The Last Parallel: A Marine's War Journal

I first read this book when I was nineteen, I am now 55. I must have read it at least twenty times since that first time. What draws me in every time is that this author is very similar to me. We both have an approach to life that wavers between the philosophical and to finding humor in all situations. It's like you are always standing outside any situation you are in, observing it. The approach is similar to Appocalypse Now, where Martin Sheen is exposed to a bewildering array of experiences, that astound, fascinate, repel and induce deep thought trying to comprehend. Humor is the salve that prevents implosion. Standing on top of a pillbox, with the possibility of getting shot, and yelling "What, after all, is art?" is the type of goofy thing I did, and still do. When they go out on patrol, in the middle of the night, in no man's land, it is like entering dream/nightmare world. I was pleased to find an article about Martin Russ, in the "celebrity" section last page of Parade magazine, that magazine included in the Sunday paper, maybe seven years ago. Very satisfying was the revelation that Stanley Kubrick the director had optioned the book, and had spent six months working with Russ on a script. Sadly never produced. Perhaps it's better there are no-one else's big-screen visions that don't match my inner screen's take. This book has it's share of the exciting shooting stuff, but it is not the main focus. The part when they are in no-mans land, in the middle of a confused nighttime firefight, and the young liutenant is dying, in a muddy field, asking for his mother in delerium, well, that gets to me. The true essence of war. I highly recommend this book.

This book reads very well. The author makes you actually feel as you are in Korea with him. I equate it to a book form - real life "Private Ryan". When I finished the book, I felt a sense of loss. It was like a close friend was leaving. I found it hard to set down.

This book caught me off guard,I was not expecting it in journal form. However, the storytelling was magnificant and I soon felt like I couldnt wait for the next page or the next chapter to begin. If you buy this book do not be put off by it's diary approach, push on to the end for long before you get there you will be hooked.

I bought this book in 1955. I served a combat tour just previous to the author's tour of duty. I knew the USMC's mission during this maelstrom; more so, I read this book with a very scutinizing eye. Martin Russ presented an absolutely true and literary picture of the grunt Marine--in trench warfare.The heated fire-fights, the quick/short ones and the boredom of waiting, plus the side trips to tedium too.Not to forget the mental burden the mud Marines had to endure under a new trend of ... positional warfare, implemented by a tired and harassed President, running the war from the Oval office.Russ demonstrates ever so clearly, how war by committee, is sheer folly and madness to the combatants, whom must do the bleeding and dying. I was especially elated about his visionary acumen about how the, Japanese girl of that era, was defined by by this man of letters. Russ penned a perfect projection about R+R in Japan. Sad to say,to most of us,R+R was a nonpareil experience never to be repeated. I'm very glad this is a re-print to when I purchased the original released in 1955. Martin Russ knows his [USMC] War in Korea. This tome is about the mud/Marine in Korea..buy it !! Lock-n-Load and Semper Fidelis.

The Last Parallel is one of the great combat memoirs; Russ provides the reader with a "you-are-there" experience, thoroughly illustrating the constricted, bottom-up view of the Marine infantryman. The unique, static environment of the Korean War at the time of his participation, and the intense, dangerous, night-time patrolling activity that occupied much of his time is well detailed. The book contains reproductions of numerous sketches and drawings he made in his journal, illustrating particular features, locations and incidents. While very simple, they add considerably to the context and are a unique element, further drawing the reader in. If you are at all interested in the Korean War, or the experience of the foot solider, then The Last Parallel is worth your time. Finally, it is, in moments, extremely funny. The source of the humor is often self-deprecating, or drawing on the absurd human circumstances that accompany war. Of course, war is not funny, but people, and soldiers, can be, and Russ has a talent for illustrating those moments.