The Last Stand of Fox Company: A True Story of U.S. Marines in Combat

Written by:
Tom Clavin , Bob Drury
Narrated by:
Michael Prichard

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
82
Narrator
27
Release Date
March 2009
Duration
12 hours 0 minutes
Summary
November 1950, the Korean Peninsula. After General MacArthur ignores Mao's warnings and pushes his UN forces deep into North Korea, his 10,000 First Division Marines find themselves surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered by 100,000 Chinese soldiers near the Chosin Reservoir. Their only chance for survival is to fight their way south through the Toktong Pass, a narrow gorge in the Nangnim Mountains. It will need to be held open at all costs. The mission is handed to Captain William Barber and the 246 Marines of Fox Company, a courageous but undermanned unit of the First Marines. Barber and his men are ordered to climb seven miles of frozen terrain to a rocky promontory overlooking the pass. The Marines have no way of knowing that the ground they occupy-it is soon dubbed 'Fox Hill'-is surrounded by 10,000 Chinese soldiers. As the sun sets on the hill, and the temperature plunges to thirty degrees below zero, Barber's men dig in for the night. At two in the morning they are awakened by the sound-bugles, whistles, cymbals, and drumbeats-of a massive assault by thousands of enemy infantry. The attack is just the first wave of four days and five nights of nearly continuous Chinese attempts to take Fox Hill, during which Barber's beleaguered company clings to the high ground and allows the First Marine Division to battle south. Amid the relentless violence, three-quarters of Fox Company's Marines are killed, wounded, or captured. Just when it looks like the outfit will be overrun, Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Davis, a fearless Marine officer who is fighting south from Chosin, volunteers to lead a force of 500 men on a daring mission that cuts a hole in the Chinese lines and relieves the men of Fox Company.

The Last Stand of Fox Company is a fast-paced and gripping account of heroism and self-sacrifice in the face of impossible odds. The authors have conducted dozens of firsthand interviews with the battle's survivors, and they narrate the story with the immediacy of such classic accounts of single battles as Guadalcanal Diary, Pork Chop Hill, and Black Hawk Down.
Browse By Category
Reviews
Profile Avatar
Tim W.

Great Story and read

Profile Avatar
Mark Trevithick

The authors have uncovered an incredible wealth of information and experiences to write this gripping glimpse of history. Few who fought in Korea received the recognition and gratitude they deserved. This is the compelling story of Fox Company who fought the Chinese having more than a hundred times more men. Excellent bit of history.

Profile Avatar
Chris A.

It starts a little slow but quickly becomes great.

Profile Avatar
Anonymous

fantastic book. I was captivated from beginning to end. I do however wish the narrator was a bit more animated but all in all great job. I love the real life stuff.

Profile Avatar
Lee W

Fabulous ! Book and reader are superb !

Profile Avatar
Anonymous

Great listen

Profile Avatar
Andrew D

Great book, great job capturing the effect of a cold, brutal battle.

Profile Avatar
Jeff Eldred

*WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS* Amazing story of one company of marines pushed to the limits of human endurance on an ice covered battlefield in minus 20 degree weather while holding open a vital pass in the mountains for the 8,000 marines retreating from the chosin reservoir in North Korea. Amazing that any of these marines survived as the Chinese army attacks them with 4 battalions. This story is a real testament of the true grit and fighting ability of the United States Marine Corps!

Profile Avatar
Stevenson Ward

A tribute to the individual men of Fox Company. Too detailed, too long.

1 book added to cart
Subtotal
$20.49
View Cart