The Hill Wars of the Korean Conflict

In many respects, all wars are alike. All soldiers compete for position and mobility; all forces struggle for the larger territory, the greater power. Yet each war has as well its distinguishing characteristics—its unique features, its most-remembered events, its particular frustrations that haunt the dreams of its veterans. In Korea, it was the hills.
The Korean hills offered observation, artillery, and mortar advantage to whichever country controlled them. On these hills, thousands of soldiers fought decisive battles for a few feet of land or for higher elevation.
This reference work identifies more than 400 hills, outposts, complexes and phase lines that were key components of the Korean War, allowing researchers to relate individual battles to the larger narrative of the war. Each entry details major operations fought in the area, including the units involved, the area’s strategic value in the overall war, the type of combat, and the munitions involved. Geographic features known by both numbers and names are cross-referenced for ease of access.

Paul M. Edwards is the founder and executive director of the Center for the Study of the Korean War at Graceland University’s Independence, Missouri, campus. He is a Korean War veteran and author of 13 works on military history. He lives in Independence.

Paul M. Edwards
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 275
Bibliographic Info: 67 photos, maps, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2006
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2098-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1478-6
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vi
Preface and Reader’s Guide      1

I. Hills Known Primarily by Number      15
II. Hills Known Primarily by Name      137
III. Ridges, Outposts and Complexes      174

Abbreviations and Terms       253
Bibliography      255
Index      257

“useful”—ARBA.