to defend critical positions in West Korea. The beginning of this volume outlines the transition of the 1st Marine Division from the east-central to the far western front of Korea. It discusses the strategic importance of this new location for the defense of Seoul and introduces Major General John T. Selden, commander of the 1st Marine Division. The text establishes the backdrop of the ongoing conflict and describes immediate military challenges as the Marines prepare to fortify their positions and engage the Chinese Communist Forces. Detailed discussions of troop organization, terrain, and logistics set the stage for the complex military operations that follow throughout the volume. (This is an automatically generated summary.)