Read by Grover Gardner

In this brilliant narrative of America's first limited war, John Toland shows yet again why, for over two decades, he has been one of this country's most respected and popular military historians. Toland lets both the events and the participants speak for themselves, employing scrupulous archival research and interviews as the bases for the drama and accuracy of his writing. In Mortal Combat reveals Mao's prediction of the date and place of MacArthur's Inchon landing, Russia's indifference to the war, Mao's secret leadership of the North Korean military, and the true nature of both sides' treatment and repatriation of POWs. In addition to being the first Westerner to gain access to Chinese records and combatants, Toland interviewed numerous North and South Korean veterans and over two hundred members of the American military, many of whom had never been approached before. The result is a signal work of compelling readability and lasting importance. PrefaceChapter 1 A Time of War (June 24-25, 1950) 111115. "Here, Have Some Earth to Eat" (June 30-July 10)9. The Battle of the Naktong River (August 14-23)12. "It's a Piece of Cake!" (September 15-19)15. Across the 38th Parallel (September 29-October 15)20. Trapped (November 27-28)25. The Breakout (December 5-11)30. "Jeannie, We're Going Home at Last" (April 6-25)33. The Negotiations Begin (May 31-August 23)36. Friend or Foe? (February 7-Late February)39. "Can Ike Win the War?" (October 3, 1952-April 1, 1953)11111111111111111111111111111111111111Prologue: Tools of History22Chapter 2: "We've Got to Stop the Sons-of-Bitches No Matter What!" (June 25-26)2226. The Fall of Taejon (July 12-21)10. "This Is an Impossible Situation" (August 31-September 7)13. Crossing Two Rivers (September 16-22)16. "Many, Many Chinese Are Coming!" (October 14-26)21. Chaos on Two Fronts (November 28-29)26. "Your Dad Has Had an Accident" (December 11-29)31. Prisoners of War (April 25-Early May)34. "An Utterly Useless War" (Early August-November 26)37. "An Unholy Mess" (February-April 28)40. The Rhee Rebellion (February-June 20)22222222222222222222222222222222222Part One: Seven Days in June333Chapter 3: "There Goes the Bridge!" (June 27-28)37. A Private Takes Command (July 19-31)11. Inchon (August 21-September 15)14. The Fall of Seoul (September 23-29)17. The Death March (Late October-November 8)22. "You Don't Have the Chance of a Snowball in Hell!" (November 28-29)27. The Third Chinese Campaign (December 31, 1950-January 20, 1951)32. The Last Chinese Campaign (May 1-30)35. "I Agree with Ridgway's Stand" (Late November 1951-Early February 1952)38. "I Was Forced to Be a Tool of These Warmongers, Made to Drop Germ Bombs" (May 23-September 28)41. A Time of Peace (July 8-September 6, 1953)3333333333333333333333333333333Part Two: In Dubious Battle4Chapter 4: "Our Forces Will Not Last a Day" (June 28-30)48. "General, This Is Complete Chaos and Desolation!" (July 11-August 13)18. Mao Sets a Trap (October 26-November 17)23. Bloody Retreat: Running the Gauntlets (November 30-December 1)28. "The Old Man Will Get Us Out" (January 24-February 20)444444444444444444444444444Part Three: The Pusan Perimeter519. Even Victors Are by Victory Undone (November 6-26)24. "We're Going Out Like Marines"(December 1-4)29. Ridgway in Action (Late February-April 5)5555555555555Part Four: The Road Back6666666Part Five: The Chinese Puzzle77Part Six: The Chosin Reservoir8Part Seven: Attack and Counterattack9Part Eight: The Battle is JoinedPart Nine: The Rocky Road to PeacePart Ten: War in the Prison CampsPart Eleven: War and PeaceEpilogue "The 'forgotten war,' in which four million people perished, has never been described more interestingly."

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