Posted on 11/21/2002 5:38:24 AM PST by SAMWolf
The qualities can best be identified by men who lead the marines into battle. Colonel T. A. Culhane, Jr., Operations Officer, 2nd Marines identified the intangible qualities, "More important than all the techniques [of amphibious assault], was the high state of training and discipline of the individual Marine, his morale, and his confidence and determination to continue the attack even though those about him became casualties." Lt. Colonel Howard J. Rice, Exec., 2/2 focused in on the morale factor, "Before we hit the beach we knew it would be grim business. But we intended and expected to win, even when we held only a narrow naked beach. But, I must admit this confidence was based on nothing more tangible than a faith, a faith shared by all Marines, that Marines always finished a job assigned." Lt. Colonel William T. Bray, C.O., Company All/2, was even more succinct, "The value of sound training and the spirit of comradeship, which comprises a fundamental pillar of Marine Corps life, still stand foremost in my mind as the primary reason for victory at Tarawa." Joseph Alexander believes that an important factor from training permitted the marines to sustain morale and operations longer than the Japanese in the intense battle. Alexander writes, "The Marines' intensive, preliminary field training and strenuous conditioning prior to combat gave them an edge as the battle entered into the third day." Edwin Hoyt saw the training in a different beneficial light, "here the hard training of the marines showed itself; men, from the remnants of several different companies, adjusted to complete change of command and operating procedure under heavy fire without a whimper, and moved on to fight as though it had all been planned this way." These were officers and leaders viewing from the topside of command down to the ranks. The men in the ranks may have reacted that way from training but self -motivation may have been more personal and human related.
The espirt de corps of the Marines was operating in the inferno of the battle. The esprit de corps was extremely high in the Second Marine Division. But how did that play out on a individual basis? Richard Wheeler, a marine veteran who fought on Iwo, explained, in his book, A Special Valor, how the esprit emerged on Tarawa, "They were all Marines, and they were in this thing together, and they would do the best they could to uphold the Corps' reputation and sustain one another. Few men talked in terms of 'death before dishonor," but the ancient code applied." Robert Sherrod who witnessed it up close and personal described it this way, "It was inconceivable to most Marines that they should let another Marine down, or that they could be responsible for dimming the bright reputation of their corps." This was demonstrated by the feeling among the Marines who held the tiny strip of beach on the first night. "There was no sense of panic in the lines as the Marines set up for night defenses." No one dared to let the Corps down or to let down the Marine lying next to him. It even extended to unknown Marines. Marines fought and died for other Marines, unknown and even unseen. "In those first desperate hours there had been only one way to get at the Japanese, and that was to get in and kill them, which usually meant getting killed oneself in the process. But enough marines had given their lives to let the beachhead live." Even fifty years later marines recall why they carried on. Norman Moisie, an amtrak driver in Company A, 2nd Amtrac Battalion, wrote on the fiftieth anniversary, "Still, not a day passes without memories of Tarawa, the spirit of the Marine Corps, and of all the good men with whom I served.
Professor Dirk A. Ballendorf
I think this is a typo - should be a million men
Semper Fidelis.
Walt
On the eve of the invasion of Tarawa, the Admirals, Generals, Captains, and Colonels were in a conference. The battleship Admirals and Captains were bragging on who's battleship had the most armor. "My armor is so strong I'll be able to get within 1000 yards of the beach without suffering any damage from the enemy guns." "Oh yeah, my armor is thicker than yours and I'll be able to get even closer!" This went back and forth for awhile, until the Marine commanding general had had enough. He stood up and said, "Gentlemen, when my Marines land on that beach, the only armor they will have is the shirts on their backs." Then he walked out.
I agree. The Marine Corps I believe, instills a sense of espirit de corp, heroism, and expectations to uphold the proud history of our Corps. Semper Fi, Mac
What strikes me about the black and white pictures you chose (and this is nothing on you), is how faceless and hopeless those huddled figures all look.
The "Old Corps" was known for its characters -- Old Gimlet Eye, Hikin' Hiram, Hard Hearted Hannikin, Diamond Lou, Chesty Puller, even Rupe the Stupe, and a slew of others. I think the Corps is best explemplified by brashness and even arrogance. And I bet the Marines that fought the Japs on Tarawa had it all in spades. That artwork doesn't show that. I love the line from the 1974 "Three Musketeers" -- "The King says fight and we fight. Is life worth so many questions?"
And what Pat Cleburne told Govan before the Battle of Franklin: "If we are to be killed, let us die like men."
I don't see anything of that in the artwork you chose (which I bet is official Marine Corps art); that is interesting, but also sad.
The thing to remember about Tarawa and the whole black bloody business of war is what General Patton said (paraphrasing): "Don't cry that such men died; rejoice that such men lived."
Semper Fidelis
Walt
Based on the unpredictability of the tides, General Smith requested a second battalion of amphibian tractors and the Navy refused to alter their shipping schedule to accomodate.
Walt
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