MWSA Book Review

Accordion War: Korea 1951, Life & Death in a Marine Rifle Company

Author: Charles Hughes

Publisher:  Trafford Publishing

Reviewer: Prof Andrew Lubin--MWSA Lead Reviewer

Corpsman Up!

  There is nobody more important when a Marine comes under fire than their “Doc.” Navy corpsmen live, work, fight, and die with their Marines, and build a relationship with their Devil Dogs that is as deep as that between the Marines themselves.
Author Charles Hughes was a corpsman in Korea with “How” Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. Too young for WW2, Hughes joined the Navy and volunteered to join to Fleet Marines in order to “see some action.” His wish was granted, and this exceptionally well-written book is his memoir of his time in Korea.
   Professor emeritus of English at Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Ark., Hughes is a gifted writer who spent considerable time and effort recalling his experiences and thoughts from some 56 years ago. In comparison to those macho stories of many veterans, Hughes recalls his private mantra when in battle “Oh God; please don’t let me die.” In between his stories of combat with “his” Marines of H Company, Hughes has skillfully added his philosophy on war and killing and his life after his military service.
   This is one of the rare books that begs to be read in one reading. Hughes’s stories of combat and life in Korea are lively; the reader can smell both the gunpowder and the kimchi. Korea may be a war unknown to the current generation, but books like “Accordion War: Korea 1951” will give the reader an appreciation of what young men like Charles Hughes and his Marines endured. Well done, Doc.