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 Never jingoistic, disdainful of war and of the governmental authorities that wage war, it never tumbles over into unpatriotic rhetoric. It is a story told from a true soldier's heart.
Reviewed by Carole McDonnell
Korea's Sleeping Ghosts
by Lt Lee H. Miller
Word Association Publishers www.WordAssociation.com
ISBN 1-932205-52-7, $14.95, 2003, 270pgs
Korea's Sleeping Ghosts is a novel which tells about the horrors and humanity of war. Never jingoistic, disdainful of war and of the governmental authorities that wage war, it never tumbles over into unpatriotic rhetoric. It is a story told from a true soldier's heart. The story is a fictionalized telling of a real soldier's life: Lee Mullins, the hero of the book, (the literary stand-in for Lt Lee Miller) is a reservist of from Wold War II who has been called up to join the International forces in Korea. He is not thrilled about disrupting his life for a war he doesn't believe in. But he also has too much integrity to try to shirk his duty. There is also the matter of his leadership skills; to say he is a bit rusty is putting it mildly. He hasn't even been on the battlefield. Newly arrived in Korea he is named a first lieutenant and platoon leader. From then on, the assignments roll in and we get a dramatic accurate picture of the Korean war.
The Korean War was the first truly media-oriented war. The media becomes especially important at the time Mullins is called up: Talks are taking place in Panmunjon, Reporters and other tourists are visiting the troops to see "action;" victorious war stories are needed. The Korean War was also a very international war. The United Nations was very much involved along with countries from Ethiopia, Columbia, the Philippines, and even Jamaica. The author does a great job of showing the humorous and dangerous situations that arise from language and cultural conflicts. In addition, he shows the official and unofficial workings of both the United States army and the international coalition. The reader understands the danger of being in a guerilla war where one is surrounded by the enemy and where death can come at anytime.
As a fictional account of a real-life, there are certain dramatic moments that are of course required. The story moves along and testosterone-laden language and machismo are of course evident. Several death scenes, while touching, were also - for this reader anyway - quite predictable. One is tempted to say at least twice: "well, of course they would die at this particular stage of the book." But that is a small quibble. The book was written during the sixties although this is its first publication and certain scenes might have been changed to suit the sensibilities of today's reader: the author's provincial use of dialect might be offensive to some readers who might consider such mimicry distasteful, for instance. In addition, the depiction of the Japanese prostitutes was shown realistically but seems somehow callous because while the author makes the white nurse a true personality, he doesn't show any understanding for the Japanese women his characters encounter. A sad mis-step. But that too is a small flaw. The book is a good book that readers will like. Highly recommended for adults, high school students studying the war, soldiers, historian, and army buffs.
For more information visit: Korea's Sleeping Ghosts
About the reviewer: Carole McDonnell's essay, Oreo Blues is included in the W.W. Norton Anthology, LIFENOTES: Personal Writings By Black Women. She has won several writing awards and is currently working on a science fiction novel entitled, The Daughters of Men.
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