In 1952, overriding political objectives forced U.N. forces to abandon the pursuit of decisive victory in Korea. This book tells the story of the 1st Marine Division¿s move to the Jamestown Line in western Korea where these assault-trained troops were ordered to dig in and learn to fight an unusual defensive war. The Marines defended lonely outposts in a no-man¿s-land and fought Chinese and N. Korean troops in fierce small-unit engagements during which 7,800 Marines died. Describes the Marines¿ steep and deadly learning curve and includes reports on major battles of the period, such as Bunker Hill and The Hook. The author¿s use of archival sources blended with first-person oral accounts places the reader on the battle line.

Maps and photos.