Let the Bastards Come is a military historical narrative by David Cameron. It details the active contribution of Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and American units involved in the battle of Kapyong, Korea, which was fought between 23-25 April 1951 in the valley of the Kapyong River.
The Chinese launched an offensive on April 22, 1951, which nearly overtook the capital of South Korea, Seoul. During this battle, a small force of fewer than 1,200 Australian and Canadian infantrymen, supported by New Zealand artillery and American Sherman tanks, held off an entire Chinese division of over 6000 soldiers.
Conditions were challenging, with rain and mountain terrain. With the Chinese infiltrating the Australian lines, the soldiers outnumbered by 5:1, managed to delay the advancing attack long enough for the UN forces to reach Seoul in time to meet the Chinese, making this a decisive turning point in the Korean War.
David Cameron is a brilliant author and military researcher. So, for the military enthusiast, this is a fascinating story. It includes firsthand experiences and photographs to add authenticity and show the courage, resilience and sacrifices of the men involved in this battle.
The book is a long historical narrative, full of military details and not one of those books to read in an afternoon curled up on the sofa. But, if the reader can persevere, it is very informative and gives well deserved recognition to the men who fought in the Korean War.
A selection of our members are reading Let the Bastards Come by David Cameron. You can read their comments below or leave your own review.
Let the Bastards Come by David W Cameron tells the story of the Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and American Units involved in the Battle of Kapyong during the Korean War. The Battle was fought 23rd to 25th April 1951.
The bravery and courage of the 1200 infantry men holding the line against a Chinese Division of 6000 was a turning point in the Korean War.
Unfortunately, prior to reading this book I knew very little about the Korean War other than what was portrayed by the TV series MASH.
So, I found this well researched book most informative and interesting. The photos in the book portray the human side. The book tells a part of history that needs to be shared.