Posted on 09/23/2007 6:12:56 AM PDT by RedRover
- Entered the Marine Corps in 1972.
- Graduated from the Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College.
- As a lieutenant, served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander in the 3rd Marine Division. As a captain, commanded a rifle company and a weapons company in the 1st Marine Brigade. As a major, commanded a recruiting station. As a lieutenant colonel, commanded 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, an assault battalion in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1991.
- Led invasion force into Afghanistan in November 2001.
- Led Camp Pendleton's 1st Marine Division in invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
- Helped design a battle plan and commanded Marine forces in fight for the city of Fallujah in November 2004, one of the bloodiest battles of the Iraq war.
- Chastised by Marine leadership following February 2005 comments in San Diego where he told a military conference "Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a hoot, ... It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right upfront with you, I like brawling." He also said, "You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."
- Commander of Marine Corps Combat Development Center 2005 and 2006.
- Co-wrote with U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus "Small Unit Leaders Guide to Counterinsurgency."
- Named commander of Camp Pendleton's I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps forces in Middle East in June 2006 and took over responsibilities in August.
- Served as convening authority over investigations, hearings and trials arising out of alleged criminal actions by Camp Pendleton troops in Hamdania, Haditha and Fallujah in 2006-07.
- Recommended letters of censure subsequently handed down by the secretary of the Navy to a Marine Maj. Gen. Richard Huck and two colonels this month for failing to fully investigate Haditha deaths.
- Nominated this month for fourth star and rank of general and appointment as head of U.S. Joint Forces Command overseeing 1.6 million troops and NATO supreme allied commander for transformation.
This general bares a striking resemblance to a certain WW II three star...
"...Yet where we have ethical lapses, we have shown ourselves to be accountable."
Among the several moving quotes in the article, this highlights that we are held to a higher standard. Why? Because we hold ourselves to a higher standard? Why? Because, like Israel, this nation was called to a higher standard.
or cadavers on TV shows! God Bless you General Mattis.
Sounds like a lullaby to this Mother, Brahms. I'm sleeping with one eye open.
It's outrageous, hypocritical, and disgusting to deny freedom to- and/or espouse that we hold men on the ground under threat of attack and literal attack- accountable
...while a sitting congressman has the freedom to slander them and aid and abet their attackers.
MATTIS PING
DAMMIT, how did I miss that??? I thought I beat you :(
Just in case anyone takes that the wrong way, let me add:
accountable for doing what is necessary to come home alive.
LOL!
Yeah, yeah.....
They LOVE firemen, too. As long as they NEVER EVER put out a fire!
Excellent article by Mark Walker, I believe it reflects on Lt. Gen. Mattis as it should in a professional and favorable way. The general is a fine Marine and has done an exemplary job, IMO.
Mark Walker did an excellent job on this piece. Walker either heavily edited Gary Solis’ comments or he must have gotten some meds. Solis actually makes sense in this article.
I do think Gen Mattis got extremely bad advice from his legal staff at Pendleton. The buck stops with the general, but his staff let him down as well.
At least we shall have a Marine General moving to the Pentagon that has a good grasp on what shall have to be done in the years ahead regarding the GWOT.
I noticed that also, Red. Solis must have had a relapse by not putting his negative opinion in the interview.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.