Valleys of Death, by Colonel William Richardson

Valleys of Death: A Memoir of the Korean War, by Colonel William Richardson, US Army, (Ret), with Kevin Maurer
Berkley Caliber, 2010
324 pages plus index. A handful of b&w photos scattered throughout text
Library: 951.90427 RIC

Description
For Bill Richardson, a cocksure corporal, it was a swift move from the streets of Philadelphia to the battlefields of North and South Korea. One of the many noncommissioned officers to lead poorly trained and ill-equipped young men sent to war, he quickly rose to the rank of master sergeant after leading his 57mm recoilless rifle section in the defense and breakout of the Pusan perimeter.

Caught in the Chinese counterattack at Unsan-one of the deadliest American battles of the Cold War-Richardson led an Alamo-like defense of the few remaining survivors as they made their escape. When sixty men were reduced to three by mortars and enemy fire, Richardson sent the others on while he stayed behind to hold off the enemy. It was then, out of ammunition and attempting to hide from the Chinese, that he was found and taken prisoner.

After an attempted escape, he was handed over to the North Koreans, who marched him through subzero weather without food, shelter or medical attention-to the area known as Death Valley. Enduring long months of starvation and 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.

Table of Contents
Preface
1. War
2. Forming the battalion
3. Movement to the Far East
4. Pusan
5. Baptism of Fire
6. Dark Days of Summer
7. Tide Turns
8. Pursuit to the 38th Parallel
9. The GEneral
10. We Can't Hold the Bridge
11. Trapped
12. Dying One by One
13. Breakout
14. Capture and Escape
15. Death March
16. Valley of the Shadow of Death
17. Reminiscent of Andersonville
18. The Morgue
19. Truman's Running Dogs
20. Preparation for Escape
21. The Last Year
22. Freedom
Epilogue
Index