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Arthur L. Boyd
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Operation Broken Reed: Truman's Secret North Korean Spy Mission That Averted World War III Kindle Edition

by Arthur L. Boyd (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 96 ratings
“The remarkable story of a top-secret ‘black’ operation behind enemy lines during the Korean War . . . [a] suspenseful saga of heroism and sacrifice.”—Publishers Weekly
 
At the height of the Korean War, President Truman launched one of the most important intelligence-gathering operations in history. So valuable were the mission’s findings about the North Korean-Soviet-Chinese alliance that it is no stretch to say they prevented World War III. Only one man—sworn to secrecy for a half-century—survived Operation Broken Reed.
 
Arthur Boyd recalls his role as cryptographer on a team of Army Rangers, Navy Frogmen, Air Force officers, and CIA operatives that posed as the captured crew of a B-29 bomber in January 1952. Given cover names and cyanide capsules in case of discovery, the men were transported by Chinese Nationalists wearing Communist uniforms across North Korea, where undercover allies delivered information about troop strengths, weaponry, and intention. Fraught with danger, the mission came apart on its last day when the Americans came under fire from Chinese forces wise to the operation. The members of Broken Reed supplied Truman with proof of massive Chinese and Soviet buildups and a heavy Soviet bomber group in Manchuria, fully loaded with atomic weapons. With the potential destruction of the world outlined in front of him, Truman chose not to escalate the Korean War, saving millions of lives.
 
“A chilling story and, if true, certainly an amazing one in the annals of wartime espionage.”—Library Journal
 
“An absorbing, technically accurate story of military derring-do from a half-forgotten war.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
“A fascinating account.”—Military Officer
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  1. Print length
    322 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Grand Central Publishing
  4. Publication date
    March 5, 2009
  5. File size
    2.8 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Career army officer Boyd breaks his half-century of silence to tell the remarkable story of a top-secret black operation behind enemy lines during the Korean War. Code-named Broken Reed, the operation sent a 10-man team into North Korea to collect badly needed intelligence on enemy capabilities and intentions to aid President Harry Truman in making a fateful decision: to escalate the conflict or accept a stalemate. Boyd, a young signal corps lieutenant, was selected for the mission because of his top-secret clearance and his knowledge of Morse code. Boyd would transmit whatever intelligence the team gathered to a communications aircraft over the Sea of Japan. Inserted into North Korea by submarine, the team collected and transmitted intelligence that revealed a staggering enemy buildup and convinced Truman not to escalate the conflict. Discovered and ambushed, seven of the team were killed and three wounded—two grievously. In a desperate flight, the wounded reached their rendezvous point and were rescued by a waiting ship. If true—and there are no records, transcripts, or evidence of the operation and Boyd is the only known survivor—this suspenseful saga of heroism and sacrifice is further proof that truth can be stranger than fiction. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"A chilling story and, if true, certainly an amazing one in the annals of wartime espionage." -- Library Journal, 10/15/07

"A fascinating account." -- Military Officer, October 2007

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B009W74ADA
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing (March 5, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 5, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.8 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 322 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 96 ratings

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Arthur L. Boyd

Arthur L. Boyd

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
96 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well written and easy to understand, describing it as an exciting true story that reads like a thriller. Moreover, the intelligence content receives positive feedback, with one customer noting how it reveals the clever mind of the author.

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22 customers mention "Readability"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand, with one customer noting it reads like a thriller.

"...This is a very easy yet highly informative and entertaining book. If you have the opportunity, pick up a copy. you will not be disappointed." Read more

"Congratulations to writing such a good book!..." Read more

"...In all a good book, but to much personal conversation after this many years." Read more

"This was a fantastic book! Art apparently had the hand of God on him during the times he wrote about! I wish him Peace and Calming and good health...." Read more

14 customers mention "Story quality"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's story engaging and exciting, describing it as an exciting true tale of American heroes and heroic action.

"...Without stating the obvious, this read sheds new light on the presidential process and deftly reveals the clever mind and surprising shrewdness of..." Read more

"...of the history of the Korean War, but then the story of the spy mission becomes quickly engaging. I could hardly stop reading it from that point on...." Read more

"...Thank you so much to the author for sharing such a personal, yet phenomenal story and allowing the rest of us the privilege of getting to know these..." Read more

"This is an interesting story that is well worth the time to read. It is succinct, easy to read and understand...." Read more

10 customers mention "Intelligence"9 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the book's intelligence content, with one customer noting its deft portrayal of the author's clever mind, while another describes it as highly informative with lots of details to remember.

"...this read sheds new light on the presidential process and deftly reveals the clever mind and surprising shrewdness of Truman doing the right thing..." Read more

"...This is a very easy yet highly informative and entertaining book. If you have the opportunity, pick up a copy. you will not be disappointed." Read more

"...I could hardly stop reading it from that point on. Lots of details to remember by the Author over 60 years." Read more

"...As I spoke to Mr. Boyd he seemed very intelligent and humble. I believe his story and very much thank him for his service and sacrifice!!!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • William A. Guenon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Clandestine History--no one knew until now
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    A real eye-opener into behind-the-scenes activities of a well-planned, coordinated joint Special Operations mission that made the critical difference in preventing WWIII and most likely a nuclear holocaust. It's so real you'll feel you're actually part of the mission and share their anxiety, fear, and the bitter cold. Without stating the obvious, this read sheds new light on the presidential process and deftly reveals the clever mind and surprising shrewdness of Truman doing the right thing in successfully dealing with a sensitive world situation then in spite of his cabinet and generals claiming otherwise. Authentically details the long array of agents quietly going about their thankless job deep behind enemy lines at great risk of capture, excruciating interrogation with a certain and cruel death as their only reward for heroic deeds in the name of freedom. Without making the connection, it nicely reveals why Washington's over-control of Viet Nam missions forced us to fight with one or both arms tied behind our back. All sides of the aisle will understand and appreciate this mission and especially these brave and driven warriors.

    Author & Air Commando Pilot/ SECRET And DANGEROUS: Night of the Son Tay P.O.W. Raid
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Cuncabo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read by a local author
    Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A great read written by a local author here in the Knoxville, TN area. The things I learned from the first hand perspective of the Korean conflict clearly changed my perception of what the US could have done but didn't at the time. This is a very easy yet highly informative and entertaining book. If you have the opportunity, pick up a copy. you will not be disappointed.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Steve Conradson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book starts slow but really picks up speed
    Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The first 30 pages go slow talking of the history of the Korean War, but then the story of the spy mission becomes quickly engaging. I could hardly stop reading it from that point on. Lots of details to remember by the Author over 60 years.
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  • Litangba
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Intelligence Collected the Hard Way
    Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Congratulations to writing such a good book!

    I have studied Chinese history of the 1950s for years and I'm familiar with Chinese sources of that period. That is why I thought it would be of interest to actually know after 60 years what the Chinese Army reported as troop strengths while you were in North Korea:
    For January 18th 1952 the total number of Chinese soldiers on North Korean territory was 1'147'264 soldiers. As the 27th Artillery Regiment and parts of the 31st Artillery Division entered that day the number increases for the next reported day, January 26th to 1'157'947 soldiers, or an increase of 10'683 soldiers in just eight days. Therefore when you reported strong enemy troop concentrations of "a million men and reserves" on page 175 you were right, even as the numbers were not. Including the North Korean Army it must have been more than 1.5 million maybe even 1.7 million men.

    The intelligence you've collected was mostly correct and in my opinion you could only know such details by doing what you say you were doing. Maybe a Chinese source will finally confirm what you wrote in your book as the Chinese Army must have reported such activities and intensive fighting as well.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Uncle Don
    4.0 out of 5 stars No Hollywood
    Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    I totally disagree with some of the previous reviewers that said this story should go to Hollywood. If those people got a hold of this operation they would realy do a diservice to the men in the operation, the classic missing what the story is about is "Starship Troopers" they would most likely do the same here. I do not dispute the operation happened, Truman was bit twice by his intelligence people missing the initial North Korean build up and China's entry into the war, he didn't trust them. Read Merle Miller's "Plain Speaking" to get the Truman feel for Korea and indirectly how he felt let down by the whole intelligence community. I do have a problem with how detailed the enemy order of battle is down to battalion and company level, these must have been some realy outstanding agents to get it. In all a good book, but to much personal conversation after this many years.
    One person found this helpful
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  • emitt gerald moore
    5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Courage
    Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This was a fantastic book! Art apparently had the hand of God on him during the times he wrote about! I wish him Peace and Calming and good health. God Bless you Sir! Thank you for your Service!
    One person found this helpful
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  • James B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I met Mr Boyd when he started to attend the same church as I. I was told by my sister that Mr. Boyd was a very fine man who had led a most interesting life. As I spoke to Mr. Boyd he seemed very intelligent and humble. I believe his story and very much thank him for his service and sacrifice!!!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Luke
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely amazing!!! 5 stars!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This book is one of the most amazing I've ever read and I can't believe it isn't already a major motion picture. Thank you so much to the author for sharing such a personal, yet phenomenal story and allowing the rest of us the privilege of getting to know these unknown heroes, yourself included.
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