No Gun Ri: A Military History of the Korean War Incident
Encyclopedia
No Gun Ri: A Military History of the Korean War Incident is a 2002 book by United States
military officer Robert Bateman about the events that took place at No Gun Ri
in 1950 and the controversy that followed. Bateman contested the veracity of a Pulitzer prize winning account published earlier.
team which had first publicized the story of No Gun Ri had relied upon false testimony from at least one veteran who had not been at the battle and had a record of deception, and probably two others who were not there as well. Conservative media was especially critical of the Pullitzer winning account based on Bateman's findings. and the Skeptical Inquirer Bateman contended that the AP's evidence was insufficient to support their account, particularly the lack of bodies found in the aftermath.
Bateman presented his archival research materials to reporter Joe Galloway, then at US News and World Report. Galloway's subsequent articles on the issues and evidence led to a media-fight between the two institutions. The Associated Press then tried to have Bateman’s book stopped, but their efforts were publicized and the efforts aborted.
Ultimately the AP's fraudulent witness confessed. The fake witness was later convicted of fraud in federal court for falsely claiming veterans benefits for PTSD for more than a decade. Bateman details these events in his book on the same topic. Bateman subsequently engaged liberal AP journalist Charles Hanley in print and in public appearances at historical venues
.
and on an adjunct basis at George Mason University
. Bateman is a United States Army Ranger, he was a commander in the 7th United States Cavalry, and served in Iraq from 2005 through 2006. He was once a "military fellow" at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is currently assigned to the Pentagon
, and teaches in the Security Studies program at Georgetown University
. Bateman also writes a bi-weekly column as a media critic/ethicist for the Committee of Concerned Journalists
where he is known to be extremely critical of the New York Times. That site is sponsored by the Knight Foundation and the journalism program of the University of Missouri
. He is also a regular columnist for the military-intellectual site Small Wars Journal
Bateman worked with B.G. Burkett on investigating accounts of the Korean events. Burkett is the author of Stolen Valor
, about phony Vietnam war
veterans and deceptive histories used for personal gain.
Bateman also wrote the book Digital War, A View from the Front Lines (1999). From Iraq he wrote weekly columns for the MSNBC.COM weblog "Altercation," hosted by left wing commentator Eric Alterman
, and the right wing newspaper the Washington Examiner
. He has published editorials in the right-leaning New York Post
and has appeared on several National Public Radio programs, as well as on Public Broadcasting Service
programs hosted by the right wing hosts Ben Wattenberg and Tucker Carlson
.
In the Fall of 2007 Bateman had a dispute with neo-conservative classicist Victor Davis Hanson
over Hanson's book Carnage and Culture. Bateman claimed the book was factually challenged and historically unsupported and unsupportable during a four-part series on the blog of Eric Alterman
. Bateman started with a general attack on Hanson’s lack of scholarship as a modern military historian, as Hanson was educated as a “classicist.”
entitled, "Blackwater and Me, A Love Story It Ain't." In the essay he presented unflattering first-person descriptions of Blackwater
operatives in Iraq based upon his own observations in Iraq in 2005-2006.
used an essay Bateman wrote about wounded soldiers visiting the Pentagon as his 2007 Memorial Day column. The article went viral, particularly on the Right but in many cases was reposted with an added two sentences at the end which Bateman did not write and which he publicly contends were added by an anonymous third party to buttress their own political point of view.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military officer Robert Bateman about the events that took place at No Gun Ri
No Gun Ri
No Gun Ri is a village in Hwanggan-myeon, Yeongdong County, North Chungcheong Province in central South Korea. The village was the site of the No Gun Ri Massacre during the Korean War in which U.S...
in 1950 and the controversy that followed. Bateman contested the veracity of a Pulitzer prize winning account published earlier.
Background
The author's first major run-in with major media was during his archival research into the events which took place at No Gun Ri. During the research he established that the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
team which had first publicized the story of No Gun Ri had relied upon false testimony from at least one veteran who had not been at the battle and had a record of deception, and probably two others who were not there as well. Conservative media was especially critical of the Pullitzer winning account based on Bateman's findings. and the Skeptical Inquirer Bateman contended that the AP's evidence was insufficient to support their account, particularly the lack of bodies found in the aftermath.
Bateman presented his archival research materials to reporter Joe Galloway, then at US News and World Report. Galloway's subsequent articles on the issues and evidence led to a media-fight between the two institutions. The Associated Press then tried to have Bateman’s book stopped, but their efforts were publicized and the efforts aborted.
Ultimately the AP's fraudulent witness confessed. The fake witness was later convicted of fraud in federal court for falsely claiming veterans benefits for PTSD for more than a decade. Bateman details these events in his book on the same topic. Bateman subsequently engaged liberal AP journalist Charles Hanley in print and in public appearances at historical venues
.
About the author
Bateman taught military history at the United States Military AcademyUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
and on an adjunct basis at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
. Bateman is a United States Army Ranger, he was a commander in the 7th United States Cavalry, and served in Iraq from 2005 through 2006. He was once a "military fellow" at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is currently assigned to the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
, and teaches in the Security Studies program at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
. Bateman also writes a bi-weekly column as a media critic/ethicist for the Committee of Concerned Journalists
Committee of Concerned Journalists
The Committee of Concerned Journalists is a U.S. non-profit consortium of journalists, publishers, media owners, academics and citizens worried about the future of the profession....
where he is known to be extremely critical of the New York Times. That site is sponsored by the Knight Foundation and the journalism program of the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. He is also a regular columnist for the military-intellectual site Small Wars Journal
Small Wars Journal
The Small Wars Journal facilitates and supports the exchange of information among practitioners, thought leaders, and students of Small Wars, in order to advance knowledge and capabilities in the field...
Bateman worked with B.G. Burkett on investigating accounts of the Korean events. Burkett is the author of Stolen Valor
Stolen Valor
Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of its Heroes and its History is a self-published book by B.G. Burkett & Glenna Whitley which asserts both that there is a popular view of Vietnam War veterans as broken men and psychopaths and that this view is false...
, about phony Vietnam war
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veterans and deceptive histories used for personal gain.
Bateman also wrote the book Digital War, A View from the Front Lines (1999). From Iraq he wrote weekly columns for the MSNBC.COM weblog "Altercation," hosted by left wing commentator Eric Alterman
Eric Alterman
Eric Alterman is an American English teacher, historian, journalist, author, media critic, blogger, and educator. His political weblog named Altercation was hosted by MSNBC.com from 2002 until 2006, moved to Media Matters for America until December 2008, and is now hosted by The...
, and the right wing newspaper the Washington Examiner
Washington Examiner
The Washington Examiner is a free daily newspaper published in Springfield, Virginia, and distributed in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It is owned by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz....
. He has published editorials in the right-leaning New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
and has appeared on several National Public Radio programs, as well as on Public Broadcasting Service
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
programs hosted by the right wing hosts Ben Wattenberg and Tucker Carlson
Tucker Carlson
Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson is an American political news correspondent and conservative commentator for the Fox News Channel...
.
In the Fall of 2007 Bateman had a dispute with neo-conservative classicist Victor Davis Hanson
Victor Davis Hanson
Victor Davis Hanson is an American military historian, columnist, political essayist and former classics professor, notable as a scholar of ancient warfare. He has been a commentator on modern warfare and contemporary politics for National Review and other media outlets...
over Hanson's book Carnage and Culture. Bateman claimed the book was factually challenged and historically unsupported and unsupportable during a four-part series on the blog of Eric Alterman
Eric Alterman
Eric Alterman is an American English teacher, historian, journalist, author, media critic, blogger, and educator. His political weblog named Altercation was hosted by MSNBC.com from 2002 until 2006, moved to Media Matters for America until December 2008, and is now hosted by The...
. Bateman started with a general attack on Hanson’s lack of scholarship as a modern military historian, as Hanson was educated as a “classicist.”
On Blackwater, Inc.
In October 2007 Bateman published an Op-Ed in the Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
entitled, "Blackwater and Me, A Love Story It Ain't." In the essay he presented unflattering first-person descriptions of Blackwater
Blackwater Worldwide
Xe Services LLC, better known by its former names, Blackwater USA and Blackwater Worldwide, is a private military company founded in 1997 by Erik Prince and Al Clark.. Xe is currently the largest of the U.S. State Department's three private security contractors...
operatives in Iraq based upon his own observations in Iraq in 2005-2006.
Viral Essay
Bateman’s former roommate, journalist Joseph L. GallowayJoseph L. Galloway
Joseph Lee "Joe" Galloway , is an American newspaper correspondent and columnist. He is the former Military Affairs consultant for the Knight-Ridder chain of newspapers and is presently a columnist with McClatchy Newspapers...
used an essay Bateman wrote about wounded soldiers visiting the Pentagon as his 2007 Memorial Day column. The article went viral, particularly on the Right but in many cases was reposted with an added two sentences at the end which Bateman did not write and which he publicly contends were added by an anonymous third party to buttress their own political point of view.