Marines

[whitworth]

"The United States Marine Corps has always been the United States Marine Corps..."

In name, yes, but were not known as we know them today or knew them even after WWI, and during WWII.

For those interested I recommend General Holland M. Smith's book on the U.S. Marines from just after the Spanish American War through WWII -'Coral and Brass.

It was a time, even most living Marines do not recall.

The Marines have come a long way since the Civil War and WWI. It would be a mistake to think of the U.S. Marines only by current status.

[Borderruffian]

Originally Posted by whitworth

"The United States Marine Corps has always been the United States Marine Corps..."

In name, yes, but were not known as we know them today or knew them even after WWI, and during WWII.

For those interested I recommend General Holland M. Smith's book on the U.S. Marines from just after the Spanish American War through WWII -'Coral and Brass.

It was a time, even most living Marines do not recall.

The Marines have come a long way since the Civil War and WWI. It would be a mistake to think of the U.S. Marines only by current status.

I've read "Coral and Brass". Has the USMC changed or evolved it's mission. Yes and it continues to even now. However the statement that the USMC was limited to a small training cadre prior to WWI used to expand the army was blatantly false in the fact that the 5th Marines were rapidly built around the nucleaus of the 1st ABF and Ships Detachment and landed in France with the first draft of the AEF. The 6th was also rapidly raised and landed with the 3rd Draft. You can't build Regt's from training cadre only.

That the CW era Marines didn't resemble the current or WWII Corps has never been in question.

The Marines have always been a primary expeditionary force simply due to the fact that they were afloat with the navies and the nearest US force to trouble spots.