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Operation Broken Reed: Truman's Secret North Korean Spy Mission That Averted World War III
At the height of the Korean War, President Truman launched one of the most important intelligence - gathering operations in history. So valuable were the mission's findings about the North Korean-Soviet-Chinese alliance that it is no stretch to say they prevented World War III. Only one man — sworn to secrecy for a half-century—survived Operation Broken Reed. Arthur Boyd recalls his role as cryptographer on a team of Army Rangers, Navy Frogmen, Air Force officers, and CIA operatives that posed as the captured crew of a B-29 bomber in January 1952. Given cover names and cyanide capsules in case of discovery, the men were transported by Chinese Nationalists wearing Communist uniforms across North Korea, where undercover allies delivered information about troop strengths, weaponry, and intention. Fraught with danger, the mission came apart on its last day when the Americans came under fire from Chinese forces wise to the operation. The members of Broken Reed supplied Truman with proof of massive Chinese and Soviet buildups and a heavy Soviet bomber group in Manchuria, fully loaded with atomic weapons. With the potential destruction of the world outlined in front of him, Truman chose not to escalate the Korean War, saving millions of lives.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 16, 2007
16 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 15, 2025
Difficult one to rate this...
The story is told as a real mission during the Korean War, but is almost written as an action novel. This is the problem though, because if this really did happen it would be incredible, yet there are too many questions as to its authenticity... Like why is there no information about it after the mission has been declassified in 1998 already? Why did the author not try to find out the other 9 mens' identities who died on the mission after all these years to remember them by and honor their memory (the author was the sole survivor so there is no one to coroborate his story)? Why why why? Did not enjoy this as it is too unbelievable for me, so in the end not difficult to rate it a 1 star.
The story is told as a real mission during the Korean War, but is almost written as an action novel. This is the problem though, because if this really did happen it would be incredible, yet there are too many questions as to its authenticity... Like why is there no information about it after the mission has been declassified in 1998 already? Why did the author not try to find out the other 9 mens' identities who died on the mission after all these years to remember them by and honor their memory (the author was the sole survivor so there is no one to coroborate his story)? Why why why? Did not enjoy this as it is too unbelievable for me, so in the end not difficult to rate it a 1 star.
December 29, 2022
Outstanding
This book is a memoir of a true American hero and his comrades. They were dropped behind enemy lines in North Korea and gathered classified information that helped us avoid WWIII.
The book reads like a spy novel. It has detailed facts about every facet of the mission. In it's truthfulness, there are incredibly detailed sections of the worst of war.
Spectacular! My highest recommendation for history and military enthusiasts.
This book is a memoir of a true American hero and his comrades. They were dropped behind enemy lines in North Korea and gathered classified information that helped us avoid WWIII.
The book reads like a spy novel. It has detailed facts about every facet of the mission. In it's truthfulness, there are incredibly detailed sections of the worst of war.
Spectacular! My highest recommendation for history and military enthusiasts.
February 10, 2025
This book tells an incredible story of a true secret spy mission during the Korean War written by a survivor of the mission! The author has to wait almost 50 tears until the mission is declassified to tell about it. I have never read a book like it. It is exciting, tragic, and extremely moving!
January 11, 2017
I'm not into military books, but I read it because the man lives in my neighborhood and his son goes to church where I do. (he autographed the book to my husband). I thought it was a great story, and I wonder how many other things like that have happened in our military that they hid and cover up.
April 30, 2012
I've been thinking about how to review this in a way that will interest my GR friends. Looking at the cover and the title, it's easy to see why readers would categorize this as a "war" book. That's enough for most of my GR friends to dismiss it right there. And it is a war book. But it's also not.
What it's really about is the ten men who went on this mission. Through Arthur Boyd, I feel as if I came to know these men, particularly the ones he traveled most closely with. Because the story is told in bookend fashion, I knew from the beginning that most of the men didn't survive. I know my reading habits well enough to know that that knowledge kept me from bonding too tightly with the men I knew were doomed because I didn't want my heart ripped out when they died, but that didn't hold for ones who I knew might survive, and in fact, I think I fell a little in love with Capeman.
This book will haunt me for a long time.
What it's really about is the ten men who went on this mission. Through Arthur Boyd, I feel as if I came to know these men, particularly the ones he traveled most closely with. Because the story is told in bookend fashion, I knew from the beginning that most of the men didn't survive. I know my reading habits well enough to know that that knowledge kept me from bonding too tightly with the men I knew were doomed because I didn't want my heart ripped out when they died, but that didn't hold for ones who I knew might survive, and in fact, I think I fell a little in love with Capeman.
This book will haunt me for a long time.
July 1, 2017
This book was recommended by Stanley Monteith on Liberty Radio.
It changed my mind about Christians in the Military.
The continual thought as I read the book was, "this is the real deal. They don't tell you this in the movies."
A "can't put it downer".
It changed my mind about Christians in the Military.
The continual thought as I read the book was, "this is the real deal. They don't tell you this in the movies."
A "can't put it downer".
November 9, 2010
It was an amazing book. I'm just waiting for the movie to come out.
May 24, 2023
This is an excellent book and I couldn't put it down. It reads like a novel and the author does a great job telling his story. You almost wonder if it really happened. The author is asked to join a secret intelligence mission in 1951, during the Korean War. Pres. Truman wants intelligence to avoid a nuclear war, and he goes over and around his advisors, etc. Art who is only 22, married with a child, signed up for the Army and because of his cryptography skills is recruited for the 10 man secret mission, named Operation Broken Reed, to infiltrate North Korea.
Art's code name is Michael Baker and he survives to tell the story of Operation Broken Reed some 47 years later when the mission was declassified in 1998. He was encouraged by his then recruiter 'Col Brown,' Truman's man, to tell the world his story when the time came. Korea is the forgotten war and so many died there. You'll learn a little bit about Truman and see how bad war is and how our leaders go down that route. As I like to say, "War, what the hell is it good for? Absolutely Nothing." This rings true here. Thank you Arthur for sharing your story. Folks need to hear it!
Art's code name is Michael Baker and he survives to tell the story of Operation Broken Reed some 47 years later when the mission was declassified in 1998. He was encouraged by his then recruiter 'Col Brown,' Truman's man, to tell the world his story when the time came. Korea is the forgotten war and so many died there. You'll learn a little bit about Truman and see how bad war is and how our leaders go down that route. As I like to say, "War, what the hell is it good for? Absolutely Nothing." This rings true here. Thank you Arthur for sharing your story. Folks need to hear it!
November 22, 2022
I am so glad I picked this book up. As a Korean War... enthusiast is the wrong word... I am so glad to have read this account of a secret spy mission at the height of the Korean War. I am astounded that we were so close to nuclear war with Korea. I am appalled at what Lt. Col. Boyd went through keeping everything inside and I am particularly proud that East Tennessee was a safe place for him once he could talk about Operation Broken Reed. This is not a polished and professional book, but it is detailed and moving and captivating. I didn't want to put it down.
This was terrible and awesome and I desperately want to know more. I am so angry that we will likely never know more.
This was terrible and awesome and I desperately want to know more. I am so angry that we will likely never know more.
February 4, 2018
Amazing storyline.
April 11, 2024
Would have been a good story IF IT HAD ACTUALLY HAPPENED!!!
March 11, 2025
A heartbreaking account of an intelligence mission behind enemy lines during the Korean War.
April 6, 2025
Got this book from the library back in 2019 and wanted to write a screenplay about but couldn't get rights. A great and entertaining read.
August 26, 2021
Extremely good and intriguing lots of things about the war in Korea are still coming out and Harry Truman personally approved this operation, he’d be horrified by our military political nature today he was no communist.
November 27, 2013
My friend Kathy gave this book to my husband as a gift. I read it because it was around. I found it compelling.
I didn't know all that much about the Korean conflict, and next to nothing (okay, nothing) about Korean history. Now I do. I also know about a gripping mission that averted a third world war, and the tragic impacts on those involved.
The author was the only survivor of an intelligence-gathering mission behind North Korean enemy lines. The mission was so secret, the 10 American soldiers could not know each other's real names. Each of the 10 had a cyanide capsule in his boot, should he be captured. And one of the 10's role was to kill his comrades if they chickened out of using the capsule.
The group was ambushed, and only the author and two badly injured compatriots escaped, then walked 30 miles to the coast, where they were rescued. The author never know whether the other two survived the experience. And he was banned from speaking about it to anyone until 1998. He had a strong case of what we now call PTSD.
It was cathartic for the author to tell the tale and very gripping and illuminating for this baby boomer, for whom most knowledge of the Korean conflict came from watching M.A.S.H.
My WWII veteran, history-liking hubby liked it too. Thanks, Kathy
I didn't know all that much about the Korean conflict, and next to nothing (okay, nothing) about Korean history. Now I do. I also know about a gripping mission that averted a third world war, and the tragic impacts on those involved.
The author was the only survivor of an intelligence-gathering mission behind North Korean enemy lines. The mission was so secret, the 10 American soldiers could not know each other's real names. Each of the 10 had a cyanide capsule in his boot, should he be captured. And one of the 10's role was to kill his comrades if they chickened out of using the capsule.
The group was ambushed, and only the author and two badly injured compatriots escaped, then walked 30 miles to the coast, where they were rescued. The author never know whether the other two survived the experience. And he was banned from speaking about it to anyone until 1998. He had a strong case of what we now call PTSD.
It was cathartic for the author to tell the tale and very gripping and illuminating for this baby boomer, for whom most knowledge of the Korean conflict came from watching M.A.S.H.
My WWII veteran, history-liking hubby liked it too. Thanks, Kathy
June 16, 2014
This was an absolutely fascinating book. A top secret mission so secret that by the time it was declassified in 1998, the author was the only person in the world alive who knew what had happened. The story of the mission is dramatic, suspenseful, and so unbelievable it has to be real. The writing is clear, sharp, and creative. I never felt like I was reading an amateur war biography.
I am so glad I picked up this book from the library - I wish a movie would be made of it, not to glamorize the violence, but to bring the story of these heroic men to the collective consciousness.
I am so glad I picked up this book from the library - I wish a movie would be made of it, not to glamorize the violence, but to bring the story of these heroic men to the collective consciousness.
February 26, 2008
This is an excellent book. Well written and super captivating. If you like stories about war and the juxtaposition that it creates, this book is for you. It is a quick read that has some great dialog. The book is less about the military than it is the struggle of how the "duality of man", to take it from Full Metal Jacket, is present--where one man is forced to do hurt and even kill another so that the will not be hurt or killed. There is a strong bond and dialog that occurs and is riveting. It is written by an old Bethel Sem grad who went through a lifetime of post tramatic stress disorder keeping this a secret until 1998. Read it you'll like it.
February 9, 2016
I didn't know if I could finish it; I have a hard time with war. I realized not to finish would be to dishonor those men who died on this mission.
It is riveting storytelling, journalistic in its succinct prose.
It is riveting storytelling, journalistic in its succinct prose.
November 5, 2008
The amazing storey of a covert op by soldiers posing as POWs! This op has been classified for 50 years and was told by the only survivor.
June 8, 2009
A little too much time spent on this really happend.
March 8, 2016
I was crying in the cafe when reading the last chapter.
It was that good.
It was that good.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews