korean
War were few and far in between.
Page 52 The Graybeards