Download or read book The First Leathernecks written by Don Burzynski and published by Warriors Publishing Group. This book was released on 2011-12-20 with total page 175 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To mark the two hundredth anniversary of the War of 1812, author and noted historian Don Burzynski sheds some rare and exciting light on the part played by the nascent United States Marine Corps in that pivotal conflict and on their development in the turbulent years leading up to America’s second war with Great Britain. There’s not much in the official record of that time, but Burzynski uses his passion and background to fill in the blanks and produce a stirring tale of the trials, errors, and successes that led the Marine Corps’s vaunted reputation as the worlds’ premiere amphibious fighting force. It took two centuries to forge the modern Marine Corps, but it was the War of 1812 that set the Corps on the path to renown and established their high standards of dedication, loyalty, and combat prowess. It was the Marines’ accurate and devastating musketry coupled with their skill at manning cannon aboard the American warships of the period that resulted in victory at Lake Erie, Bladensburg, Baltimore, and New Orleans. Despite their demonstrable value in those battles, success in combating the slave trade while serving at sea with the U.S. Navy, and their singular contribution in quashing piracy off the coasts of North Africa, the Marines were forced to fight for their survival on home turf. Burzynski accurately and interestingly covers the internecine wars of the period between Marines, their supporters and such luminaries of the time as President Andrew Jackson and other politicians who often sided with Admirals bound to disband the Corps. This untold story is an exciting, exhilarating tale of the most formative years of the United States Marine Corps. It goes a long and insightful way toward explaining how and why “Send in the Marines!” became a viable and reliable diplomatic ploy throughout the early years of American history. "Finally a historian has written a long necessary public history of the U.S. Marine Corps....I predict that "The First Leathernecks" will become a valued tabletop resource for anyone interested in the War of 1812 for many years to come." Dr. Charles P. Neimeyer, Director and Chief, U.S. Marine Corps History Division "Historically accurate, Don Burzynski’s superbly-crafted and very timely narrative of the early years of the Corps, "The First Leathernecks," reads like a fascinating novel. He grabs and holds your attention with stirring prose, adding a multitude of short, insightful vignettes, well-chosen illustrations by the first Marine Corps artist in residence, Colonel Charles Waterhouse, USMCR (Ret), and detailed maps of the period. This is definitely one for your library." Walt Ford, Leatherneck Magazine "Finally, a dedicated researcher (Don Burzynski) has here compiled a chronological history that details how and why the Marine Corps was formed, in a fast-moving narrative guaranteed to hold your interest. Lavishly illustrated with period artwork, maps, and amazing original art by Col. Charles Waterhouse (ret.), a Marine artist-in-residence , this book gives you an exciting overview of the most important events in early Marine Corps history. If you're a U.S. Marine or a military vet, this is a must-read. If you're a history buff, you'll want this for your bookshelf or coffee-table. If you're “just” an American, you'll be proud. Perhaps most important, you'll gain an understanding of the honor and tradition that make today's Marines so dedicated to their duty." Bob Monement
Download or read book The Greatest of All Leathernecks written by Joseph Arthur Simon and published by LSU Press. This book was released on 2019-09-11 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Joseph Arthur Simon’s The Greatest of All Leathernecks is the first comprehensive biography of John Archer Lejeune (1867–1942), a Louisiana native and the most innovative and influential leader of the United States Marine Corps in the twentieth century. As commandant of the Marine Corps from 1920 to 1929, Lejeune reorganized, revitalized, and modernized the force by developing its new and permanent mission of amphibious assault. Before that transformation, the corps was a constabulary infantry force used mainly to protect American business interests in the Caribbean, a mission that did not place it as a significant contributor to the United States defense establishment. The son of a plantation owner from Pointe Coupee Parish, Lejeune enrolled at Louisiana State University in 1881, aged fourteen. Three years later, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy, afterward serving for two years at sea as a midshipman. In 1890, he transferred to the Marines, where he ascended quickly in rank. During the Spanish-American War, Lejeune commanded and landed Marines at San Juan, Puerto Rico, to rescue American sympathizers who had been attacked by Spanish troops. A few years later, he arrived with a battalion of Marines at the Isthmus of Panama—part of Colombia at the time—securing it for Panama and making possible the construction of the Panama Canal by the United States. He went on to lead Marine expeditions to Cuba and Veracruz, Mexico. During World War I, Lejeune was promoted to major general and given command of an entire U.S. Army division. After the war, Lejeune became commandant of the Marine Corps, a role he used to develop its new mission of amphibious assault, transforming the corps from an ancillary component of the U.S. military into a vibrant and essential branch. He also created the Marine Corps Reserve, oversaw the corps’s initial use of aviation, and founded the Marine Corps Schools, the intellectual planning center of the corps that currently exists as the Marine Corps University. As Simon masterfully illustrates, the mission and value of the corps today spring largely from the efforts and vision of Lejeune.
Download or read book Leathernecks written by Merrill L. Bartlett and published by US Naval Institute Press. This book was released on 2018-12-15 with total page 504 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the Publisher: This book combines a lively, well-researched narrative with a generous selection of illustrations, many in color, and numerous maps to provide a topically and chronologically balanced history of the U.S. Marine Corps from its inception to the present day. The combination of a wealth of art, a substantial text, and a balanced perspective make the work unique in the literature of the Corps. Many of its illustrations have never before been published or have appeared only in black and white. The history of the Marine Corps is one of the greatest military success stories of all time. The books details how and why a force that throughout the first century of its existence seldom exceeded the strength of an infantry regiment eventually attained a strength greater than that of many armies and developed what is arguably the world's most potent military mystique. Because the history of any institution is the product of the actions of the individuals who comprise it, we have included cameos of some of the individuals who made exceptional contributions to the Corps' rich heritage.
Download or read book Preparing for Victory written by David J Ulbrich and published by Naval Institute Press. This book was released on 2011-04-15 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Preparing for Victory explains how and why Commandant Thomas Holcomb successfully supervised the dramatic expansion of the Marine Corps from 18,000 officers and men in 1936 to 385,000 in 1943. Not only did Holcomb leave the Corps much larger, but he also helped establish it as the United States’ premier amphibious assault force and a major contributor to victory over Japan. Despite Holcomb’s successes, he has been ignored or given short shrift in most histories of the Marine Corps. No book-length study of his commandancy exists until now. Drawing on a wide range of printed and archival sources, my book contends that Holcomb expertly guided the Corps’ preparations for war during the last years of the Great Depression and then provided his “Leathernecks” with astute direction during the first harrowing twenty-five months of World War II. When measured with principles of organization theory and leadership studies, Holcomb’s abilities and achievements match those of such outstanding American military managers as Dwight D. Eisenhower, Chester W. Nimitz, and George C. Marshall. Like these unassuming yet efficient officers, Holcomb shied away from the limelight and therefore never garnered the attention that “Chesty” Puller or “Howlin’ Mad” Smith have. This book fills a void and tells the story of one of the key leaders in World War II. More than any other marine, Holcomb molded his Corps into the modern force-in-readiness that would eventually help fight the Cold War and the Global War on Terror.
Download or read book The Confederate States Marine Corps written by Ralph W. Donnelly and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The history of the Confederate States Marine Corps is almost the history of the Confederacy itself. Founded by former United States Marine Corps officers, the efforts of this small select group in combat and in garrison reflect the coastal and maritime struggles of the Confederate States as a whole.
Download or read book Pete Ellis written by Dirk Anthony Ballendorf and published by Leatherneck Classics. This book was released on 2010-10 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Few Marines have had more impact on the Corps's history than Pete Ellis, and none have been more controversial. This biography of the brilliant yet troubled Marine disputes many long-accepted but unsubstantiated accounts of his life and death. Ellis's legacy as the father of amphibious warfare is fully examined by the authors, who searched through family papers, fitness reports, Japanese sources, and interviewed eyewitnesses to solve the mysteries of Ellis's tragic life.
Download or read book Marines written by Chester G. Hearn and published by Zenith Imprint. This book was released on 2007 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book First to Fight written by V H Krulak and published by Naval Institute Press. This book was released on 1999-02-22 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this riveting insider's chronicle, legendary Marine General "Brute" Krulak submits an unprecedented examination of U.S. Marines—their fights on the battlefield and off, their extraordinary esprit de corps. Deftly blending history with autobiography, action with analysis, and separating fact from fable, General Krulak touches the very essence of the Corps: what it means to be a Marine and the reason behind its consistently outstanding performance and reputation. Krulak also addresses the most basic but challenging question of all about the Corps: how does it manage to survive—even to flourish—despite overwhelming political odds and, as the general writes, ""an extraordinary propensity for shooting itself in the foot?"" To answer this question Krulak examines the foundation on which the Corps is built, a system of intense loyalty to God, to country, and to other Marines. He also takes a close look at Marines in war, offering challenging accounts of their experiences in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. In addition, he describes the Corps's relationship to other services, especially during the unification battles following World War II, and offers new insights into the decision-making process in times of crisis. First published in hardcover in 1984, this book has remained popular ever since with Marines of every rank.
Download or read book Pacific Warriors written by Eric M. Hammel and published by Zenith Imprint. This book was released on 2005 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, and more recently from the jungles of Vietnam to the killing fields of Iraq, America's "soldiers of the sea" have fought their country's battles with famed valor, skill, and perseverance in the face of long odds. But where did the U.S. Marines earn their reputation as being the "first to fight?" It was on the South Pacific Island of Guadalcanal. There, on August 7, 1942, the 1st Marine Division stormed ashore to begin one of the most difficult and brutal campaigns of military history, and an unbroken string of victories staged across the Pacific.
Download or read book Through the Wheat written by Edwin Howard Simmons and published by Naval Institute Press. This book was released on 2011-09-15 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: U.S. Marine participation in World War I is known as a defining moment in the Marine Corps' great history. It is a story of exceptional heroism and significant operational achievements, along with lessons learned the hard way. The Marines entered World War I as a small force of seagoing light infantry that had rarely faced a well-armed enemy. On a single June day, in their initial assault "through the wheat" on Belleau Wood against German machine-guns and poison gas shells, the Marines suffered more casualties than they had experienced in all their previous 142 years. Yet at Belleau Wood, Soissons, BlancMont, St. Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne the Marines proved themselves to be hard-nosed diehards with an affinity for close combat. Nearly a century later Belleau Wood still resonates as a touchstone battle of the Corps. Two retired Marines, well known for their achievements both in uniform and with the pen, have recorded this rich history in a way that only insiders can. Brig. Gen. Edwin H. Simmons and Col. Joseph H. Alexander recount events and colorful personalities in telling detail, capturing the spirit that earned the 4th Marine Brigade three awards of the French Croix de Guerre and launched the first pioneering detachments of "Flying Leathernecks." Here, hand-to-hand combat seen through the lenses of a gas mask is accompanied by thought-provoking assessments of the war's impact on the Marine Corps.
Download or read book The Marine Corps written by B L Crumley and published by Amber Books Ltd. This book was released on 2012-12-18 with total page 383 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States Marine Corps is one of the most famous military units in the world. The Marine Corps: Three Centuries of Glory tells the story behind one of the most famous military units in the world from its creation in the 18th century through to the present day.
Download or read book USMC written by Jon Hoffman and published by Universe Pub. This book was released on 2003-10 with total page 664 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Published in conjunction with the Marine Corps Association, this is the chronology of the 225-year-old elite fighting force. Building on official Marine Corps chronologies, this book presents year-by-year summaries of significant Marine activities, with sidebars on historical events, operations, technological advances, and instrumental people.
Download or read book On Desperate Ground written by Hampton Sides and published by Anchor. This book was released on 2018-10-02 with total page 458 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the New York Times bestselling author of Blood and Thunder and Ghost Soldiers, a chronicle of the extraordinary feats of heroism by Marines called on to do the impossible during the greatest battle of the Korean War. "Superb ... A masterpiece of thorough research, deft pacing and arresting detail...This war story—the fight to break out of a frozen hell near the Chosin Reservoir—has been told many times before. But Sides tells it exceedingly well, with fresh research, gritty scenes and cinematic sweep." —The Washington Post On October 15, 1950, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of UN troops in Korea, convinced President Harry Truman that the Communist forces of Kim Il-sung would be utterly defeated by Thanksgiving. The Chinese, he said with near certainty, would not intervene in the war. As he was speaking, 300,000 Red Chinese soldiers began secretly crossing the Manchurian border. Led by some 20,000 men of the First Marine Division, the Americans moved deep into the snowy mountains of North Korea, toward the trap Mao had set for the vainglorious MacArthur along the frozen shores of the Chosin Reservoir. What followed was one of the most heroic--and harrowing--operations in American military history, and one of the classic battles of all time. Faced with probable annihilation, and temperatures plunging to 20 degrees below zero, the surrounded, and hugely outnumbered, Marines fought through the enemy forces with ferocity, ingenuity, and nearly unimaginable courage as they marched their way to the sea. Hampton Sides' superb account of this epic clash relies on years of archival research, unpublished letters, declassified documents, and interviews with scores of Marines and Koreans who survived the siege. While expertly detailing the follies of the American leaders, On Desperate Ground is an immediate, grunt's-eye view of history, enthralling in its narrative pace and powerful in its portrayal of what ordinary men are capable of in the most extreme circumstances. Hampton Sides has been hailed by critics as one of the best nonfiction writers of his generation. As the Miami Herald wrote, "Sides has a novelist's eye for the propulsive elements that lend momentum and dramatic pace to the best nonfiction narratives."
Download or read book The War that Will End War written by Herbert George Wells and published by . This book was released on 1914 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book 40 Thieves on Saipan written by Joseph Tachovsky and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2020-06-02 with total page 323 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winner of The 2020 Best Book Award for Military History -- American Bookfest An elite platoon of Marine Scout-Snipers, Lieutenant Frank Tachovsky’s “40 Thieves” were chosen for their willingness to defy rules and beat all-comers. When two Marines got into a fight, the loser ended up in the infirmary, the winner in the brig. Tachovsky wanted the winner on his team—a brush with military law was a recommendation. These full-blooded men were trained in a ruthless array of hand-to-hand killing techniques and then thrown into the battle for Saipan—Emperor Hirohito’s “Treasure” and the bulwark of the Japanese Empire in the Pacific—where they would wreak havoc in and around, but mostly behind, enemy lines. They witnessed inhuman atrocities; walked into an ambush after the cunning Japanese used wounded Marines as bait; endured body-punishing extremes of heat, hunger, and thirst; fought a relentless enemy who would not surrender; and watched best friends die. Now Tachovsky’s son Joseph tells their remarkable story—a story he didn’t even know until after his father’s death—reported from an extensive documentary record, including priceless mementos his father kept, and from exhaustive interviews with survivors who served under Lieutenant “Ski.” This is how America won the war in the Pacific, where “uncommon valor was a common virtue.” 40 Thieves on Saipan: The Elite Marine Scout-Snipers in One of World War II’s Bloodiest Battles is true history. It’s also an adventure you don’t want to miss.
Download or read book We Were One written by Patrick K. O'Donnell and published by Da Capo Press. This book was released on 2007-10-30 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A riveting first-hand account of the fierce battle for Fallujah during the Iraq War and the Marines who fought there--a story of brotherhood and sacrifice in a platoon of heroes Five months after being deployed to Iraq, Lima Company's 1st Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, found itself in Fallujah, embroiled in some of the most intense house-to-house, hand-to-hand urban combat since World War II. In the city's bloody streets, they came face-to-face with the enemy-radical insurgents high on adrenaline, fighting to a martyr's death, and suicide bombers approaching from every corner. Award-winning author and historian Patrick O'Donnell stood shoulder to shoulder with this modern band of brothers as they marched and fought through the streets of Fallujah, and he stayed with them as the casualties mounted.
Download or read book The Marines written by Edwin Howard Simmons and published by JG Press. This book was released on 2009-10-01 with total page 359 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive word-and-picture history of the United States Marine Corps. The Corps is a relatively small service but has truly fought from the shores of Tripoli to the halls of the Montezumas.