North: No Greater Friend …

Creators Syndicate ^ | March 29, 2013 | Oliver North

[jazusamo]

WASHINGTON — On the eve of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division distributed a one-page "Message to All Hands." It was a succinct warning to those going into battle about what to expect from the enemy and his expectations for them. His instructions and encouragement on deportment, skill, courage and compassion harkened back to Shakespeare's rendition of Henry V on St. Crispin's Day and Eisenhower's guidance to his troops going ashore at Normandy. The close, an admonition paraphrasing Roman General Lucius Sulla: "Demonstrate to the world there is 'No better friend, no worse enemy' than a U.S. Marine" is now an axiom in the Marine Corps.

Some members of the media who read the letter expressed amazement that a Marine Division Commander — about to go into combat — could be so eloquent. Those of us who have known Jim Mattis a very long time weren't surprised at all.

When we first met four decades ago, James N. Mattis was a brand-new 2nd Lt., a bright, enthusiastic student, and I was a tactics instructor at The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, VA — where newly-minted Marine officers are introduced to what it means to be an officer of Marines. He had a mischievous glint in his eye, a half-suppressed smile and a can-do spirit that matched his physical fitness. Though nicknamed "Mad Dog" for his speed and agility on the O-Course, he was also a voracious reader. It's my recollection that he was one of the few who completed the lengthy TBS "professional reading list" that began at Sun Tzu, waded through Clausewitz and ended with Vietnam.

[jazusamo]

OLIVER NORTH PING!

Please Freepmail me to be added to the Ollie North ping list.

[clintonh8r]

General Mattis is a national treasure. I wish he would run for president.

Semper fi!

[TheOldLady]

Bump for the ping!

[ffusco]

Just started reading a bio of Schwartzkopf. Another great leader.

[jmacusa]

I highly recommend Lt. Colonel Bing Wests ''The March Up. With The 1st. Marine Division on The Road To Baghdad'' It's an awesome account of Marines in action and General Mattis statement to his Marines is in it. Puts a lump in your throat when you read it. I also recommend Rich Lowys ''New Dawn. The Fight For Fallujah''. This is THE most incredible, most intense hour by hour, moment to moment account of close quarter combat you'll ever read. Fallujah was called ‘’the meanest town in Iraq’’ and it was the showdown between Al Qeada and the US military and who would prevail in Iraq. Every single branch of the US military was involved in this battle and fought well but ultimately it was The United States Marine Corps and it's ‘’well known reputation for aggressiveness and willigness to close with the enemy'' that broke the back of the Al Qeada insurgency in Iraq.