'Richardson never pulls his punches in these vivid descriptions.'--Publishers Weekly Caught in the Chinese counterattack at Unsan-one of the deadliest American battles of the Cold War Era-Colonel Bill Richardson led an Alamo like defense of the few survivors before being taken prisoner. The North Koreans marched them through sub-zero weather without food, shelter, or medical attention to the area known as Death Valley. Enduring torture designed to break the mind and body, Richardson remained strong enough to lead his fellow prisoners in resistance, sabotage, and new plans for escape.Valleys of Death is a stirring story of survival and determination, an intimate look at the soldiers who fought America's first battle of the cold war in the unvarnished words of one of their own.

Richardson, Bill (William J.); Maurer, Kevin

New York: Berkley Caliber

Penguin Publishing Group

Berkley Publishing Group

Boulevard Books

1st ed., New York, New York State, 2010

United States, United States of America

1st, First Edition, PT, 2010

1st ed, New York, c2010

First Printing, 2010

Includes index.

<p><P><b> A hard-fighting soldier's story-from the trenches of America's first battle in the Cold War. </b> <P>From the devastating counterattack at Unsan to the thirty-four months he spent in captivity-a period of years in which giving up surely meant dying-Col. Bill Richardson's instinct for leadership and stubborn will to survive saw him through one valley of death after the next. <i>Valleys of Death</i> is a stirring story of survival and determination that offers a fascinating, intimate look at the soldiers who fought America's first battle of the Cold War in the unvarnished words of one of their own. Richardson endured many long months of starvation, torture, sleep deprivation, and Chinese attempts at indoctrination, yet maintained defiance under conditions designed to break the mind, body, and spirit of men.</p> <h3>Publishers Weekly</h3> <p>Richardson looks back at the 1950s when he was a master sergeant with the First Cavalry Division in Korea. After U.S. Army occupation duty from 1946 to 1950 in Italy, Germany, and Austria, and the U.N. vote to defend South Korea, he was reassigned to Fort Devens, Mass., to train recruits in weaponry. Shortly after arriving in Taegu, South Korea, their battalion was subjected to North Korean attacks. He recalls both fear and acts of bravery amid the deafening explosions, flying shrapnel, mortar and artillery fire, mass slaughter, bodies lying in piles, and the stunned reaction after a message dropped from a plane&#58; "We were on our own. No relief column was on its way... and if we stayed in this hellhole we would all die." The final third of the book details his torture and starvation during 34 months as a POW, concluding with a short summary of his later military career. Aided by journalist Maurer, Richardson never pulls his punches in these vivid descriptions of bloody combat action, interrupted by occasional flashbacks to his youth on the streets of Philadelphia Photos, maps. (Dec.)</p>

Includes index
From the devastating counterattack at Unsan to the thirty-four months he spent in captivity-a period of years in which giving up surely meant dying-Col. Bill Richardson's instinct for leadership and stubborn will to survive saw him through one valley of death after the next. Valleys of Death is a stirring story of survival and determination that offers a fascinating, intimate look at the soldiers who fought America's first battle of the Cold War in the unvarnished words of one of their own

War --
Forming the battalion --
Movement to the Far East --
Pusan --
Baptism of fire --
Dark days of summer --
Tide turns --
Pursuit to the 38th parallel --
The general --
We can't hold the bridge --
Trapped --
Dying one by one --
Breakout --
Capture and escape --
Death march --
Valley of the shadow of death --
Reminiscent of Andersonville --
The morgue --
Truman's running dogs --
Preparation for escape --
The last year --
Freedom --
Epilogue.

2023-06-28