The Last Parallel: A Marine's War Journal

by Martin Russ

Long regarded as one of the best books about combat written, this book tells of the experiences of combat soldiers during the Korean War.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, War, Memoir, Military History

333 pages, Hardcover

First published June 23, 1957

About the author

Martin Faxon Russ was an American military author, Marine, and associate professor at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Russ was born in Newark on Feb. 14, 1931, to Carroll and Lavinia Faxon Dunn. His parents were professional writers.

After graduating from a private school in Connecticut, Russ attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., but dropped out in his junior year to join the Marines. Assigned to an ordnance battalion, Private Russ made a nuisance of himself until his request for combat duty was granted.

Despite the fear and devastation he had faced in Korea and later wrote about, Mr. Russ remained “a gung-ho Marine’’ throughout his life, his sister said. Of his time on the front line, he wrote in his first book: “I’d rather be here than anywhere else in the world. Whether I’m ready for the loony bin or not is beside the point.’’

In later years, although he had no college degree, he taught writing at what is now Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Reviews

[Jamie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoever wrote the publisher’s blurb on the cover that this is “one of the best books about combat ever written” had clearly not read many books of this genre. However, I nevertheless liked it and thought the author did a good job showing life during the latter stages of the Korean War, when it had become static trench warfare, with offensive actions limited to raids and reconnaissance. The reader gets a good feel for the organization, equipment, and daily routines of Marines maintaining front line positions. Like all wars, it was mostly tedious and boring, with occasional moments of adrenaline-fueled intensity, and the ever present knowledge that death was always lurking in the form of an artillery shell or a sniper’s bullet.

The best parts are the night patrols out in No Man’s Land between the American and Chinese lines. Trying to move as silently as possible, straining eyes and ears to detect the enemy’s presence, and then long hours of waiting in the cold and darkness to see if they could pull off a successful ambush. With everything else going on they had to make sure they knew exactly where they were; stray too far left or right of your company’s position, and the units manning those lines, not knowing there was a patrol out, might open fire as you attempted to return. The author has a laconic, just-the-facts writing style, the classic Marine professional warrior. It makes for good reading, but I would have liked to see more of the human element that must have been present: cold, tired, twitchy, and sometimes very scared.

The Chinese existed as a shadowy presence, occasionally heard but seldom seen. Both armies had artillery behind the lines which could be called in on a moment’s notice, and it did not take much provocation to have a ferocious barrage called down on your position. Even though peace negotiations were underway, and the fighting might end at any time, there was no sense of live-and-let-live. Both armies would quickly take advantage of any opportunity to inflict casualties on the other.

Russ wanted to be a sergeant, but of course he couldn’t seem like he wanted to be one, so he did his job and tried to keep out of trouble. He finally got the promotion, just before he left the country. He tosses off an interesting comment as he describes the party they held to celebrate: it had plenty of booze and hashish. It was the first time I had heard of there being easy access to drugs in the Korean war, but I suppose it should not be surprising; given the highs and lows of tension followed by boredom, drugs would be a natural relief valve.

His tour of duty up, he went back to his civilian life. He had proved to himself that he could handle combat, could be a good Marine and manage the responsibilities and the pressure. He does not seem to have been personally changed by his experience, and was neither pro- nor anti-war. He had seen death and was prepared to kill, but never appeared to even consider committing acts of unnecessary brutality. He was just a Marine doing his job in a difficult and dangerous environment, and he served honorably and well. His book is good at making readers wonder how they would behave in similar situations. It is worth reading for its ability to portray life and death on the line in the last days of the Korean War.

[Robert F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book entered the Korean War in its' later stages when it was becoming a static situation with entrenched forces facing each other over what has become "the demilitarized zone". Patrolling, probes, listening posts. There are no grand battles taking place, only small skirmishes, sniping and a lot of boredom. This book is kind of an embellished daily diary of a relatively well educated enlisted Marine who went to the war willingly, even enthusiastically. Thus, you are getting the frontline Marines' view of his little sector of the DMZ.

Despite there not being big battles, there is still fear, death, adventure. He touches on the ambiguous nature of the causes of the war, but this is not a political treatment of the situation. It points to the dedication and mindset of US Marines at that time in history.

You will not learn the "Big Picture" of the Korean war. You will see the day to day existence of a well prepared Marine, dealing with the stresses and dangers of a static form of warfare that remains one of the least known and understood wars of the 20th Century.

[Joseph Spuckler]

The Last Parallel by Martin Russ is a Marine's journal of his experience in the Korean War. Russ was an American military author, Marine, and associate professor at Carnegie-Mellon University. He was born in Newark in 1931, attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., but dropped out in his junior year to join the Marines.

The journal opens with a description of Camp Pendleton. Although written thirty years before I joined the Marines, the areas of Camp Pendleton were still familiar to me. Although things change on Camp Pendleton, they change slowly. Twenty years after I left the Marines I could still recognize my old unit from the interstate. Perhaps this opening describing the base sets the scene for how little the Marine Corps, and for that matter, individual Marines change over time. If Russ didn't identify himself as a Marine his mannerisms and general attitude would give it away very quickly. There is that confidence in his voice and that Marine attitude about what the Marine Corps does wrong. It's not a condescending attitude but one of acceptance and just another day in the Corps.

Russ was trained as an armorer but wanted infantry. He did everything in his power to get attached to an infantry unit during the war and eventually succeeded. Russ does not seem overly patriotic or even overly gung-ho. He is much more the average Joe who wanted to experience combat. Unlike Vietnam veterans who have written about their experience. Russ does not develop a negative attitude towards the war or the government. He details his experience as well as the equipment used and the number of Marines and their individual weapons on patrols. There seems to be a bit of dry information in all the descriptions, but Russ blends it well into his story. Perhaps it's that I served as a Marine and his narrative seems almost conversational -- nothing seemed boring or dry.

The Last Parallel presents a side of war that is not usually seen in writing. There is no political or personal ax to grind nor is there the hatred of war. Russ is neither a glory seeker nor someone looking to make sergeant major. He writes an unbiased account of his experience and in a way that is very Marine-like. There is a bit of lighthearted swagger in his writing that keeps it interesting from beginning to end. A very well written account of an American at war.

[Bernard Fredericks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A testing beginning to the script, where the reader is faced with oddments of anecdotal remembrances, as though the writer seeks to open up a lead connection at the start of his script, incorporating his USMC early 1950's Boot Camp scenario. Followed by Far East reassignment manning the UN's MLR Line in Korea, just prior to the negotiated settlement of 1953.

The reviewer recognises the author's comments regarding his early USMC experiences and which echo similar scenes from his own service memories of that period, but in another branch of the military. Anybody who has experienced basic-training will be conversant with barrack-room humour -or the lack of it?- effects of instilled discipline whilst crowded together with a bunch of other young strangers on a day-in day-out, week-in week-out cycle of demanding mandatory initiation required of them, during drills-n'-duties of strict service routine.

Author is given to airing his asides on a variety of subjects, including music, during gaps when consulting private diaries: agreed, no one could argue the lofty perch of Dizzy Gillespie's unbeatable musical composition and presentation!

We are invited to self-deprecating cynicism throughout the script which is part-n'-parcel of mind change forced on individuals as part of their surrender to life in uniform.

A major chunk of the book is taken up reliving the mortal skirmishing on the Korean MLR line and consisted of observations on featured combat weapons and platoon probes, deadly-n'-dangerous reconnaissance patrols-turned-raids against Chinese positions in order to monitor enemy activities, after emerging from the relative safety of marine bunkers, testing the enemy's alertness and searching for goonie sniper vantage-points.

His brief humorous remarks on Chinese attempts at psychological warfare: amplifier blasting Chinese musical instruments attempting to copy jazz-style sounds -music? Followed, by a male voice shouting “Maline! Tonight you die!” to the great amusement of deployed and listening US marines.

A wholesome and thoughtful recommended read.

[John McNair · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and absorbing story of a war no one talks much about. It was not, however, "one of the most gripping stories of combat ever told", as written on the front cover endorsement. It was a defensive battle along a fixed line with a lots of aggressive patrolling by both sides and artillery duels throughout. So, most of the "action" comes from Russ' descriptions of patrols he took part in, and led. Russ was certainly a fearless Marine, if one is to believe everything he writes. I suppose that comes from being 22 years old. But Russ was far from a "typical" Marine - he was a thinking and writing Marine. Yet all the other stuff that one associates with Marines is there too. Of course, we benefit from his exceptionally clear memory and great detail in his writing. More than just events, lots of sensory detail as well. My image of the Korean War, once the peace talks began, was a stalemate with opposing sides staring each other down. I was wrong. It was every bit as gritty as any war, with much fear, death, shenanigans and a small amount of glory. This book may well help fill in your knowledge of this forgotten war.

[Al Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book in the Korean conflict

While I've read dozens of first person accounts of WWII, WWI, Vietnam and later engagements, this was my first from the disagreement on the peninsula. Much different than I expected.

The writer is more of an author gone to war than a warrior playing at writing and that lent an interesting quality to the entire narrative. Not as "in your face" gritty as most accounts.

I'll have to look for something written at an earlier point in the campaign, but this is a great book. Even if you're not a war buff, there's plenty in here to interest you.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author takes you through a different time in the Corps when you were talked to differently and the men were different. I could relate to a lot that he spoke about in this book being a son of a WWII and Korean Vet and growing up around Marines that were my coaches from the base, they spoke differently, acted different, and expected you to be different especially if they knew your father. Nowadays people get their feelings hurt if the voices are raised or if you use coarse language here in this book the author talks about his experience in battle but also in boot camp and just the general moral of the men he was with. A very good book.

[Richard Lucas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Difficult to maintain interest

I gave this book 2 stars due to the lack of a proofreader. Misspelled words, incorrect punctuation, use of words that are not in a large dictionary are only part of the reason the action in this book is difficult to follow. Few author's can pull off sounding like an intellectual in one sentence, and an uneducated red neck in the next. Unfortunately for this author, he is not one of those few.

On the plus side, he did serve his country, and I thank him for that.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to place a hold on the only copy of this book in the Cleveland area library network. It's near-daily log of the events that took place during the author's deployment along the no-man's land between north and south Korea in 1952-1953. It was an interesting way not to fight a war. Quite different from the author's other book about the marine's retreat (i.e. rearward attack) from the Chosin Reservoir area.

[Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. I enjoyed how the author talked about the various weapons and their pluses and minors. The tactics were very much WWI and not much WWII. Very informative about when the deadline for the truce begining was done.

[Mickey Bits · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written with the wisdom of one who has gone to war but still young, immature, and with a lot to learn. Some concepts are timeless. (e.g., young men at war for the first time, crucible of war, etc.)

[Henry Percy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Russ, a Marine BAR operator, describes the tail end of the war in Korea on the DMZ before the armistice was signed. It was a static war, raids into no man's land, little contact with enemy. Russ is too cute, too full of himself, constantly reminding us of his prep school background, gee, I can make up fake Latin, etc. Does not wear his learning well. Oh, and the futility of war. Hold that thought, Russ: you mean there's no difference today between N. Korea and S. Korea? Between the threat of the gulag and freedom? Is there nothing to choose between a society offering periodic famines, citizens reduced to eating tree leaves, and one with abundant food? Does that count for nothing, Russ? Which country would you choose to live in?

George Macdonald Fraser and E. B. Sledge are just two vets of WWII who wrote excellent wartime memoirs, without all the egotistical preening.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the “New York Times” says that it’s “one of the most gripping stories of combat ever told,” that gets your attention. Historian Stephen Ambrose claims it’s the best book written on the Korean War. Marine Martin Russ’s chronicles of his duty on the front lines of the Korean War – on his first night of watch duty the Chinese tried to overrun his position – evokes the gut-clutching quality of the war. Originally published in 1957, this is the war as seen through the eyes of an automatic rifleman, a time of suffering, illness and death, vividly described in Russ’s no-holds barred account.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read, period. Simply for the understanding of what a soldier goes through. We all know someone who is away in Iraq or Afghanistan. Try to get an understanding of what they are going through, even if this journal is from the Korean War.

[Jeffry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Informative, personable and funny. The day to day life of a Marine during the final phase of the Koren War.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book