The final lines of Jeff Shaara's THE FROZEN HOURS are from historian Allan Millett, who states, "In terms of the collective memory of the American people, the Korean War is not just forgotten. It was not remembered in the first place..." From my own experiences in high school, I know that Korea was nothing more than a passing mention after we concluded an intense study of World War II and headed on to a 10-minute exploration of Vietnam. The most I was ever educated about Korea was while following the antics of the medical team on “M*A*S*H.” It was a handful of years ago when I took up the opportunity to learn a bit more and devoured David Halberstam's THE COLDEST WINTER.

"The servicemen who endured the struggle of Korea have long deserved more recognition and respect. Shaara, with his accessible but thoroughly researched style of storytelling, brings Korea to the fore and honors these men by telling their tale and quite rightly assuring them that they are not forgotten."

The Korean War is, in many respects, forgotten. With THE FROZEN HOURS, Shaara attempts to shed a beam of light on an overlooked portion of American military history and give those who served in that conflict a bit of deserved honor. Unlike his sweeping Civil War or World War II sagas, he has chosen to limit his engagement in Korea to this one stand-alone volume. At least, as he states, for now. More could potentially find their way to bookshelves, but for now we are dropped into the bitter cold winter of 1950 as the Chinese, fearing a United Nations military invasion, strike hard at the Chosin Reservoir.

Plunged in sub-zero temperatures, General Douglas MacArthur's forces, led by General O.P. Smith, find themselves fighting a seemingly insurmountable campaign against a vast army and against the weather. In one moment it would appear that victory was all but assured as the Marines drove into North Korea, confident in their numbers and their plan to secure the safety of South Korea. The next moment, however, the Chinese, numbering several hundred thousand strong, spring deadly traps that drive the US-led forces unto the brink of complete elimination. The fighting in the Chosin Reservoir is brutal, the mountainous terrain hazardous, and the sacrifices too precious to properly count.

Shaara, as in all of his previous work, deftly blends the historical knowledge with the fictionalized conversations and thoughts of those embroiled in these conflicts. Based on personal memoirs and letters, and even interviews with surviving veterans, there is no moment when a reader does not feel the honesty and authenticity of the time period and the people involved. From General Smith's patient and calm analysis and engagement, to the horrific exploration of the savagery of the conflict on Fox Hill that would ultimately secure a successful retreat for the Marines, to the less-than-glowing analysis of MacArthur's strategy, THE FROZEN HOURS is a deeply engaging novel that not only brings to light the extraordinary service of our brave men on the front lines, but also brilliantly turns the lens on Sung Shi-Lun, the commander of the Chinese force who anxiously undertakes his duties while under the ever-watchful eye of Chairman Mao Tse-Tung.

THE FROZEN HOURS is more than welcome. Perhaps it is even late to the party. The servicemen who endured the struggle of Korea have long deserved more recognition and respect. Shaara, with his accessible but thoroughly researched style of storytelling, brings Korea to the fore and honors these men by telling their tale and quite rightly assuring them that they are not forgotten. We can only hope that THE FROZEN HOURS is embraced and shows the author that more exploration of the Korean War would be worth his time.