Published: 20 August 02
Airpower & Space Journal - Fall 2002

No Gun Ri: A Military History of the Korean War Incident by Robert L. Bateman. Stackpole Books (http://www.stackpolebooks.com), 5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055- 6921, 2002, 288 pages, $22.95.

In 1999 a trio of Associated Press (AP) investigative reporters collaborated on a series of articles that garnered them a Pulitzer prize. These articles purported to tell the previously unknown story of how US soldiers followed orders in gunning down hundreds of South Korean civilians on 26 July 1950 as they hid under and around a railroad bridge near the village of No Gun Ri. These startling revelations spurred the Army’s inspector general to launch an investigation to determine the facts. These same reporters also produced a book entitled The Bridge at No Gun Ri: A Hidden Nightmare from the Korean War (2001). The only problem with the articles and the book is that the events they describe did not happen!

Robert L. Bateman presents a compelling and conclusive case about how one man’s war story can be spun into a national scandal. He shows that the four main sources for the AP stories were not even present at the events they related and that the incident was faked from start to finish. He notes how three of the sources probably assimilated the story from the main source, who not only didn’t participate in the events, but also had been impersonating an officer since the 1980s. Furthermore, he had created a military record of heroism designed to place him in the company of legitimate combat heroes. 

While fakery among veterans is a shameful and, unfortunately, an all-too-common occurrence, the author details how the AP reporters and editors took pains to hide the readily apparent truth because the made-up story fitted their preconceived antimilitary prejudices, helping them win the Pulitzer prize. Bateman uses his experience as a military officer, his academic discipline as a trained historian, and his presentation skills as a writer to lay out the entire story. He systematically dismantles the AP story and reassembles it to produce the truth about the military events at No Gun Ri, revealing how the investigative journalists manufactured the story even though they had the facts in their possession.

Anyone interested in military history should read this book not only to learn the facts, but also to become familiar with a primer to the genre. Bateman’s intertwining of the disciplines of military history and investigative journalism results in a decent how-to book for anyone interested in knowing how a military history is crafted. In so doing, he presents a course in critical reading of inestimable value. Whether or not they are interested in this particular incident, people who consider themselves military historians should read No Gun Ri.

Command Sgt Maj James H. Clifford, USA
Fort Gillem, Georgia

Disclaimer

The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.