The Frozen Chosen

The 1st Marine Division and the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir

By: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver

Narrated by: Norman Dietz

Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

The Frozen Chosen is an account of the breakout from the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea by the First Marine Division from November to December 1950, following the intervention of Red China in the Korean War. Fought during the worst blizzard in a century, it is considered by the US Marine Corps to be the Corps' finest hour. Fourteen Medals of Honor, a record for any American battle, and 85 Navy Crosses attest to the intensity of the battle.

Based on first-person interviews from surviving veterans who came to be known as the Frozen Chosen, this is the incredible story of heroism and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, as a handful of marines fought desperately against wave after wave of Chinese forces. Sometimes forced into desperate hand-to-hand fighting in intense cold, cut off from reinforcements, and with dwindling supplies and ammunition, the fighting retreat from Chosin marked one of the darkest moments for Western forces in Korea but would go on to resonate with generations of marines as a symbol of the Marine Corps' dogged determination, fighting skill, and never-say-die attitude on the battlefield.

©2016 Thomas McKelvey Cleaver (P)2016 Tantor

Great and informative review of the Korean conflict.

This book contained many interesting details about the Chinese that I’ve not read in other books on the Korean War.
The narrators voice and tone are very dry though.

Fascinating story, very bad narration

I downloaded this book on the recommendation of a fellow coworker who just recently left the US Marines due to injuries from his service in Iraq and whose grandfather was part of the battle at Chosin. I also had relatives that served during the Korean War so it sounded like it would be a great way to learn about this period in history since I'm also an avid reader of Civil War and WWII (Pacific) histories. Unfortunately, this book is nothing but a recitation of units involved combined with dates of engagements. It is, at times, so mind numbingly boring as to be almost painful. Compounding this is the monotone and staccato delivery of the narrator. I intend to finish the book but I sincerely doubt that it will be one I read again.

Unbelievable story!!

What a great history lesson in the Korean
War very well done!! A must listen!!

Good overview of the conflict

Poor performance by narrator but otherwise great, lots of good context on the broader situation leading to the conflict

Unique narration

There was a certain overall wryness to Mr. Dietz's delivery of his narration that I found both engrossing and edifying in those portions of the book dealing with the political and diplomatic events, but less so when he limned the actual battle sequences. These were rendered in an odd tremulous and sylph-like fashion.

Missed the mark on this one.

Struggled through this one. The author presents every Marine, a hero, and every Army soldier, a coward. I often wanted to stop listening, but it cost me a credit. East of Chosin was a much better book.

A 10,000 Foot Overview

This book was an incredible documentary of the Korean War from a 10,000 foot level. Very detailed, so much so its the audio versions downfall. You really need to read it so you can map oit all of the details. Definitely need a flip chart. Not recommended in the audio book version.

A History book with war stories

I’m used to reading non-fictional war books based on first hand accounts. This story of North Korea and the battles of the Chosin reservoir told sounds more of a history textbook. I enjoyed it but I was glad it finished.

a Mistakes for entertainment

As a lover of history, I find the book to contain so many non-stain details that the major wander overshadowed it does not read like an author on the front line. It reads like a history professor, giving a lecture to a college student is awful to listen to and at times hard to follow with the Montaigne details that are thrown out retrospect. Guess I was expecting something along the lines of band of Brothers.