Historian and retired Army Colonel Donald W. Boose Jr. has exhaustively studied and skillfully written the little known history of the Army's amphibious operations during the Korean War. Building on its extensive experiences in World War II, General MacArthur and the US Army conducted three major amphibious landings during the war, including the brilliant counterstroke in September 1950, an assault at the port of Incheon behind North Korean lines. After the massive Chinese attacks of November and December 1950, the Army conducted a number of amphibious withdrawals as it fell back southward on the Korean peninsula to more defensible positions. Throughout the war, the Army also conducted a number of non-assault amphibious operations and over-the-shore logistical operations. Since the Korean War, the Army's amphibious role has greatly decreased in importance. The Army, however, conducted extensive riverine operations in Vietnam and continues to employ them in Iraq. Additionally, over-the-shore logistics remains an important part of Army doctrine and logistical capability today. This historical study chronicles an aspect of the US Army's history that may seem remote from the challenges facing the Army in 2008. If history "proves" anything, however, it is that the hard-won lessons from the past tend to be relearned in the future. If this study makes that relearning process faster and more effective, it will have fulfilled its purpose.

"December 2008"--T.p. verso. Full text also available via Internet from the Combined Arms Research Library web site.a Korean collection.

Introduction -- Amphibious heritage -- Initial operations and planning -- Chromite: the Incheon landing -- Operations in North Korea, October-December 1950 -- The war of movement, December 1950-November 1951 -- Amphibious planning and training during the stalemate, 1952-53 -- Postwar activities, current situation, and lessons learned.