Edwin Howard Simmons (1921–2007)

Military fiction written by veterans is an interesting genre. On the one hand, it frees the authors from the dryness of facts to make a more interesting and expressive story than their personal memories. On the other hand, it can leave you wondering what was left out, and what happened because it was true or merely because it made good literary sense. It's impossible to doubt General Simmons' credentials as a warrior and a historian. He was there, and his novel has the bronze gleam of truth. show more But truth alone does not make for a good war novel.

The basic literary flaw is the protagonist, Captain Bayard. He is a blank slate, overshadowed by the famous warriors around him-the Red Snapper, Sergeant Havac, even his platoon commanders. Command seems to be a reflex with him, as the company attacks or defends using the Quantico school solution, usually with a fair degree of effectiveness. He makes no human connections to the men in his unit, the lot of a company commander seems to be a lonely one. Flashbacks to his childhood in Ohio and early career in Washington DC are mere filler, despite romantic entanglements and class conflicts. And the descriptions of battle are adequate, but don't convey the desperation of conflict in the great retreat from Chosin.

The details in this book are absolutely spot on, but like a uniform on a mannikan, there's nothing beneath them. Meh. show less

In Dog Company Six we follow the story of Marine Captain (Reserve) George Bayard as he returns to the military life that he experienced in World War II and is shipped out to Korea in September, 1950. From their first landing and battle at Inchon, Bayard’s Dog Company is in the forefront of the fighting, with high casualties and even higher stress.

At best a reluctant warrior, Captain Bayard reflects upon his life stateside, as he grows closer to the men who serve under him. When he receives show more his second wound, an automatic ticket home, he finds his decision isn’t as clear cut as he thought.

Author Brig. Gen. Edwin Howard Simmons, served with the Marine Corp from 1942 to 1978 and has delivered a strong, action packed story about combat and the men who are placed in harms way. Well written and absorbing, this is more than a gung-ho tribute to the marines. The main character is introspective and thoughtful which gives the story a realistic and believable flow. All in all a very good read and a sharp look at the thought process that creates a man's sense of duty and honor. show less

In recent years, the trials and sacrifices of World War II and Vietnam veterans has been brought to the attention of the public by huge movie productions and media hype. However, the story of the American soldier in the "Forgotten War" in Korea largely remains to be told. Simmons' book tells this story with the authority of a retired Marine General, the accuracy of the director of the Marine Corps Historical Center, and the passion of a front-line infantryman. Given the media attention this show more book deserves, it could easily fill the gap in the American consciousness regarding the Korean War, and give the men who fought there their long delayed due.

In _Dog Company Six_, Simmons expertly combines realistic accounts of combat, an engaging character study of an everyman Marine officer, and sneaks in the `big picture' view of the operational and political climate in Korea. While the combat is harrowing and the historical account is instructive, I felt one of the most interesting and overlooked aspects of the book was the character study of the Dog Company Six (Six meaning Commanding Officer in Marine lingo), Captain Bayard. Simmons shows where Bayard came from, where he grew up, how he came to be a Marine. He develops Bayard's career from a bit role in World War Two, through time in the Reserves, back to an active duty role with connections in Washington D.C.. In doing so, Simmons gives a real feel for where the citizen soldier comes from - Bayard could easily be the reader, the reader's father, Grandfather, the neighbor next door. The character evolves before the reader, giving a real sense of how war can change the individual.

Standing on its own merits, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. However, if you really want to get the most out of this book, a superb adjunct would be the first few chapters of _First to Fight_ by Victor H. Krulak. _First to Fight's_ opening chapters concisely provide a first hand account of the struggle for survival of the Marine Corps in the post World War II force reductions amid the attitude that "...the era of amphibious warfare is over...", and the later affirmation of the Marine Corps' role with the amphibious landing at Inchon. Krulak illustrates that the Corps mobilized for Korea with a speed and expertise that no one else could match, in a logistical feat that is still mind boggling today.

Finally, to the Chosin Few, and all Korean War veterans...Thanks. show less

A good coverage of the US Marines in the Vietnam War. It covers the higher commands better than the experience of the average marine, which I think is fine but it might not be what someone expects from an illustrated history. My major gripe with this book was it's many tiny maps, which often did not mention the places talked about in the text. It would have been much better if we had a few larger maps that could be read with ease.