[PGR88]

Wells, thinking the frontal assault order from higher up was pure suicide, refused to give his marines the order to assault. Without the supporting fire that had been promised, he simply rose from his shell hole, waived his rifle over his head and began running up the mountain. The rest of his Marines followed.

So he didn't follow the order but assaulted anyway? What the hell does that mean? What a poorly written article and sentence.

[Sasparilla]

..So he didn’t follow the order but assaulted anyway?...

Easy. Marines obey orders. And they do it in their own way when necessary. He led his men up the hill by unspoken example...

[XHogPilot]

What does it mean?

No matter how it’s written, it’s difficult to comprehend...

Picture Lt. Obama in the place of Lt Wells on that day. The Lt is given an order for an extremely dangerous, likely suicidal, frontal assault. Lt Obama orders his men out of their protective trenches, while he continues to cower in his foxhole, continuing to order his Marines up the hill. “Leading from behind” is what it’s called.

What really happened, was Lt Wells didn’t order his men into extreme danger, he led. He left it up to his men’s own courage and commitment to choose to follow. He led an incredibly brave charge up an exposed hill. By Lt Wells’ courageous leadership and action that day, the battle was won.

It’s hard to comprehend.

Lt Wells did not order his men, he led.