Researching and writing about the Korean War

With the newest Sgt. Dunn novel, New Enemies, we've moved from World War II into the Korean War, just five years later. The idea to continue Tom Dunn's story was a natural progression and my wife and I started discussing it years ago. My initial research was accomplished by reading Sir Max Hastings’ excellent book, The Korean War, not once, but twice starting in summer 2020.

Like many Americans, I had a negative impression of the Korean War because we didn’t win the war. In my younger days, the war wasn’t even called a war, but was burdened with the ludicrous label of “Police Action.” What an insult to all those who served there and those who died saving South Korea from communism.

Reading Hastings’ book opened my eyes to the reality of the war. In short, South Korea exists solely because we intervened. We being the United Nations. In 1950, the North Koreans had pushed our forces all the way back to a small area around Pusan (now Busan). The Eighth Army held the perimeter. Soon after, General Douglas MacArthur devised an ingenious plan to cut off the North Korean Army supply lines and men by invading farther north at Inchon, South Korea, on the west coast, west-southwest of Seoul, the capital. This action was an enormous success and eventually led to our forces pushing the North Koreans all the way north to the Yalu River, which bordered China. 

Things seemed to be going extremely well and perhaps the confidence that accompanies success turned into arrogance. Whatever the cause, no one believed China would enter the war, despite the fact the UN forces were sitting on their border. However this oversight of intelligence occurred, it was a devastating error.

On 25 October 1950, Chinese forces counterattacked and soon overwhelmed American forces began what would become the longest retreat in U.S. Army history, all the way back into South Korea. By about the end of December 1951, we stabilized the front and stopped retreating.

In January, Dunn arrives in South Korea and our story picks up there. The other book I used for research was written by a former Ranger, Col. Robert W. Black, Rangers in Korea. This gave me a deep insight into the training of the new Ranger companies in Georgia, and their missions in Korea.

I’ve started writing the next Korean War novel with our hero Dunn and his new cast of characters. It picks up a few days after New Enemies.

Here’s the map of the situation about when Dunn arrives, from the West Point history department digital center atlases.

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year & Grandpa Munsterman's crab rangoon recipe

Happy New Year, Sgt. Dunn readers! Wishing you and your family the best for 2025.

This has nothing to do with the books, but I'm sharing my crab rangoon recipe in case you want to try something different at home. We typically do this every year around New Year's Day. It started around 1983 or so.

Have fun with it!

Grandpa Munsterman’s Family and Friends Fun Arts and Crafts Crab Rangoon

Ingredients

• 2 pkgs (8 ounces) cream cheese. We prefer the taste of a 2-1 ratio, but some people prefer 1-1 ratio. Experiment and see what your family likes.
• 1 can  (8 ounces) crab meat, drained and flaked
• 1½ or 2 teaspoons Worcestershire or Soy sauce – this will darken the mix, don’t be alarmed.
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1 package won ton wrappers (usually found in produce section, and comes in packs of 100). If the store is out of won tons, you can buy a package or two of egg roll skins – it’s exactly the same product, just larger. You will have to cut them into four parts. A large kitchen knife works perfectly.
• 1-2 egg(s)
• Vegetable Oil (2 – 48 oz bottles).

Makes about 48. For us, it’s less because of the arts and crafts portion, below, and most people use more than a teaspoon of mix.

Equipment

• Deep fryer.
• If no basket for fryer, one or two metal slotted spoons to retrieve Rangoon from fryer. For heaven’s sake don’t put plastic in 400 degree oil!
• Wooden spoon for stirring the mixture.
• Two or more platters with paper towels on them to absorb excess oil.
• One or more small bowls for the egg(s).
• Enough butter knives for everyone – these work better than spoons.
• Family members and friends to make the Rangoons. They are the ’goonmakers.
• Kitchen or dining room table and chairs.
• Roll of paper towels, or kitchen towels for everyone to use to wipe the egg-won ton goo off their fingers!
• Enough plates for the ’goonmakers to create their magnificent, artsy Rangoons. Or plain ones. It all tastes the same, which is yummy.

Prep (Grandpa – cook)

1. Pre-soften the cream cheese. At least one hour prior to making, set out on counter.
2. Heat oil to 375 degrees F – if there are kids around, make sure fryer is far back from counter edge.
3. Open can(s) of crab and drain liquid.
4. Put cream cheese in large mixing bowl and using the wooden spoon, smooth out the cream cheese until texture is almost like instant mashed potatoes.
5. Mix in rest of ingredients in and stir mightily.

Making the Rangoons (‘goonmakers)

1. ’goonmakers sit around the table.
2. Place one or more bowls of Rangoon mix on table.
3. Place a package of won tons on the table.
4. Using the butter knife, scoop on about a teaspoon of Rangoon mix and put in middle of won ton.
5. Using the egg or water as “glue” on the won ton edges, each person tries to create the most interesting shape: folded, rolled, triangles, round, donut (yes, really), etc., or the largest one (using more than one won ton) that doesn’t break apart in the hot oil, or the tiniest one. Use your imagination!
6. Place completed Rangoon on a platter. When about a dozen are made, give platter to Grandpa for cooking.
7. Laughter and chatting welcome.

Extremely important note: Grandpa – cook gets the first taste of a cooked Rangoon. ’goonmakers can eat cooked Rangoons while they are still making new ones.

Cooking (Grandpa – Cook)

1. If you have a deep fryer with a basket, lift the basket out of the oil, and lay Rangoons in the basket, then lower gently into oil. Never drop Rangoons into hot oil – it will splatter and burn Grandpa or anyone nearby.
2. Be sure to put the fryer’s glass lid on.
3. Cook Rangoons about 1-2 minutes and turn them over with a metal spoon until both sides are golden brown about, 3-4 minutes. Your time may vary.
4. Lift out basket (or scoop Rangoons out with metal spoon) and put on a platter with paper towels.

 Serving:

1. Caution: Let cooked Rangoons cool about 2-3 minutes! These babies are really hot, and hot cheese can cause some serious burns.
2. For dipping, all or some of the following:
• Sweet and Sour sauce
• Cocktail Sauce
• Duck sauce
• If you’re adventurous, Chinese hot mustard.
• Catsup and mustard combined makes a pretty good dip, too.

Announcing the new Sgt. Dunn Novel, #20 – New Enemies, is now available on Amazon!

Hi Sgt. Dunn readers!

I'm thrilled to announce the release of Sgt. Dunn Novel #20, New Enemies. The description is below. It's now available on Amazon!

I hope you’ll join us on the continuing story of Tom Dunn in Korea.

Thanks for your support and happy reading!

Ronn 

New Enemies

Right after World War II, the United States Army deactivated the Rangers. When the Korean War ignited in late June 1950, the army decided they were needed again. And fast.

New Enemies begins in September 1950, just three months after the World War II Series finale, Nazi Plunder, ended. Tom Dunn, currently working as a police detective in Kansas City, Missouri, feels a call of duty and volunteers to rejoin the new Rangers.

Traveling to Ft. Benning, Georgia, Lieutenant Dunn joins a Ranger company as a platoon leader as they go through the grueling Ranger Training Center’s eight-week training program. Not everything goes smoothly, but after the company graduates, they are finally the way to Japan, and their final destination, South Korea. They arrive in late January 1951, and are going to be in the throes of the Korean Peninsula’s bitter, brutal winter.

Assigned to the Eight Army’s 24^th Infantry Division headquarters about fifty miles southeast of Seoul, South Korea, the new Ranger company is tasked with three missions, taken from history. They are thrust immediately into action. Starting with a long incursion combat patrol into enemy territory, they encounter the enemy. Can Dunn solve the challenging tactical problems that lay in front of him?

Another mission takes them in to the Saje-ri Twin Tunnels, two mile-long railroad tunnels west of Wonju, South Korea, they are to clear the tunnels with the help of a platoon of five Patton tanks, but naturally, things don’t go according to plan. Can they eliminate the Chinese Communist Forces surrounding them and return to the American front line safely?

In New Enemies, Munsterman introduces us to the men who fought in what was for a time called The Forgotten War. Once again he masterfully blends historical fact and fiction to create a compelling story of Tom Dunn and the U.S. Army Rangers. Their courage and dedication to each other exemplify the Rangers. In his usual page-turning action style, Munsterman carries us along in a gripping story illustrating the importance of why we were in South Korea: to save the people of an overwhelmed country from the hell of communist control.

Cover reveal for Sgt. Dunn Novel #20, New Enemies

I'm thrilled to reveal the cover for the newest Sgt. Dunn Novel, New Enemies.

Cover by Anya Jones and her dad, my great friend, David M. Jones (Jonesy).

The book is coming soon!

Remembering Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941

FDR called the date "Day of infamy" 83 years ago.

As of this year, there are only 16 more survivors alive. It's up to us to always remember that day.

2,403

The number of people killed in the attack.

The U.S.S. Arizona

The U.S.S. Arizona Memorial

Sgt. Dunn Novel #20 coming soon!

I'm thrilled to announce that the new Sgt. Dunn Novel, New Enemies, is coming soon. This story picks up a few months after the finale of Nazi Plunder. We first see Dunn in action as a Kansas City Missouri Police Department Detective. From that point Dunn decides to sign up for the Korean War. We'll follow him and his new crew through the newly established Ranger Training Center in Georgia, and on to Korea.

I'm working on the edits (starting #5 of 6 tomorrow) and you can track my progress in the upper left of this blog.

Veterans Day 2024

A heartfelt thank you to all who have served our nation.

History of Veterans Day