In 1952, overriding political objectives compelled UN forces to abandon the pursuit of decisive victory in Korea. This historical study tells the story of the 1st Marine Division's move to western Korea, where these assault-trained troops were ordered to dig in and fight a defensive war. Volume 1 describes their deadly learning curve and includes reports on such battles as Bunker Hill and The Hook. The use of previously unpublished archive material blended with first-person aural accounts places the reader on the battle line.

-- Details how the Marines valiantly battled numerically superior Chinese forces and held the front

-- Combines original historical research with oral accounts from the Marines who served

-- Contains rare photos and original maps

The Final Crucible details the 1st Marine Division's harrowing close-quarters battles during the final seven months of the Korean War, January to July 1953. The terrible five-day Battle of the Nevada Cities in March and the Marines' bloody stand at Boulder City on the last day of the shooting war are just two of the engagements detailed here. This volume follows The Outpost War: U.S. Marines in Korea, Vol. 1: 1952.