From the son of a Royal Marine, I pray for all of the USMC when they go into battle.
The brave, the few.
I know that this poem by William Blake is really about the legend (believed by Blake) that Jesus made it all the way to England in his ministry. But the lines of the second stanza, about going into battle, stand on their own as some of the most stirring ever written in the English language. When set to music by Charles Perry, this poem became one of the most moving of Christian hymns. I know that no Marine will let his sword sleep in his hand.
Jerusalem
AND did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
William Blake
Thank you for your kind words, and please convey our appreciation to your father.
Task Force Drysdale, a combined unit of the US 1st Marine Division which included 41 Commando, Royal Marines formed in November 1950 at Hungnam in South Korea, with the aim of fighting its way to reinforce the garrison at Hagaru on the southern tip of the Chosin Resovoir. The column of Drysdale came under sustained attack almost from the off, but was eventually able to force its way through to Hagaru, with 321 casualties sustained. On entering the town, 41 Cdo was nominated as the garrison reserve, and was called into action on the night of 29th/30th, when part of the Commando was called on to reinforce a unit of the USMC that was part of Drysdale on a hill overlooking the Chinese lines. During this night, the two Chinese divisions facing them sustained over 5000 casualties. Despite this, other United Nations forces along the reservoir were failing to hold the lines. So, the force at Hagaru were ordered to withdraw back to Hungnam. 41 Commando, along with the 5th Marine Battalion, brought up the rear, beginning on 6th December. The force stopped at Koto-Ri on 8th December, where a mass grave for 117 dead troops was prepared. 41 Cdo moved out in the afternoon to guard the high ground over the formation against infiltration during the night. On 9th December, the formation moved out to march the remaining distance to the Hungnam bridgehead, getting clear by the 11th December and embarking with 22,000 US Marines to be shipped down to Pusan. The action had left 41 Cdo with 93 casualties, and so the unit was withdrawn to Japan for reinforcement during the winter of 1950-51."
Per Mare Per Terram
Semper Fi