Books That Inspire 2004
 
The Outpost War, U.S. Marines in Korea, Vol. 1: 1952
Lee Ballenger


My uncle, a Marine with the 7th Marines, was killed in action in Korea when I was two. He was a handsome young man in the picture on the end table in my grandmother’s living room. Nothing much was said about him or the “forgotten war” he fought in. Fast forward 50 years and the discovery of the letters he wrote home to his “folks.” This discovery started me on a quest to find out all I could about the last months of his life. The Outpost War describes in great detail the courage, hardships and horrors of war. Lee Ballinger tells the story of the men of the 1st Marine Division who patrolled from lonely outposts in 1952 during the Korean War. It inspired me to do further research and I recently located two of his buddies.
contributor_image
Connie Hamilton
Assistant to Senior Vice President and Provost
Provost Office