This book describes and illustrates the ground forces of the Republic of Korea and its United Nations allies during the Korean War, as well as the UN medical contingents in the conflict.

The North Korean invasion of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in June 1950 prompted an enormous international response, as first the United States and then a host of allied countries contributed combat troops or medical personnel to the United Nations effort to support the South Koreans. In this book, Benjamin Lai examines the ROK ground forces and their UN allies, briefly describing each contingent’s organization, appearance, and service record in the Korean War. His incisive commentary is complemented by specially chosen photographs and specially commissioned full-color artwork depicting the various national contingents involved.

While the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Ethiopia, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, Greece, Turkey, Colombia, the Philippines, and Thailand provided combat troops, India, Italy, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden sent medical teams to support the UN effort. All of these national contingents are described and illustrated in this concise guide to a complex and important element of the UN forces involved in the Korean War, a conflict that shaped the course of international relations for decades.

Benjamin Lai was born in Hong Kong, educated in the UK, and served as an officer in the British Territorial Army in the 1980s and 1990s. Fluent in both Chinese and English, he currently works as a development and business consultant in China.

Johnny Shumate works as an illustrator in Tennessee. His greatest influences are Angus McBride, Don Troiani and Édouard Detaille.