Posted on 08/04/2005 5:53:50 AM PDT by Jarhead1957
OK-why Bradley?
Referred to by Schwarzkopf as "nothing more than a speedbump." Later to be called the "82nd Truckborne", stuck in the rear with the French.
Yep.
That's what my college roommate, who was with the 82nd at the time, said.
Light forces will always be speedbumps ("crunchies") for armor, wether they are Army or USMC.
Actually, it wasn't much of a secret. The armored cav guys blew through the Jihadi defenses and occupied positions BEHIND them. This greatly reduced their ability to move around the city.
The Marines had the job of moving up block by block, kicking in every door and fighting at extreme close quarters. Army mech/cav battalions don't have enough rifleman to do that job...especially in a high casualty environment.
Reminds me of the old joke, "Why did the Army stop retreating? Because they surrendered."
Yes. And when they arrived they had to borrow food, water and ammunition from the MPS ships the Marines had brought in from Diego Garcia.
Also, which was the first service to have heavy armor on the ground?
Sorry, but even now the USMC is overly reliant upon the Army log trains. The USMC has even admitted as much. A few instances of one service borrowing from the other isn't a big deal (it's a good thing), but it cuts one way far more than the other, and when it becomes habit and necessity, there's a problem.
Incorrect. Marines took part in Operation Torch in North Africa on 8 November 1942. 306 Marines also took part in D-Day; Eisenhower had four Marines on his staff who were instrumental in planning the amphibious landings, destroying mines and working 5-inch artillery batteries. Numerous Marines; Peter Ortiz, John Bodnar, Jack Risler, Frederick Brunner, Walter Taylor, John Hamilton aka Sterling Hayden, John Harnicker, Walter Mansfield, Glenn Ford, et al served in Europe with the OSS. There was a Marine Barracks in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. In August of 1944 Marine Detachments from USS Augusta and USS Philadelphia landed on the Islands of Ratonneau and If near Marseille and engaged the Germans. Marine detachments served on numerous Navy vessels in the European Theater. The 1st Marine Provisional Brigade served at Reykjavik, Iceland in 1941-1942.
A DIFFERENT WAR: Marines in Europe and North Africa
MARINES IN WW II EUROPE NORTH AFRICA-THE ATLANTIC
I doubt if the DIs point that out to the recruits when they teach Marine Corps history which is one reason why so many Marines seem to feel free to take cheap shots at the Army.
Wrong. Marine recruits are taught not to drink the tainted Army Kool Aid that so many of you doggies eagerly lap up. The Marine Corps did in fact serve in the ETO, albeit in a limited, yet significant, role in WWII.
Want to discuss Major General Ralph Smith USA of the 27th Division being relieved for cause on Saipan?
Thanks for the ping!
Bradley was conspicuous in his absence at Inchon.
Schwarzkopf also had the following to say on 27 February 1991 from Riyadh:
'I can't say enough about the two Marine divisions. If I use words like "brilliant," it would be an under-description of the absolute superb job they did in breaching the so-called impenetrable barrier. It was a classic, absolutely classic military breaching of a very, very tough minefield, barbed wire, fire trenches-type barrier. They went through the first barrier like it was water. They went across into the second barrier line, even though they were under artillery fire at the same time. They continued to open up the breach. And then they brought both divisions steaming through that breach. Absolutely superb operation, a text-book, and I think it will be studied for many, many years to come as the way to do it.'
Now you've done-it! Woke up that nutcase SMEDLEYBUTLER.
Your posts and the fact that you chose to emphasize that line (the bold was not in the original was it?) tell me that you cane on here looking to run another serivce down.
My deepest apology, I should not have put the empasis, it would have made it read different.
Yeah, boy what a joke Bradley was getting that wrong after all the whipping the Germans business(rolls eyes). Does your head hurt when you talk about all these great Army generals who will be remembered forever for all that they accomplished and yet you still can't name a great Marine victory in WWII Europe or the Civil War?
You going to admit that you're wrong or are you going to remain an obstinate illiterate? Truth is, you know nothing, like many of your Army brethren, of Marine Corps history in the ETO.
Ok-I accept your apology. Truce?
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.