The Last Stand of Fox Company

A True Story of U.S. Marines in Combat

By: Bob Drury, Tom Clavin

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

November 1950, the Korean Peninsula. After General MacArthur ignores Mao's warnings and pushes his UN forces deep into North Korea, his 10,000 First Division Marines find themselves surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered by 100,000 Chinese soldiers near the Chosin Reservoir. Their only chance for survival is to fight their way south through the Toktong Pass, a narrow gorge in the Nangnim Mountains. It will need to be held open at all costs. The mission is handed to Captain William Barber and the 246 Marines of Fox Company, a courageous but undermanned unit of the First Marines. Barber and his men are ordered to climb seven miles of frozen terrain to a rocky promontory overlooking the pass. The Marines have no way of knowing that the ground they occupy - it is soon dubbed "Fox Hill" - is surrounded by 10,000 Chinese soldiers.

As the sun sets on the hill, and the temperature plunges to 30 degrees below zero, Barber's men dig in for the night. At two in the morning they are awakened by the sound - bugles, whistles, cymbals, and drumbeats - of a massive assault by thousands of enemy infantry. The attack is just the first wave of four days and five nights of nearly continuous Chinese attempts to take Fox Hill, during which Barber's beleaguered company clings to the high ground and allows the First Marine Division to battle south. Amid the relentless violence, three-quarters of Fox Company's Marines are killed, wounded, or captured. Just when it looks like the outfit will be overrun, Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Davis, a fearless Marine officer who is fighting south from Chosin, volunteers to lead a force of 500 men on a daring mission that cuts a hole in the Chinese lines and relieves the men of Fox Company.

The Last Stand of Fox Company is a fast-paced and gripping account of heroism and self-sacrifice in the face of impossible odds. The authors have conducted dozens of firsthand interviews with the battle's survivors, and they narrate the story with the imm...

©2008 Bob Drury and TO, Clavin (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Bob Drury and Tom Clavin have set the standard for wartime accounts on the Korean conflict.... This is a story that is almost too incredible to be true." (Dr. Charles P. Neimeyer, director of the U.S. Marine Corps History Division)
"A paean worthy of one of the most extraordinary battles in Marine Corps history.... A magnificent book." (Nathaniel Fick, New York Times bestselling author of One Bullet Away)

Uncommon valor became a common trait.

A minute by riveting minute account of a gallant stand by an understrength marine company fighting under horrific conditions against overwhelming odds in an almost forgotten chapter in the history of modern war. Drury and Clavin have brought the men of Fox Company to life, and in the matter of fact way that extrordinary deeds are chronicalled, have made their sacrifices meaningful to those of us who could not have imagined that men could endure, let alone prevail, under those circumstances.

Michael Prichard's narration was spot on.

They will live on forever in our hearts and minds.

They will live on forever in our hearts and minds.

They will live on forever in our hearts and minds.

amazing!

I could not stop listening. I will probably listen to it one more time. the best thing about this book .it's a true story.

Great Telling of a Tough Fight

Where does The Last Stand of Fox Company rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 1/3. It is a great telling of Marines in combat. As a Marine, I am probably partial to these kind of stories.

Overall, the combat and the conditions are told with detail enough to make you a little cold and a little nervous while you listen.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Last Stand of Fox Company?

Any of the moments when wounded men, that many would say should have been evacuated (but couldn't be) would be bandaged up enough to continue to fight for their brothers.

Have you listened to any of Michael Prichard’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but he does a great job of adding tension and emphasis when needed.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

True Tale of the Frozen Chosin

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding what makes Marines tick.
Also, a great title from the Marine Corps Professional Reading List. Recommended for Staff Sergeant, 1st Lieutenant, and CWO3.

Inspiring Dramatic Story of American Marines

What made the experience of listening to The Last Stand of Fox Company the most enjoyable?

The Marines who held Fox Hill were as brave, stoic and heroic as those at Iwo Jima or any other terrible battle. Their story is inspiring, and it is dramatically and skillfully told.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Capt. Wm. Barber, received Medal of Honor for his leadership and bravery. Inspired his men to keep fighting when it looked like all hope was gone. There were many Marines too injured and weak to walk, and he told the men we all leave together or we all stay together. The men of Fox Company held a key pass open that allowed a surrounded, outnumbered division to live to fight another day.

What does Michael Prichard bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narration was a little spotty. He has a nice voice, but I think the editing made it a little choppy.

Inspirational!

I'll admit that I was in tears by the end of this book. A great story of human perseverence against pretty tough odds. Like most books, you may not need to listen to this at normal speed. 1.5 speed worked well for me for the material.

Story well told.

It’s nothing short of amazing what these marines endured and accomplished. They have my full respect.

Best Military Book Ever

Fantastic book that was a super easy read. Hands down the best military story of all time.

Lost stories of Korea.

I found this book to be interesting. I don't thonk people realize the hardships soldiers of other wars faced. WWll seems to be the only focus most of the time.

The forgotten war, Korea.

Most people, especially those under 40 probably don't know we fought in a war in Korea. I could barely remember it. But this book of a fight to the death between Americans and North Koreans in a frozen battleground that is haunting. Vastly outnumbered the Americans hold their positions against fanatical North Korean troops. It is a battle to last man. Great for history fans, but it is rather graphic and almost sad because it was a war that was fought to just end in stalemate. Forty years later North Korea is still there.