The United States Marines: A HistorySince its somewhat confused beginnings in November 1775 when the Second Continental Congress almost absentmindedly authorized two battalions of American marines, the U.S. Marine Corps has participated in all the nation's wars from the American Revolution through Desert Storm. This compact yet complete study focuses on the big wars but never slights events in between: the little wars, campaigns, punitive expeditions, showings of the flag, protection of American lives and property, and humanitarian missions that help define the corps. Nor does the author neglect the intermittent but never-ending fight for the corps's survival at home where it faces periodic challenges from Army, Navy, Air Force, and on occasion, unfriendly presidents. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
1st Battalion 1st Marine Division 2d Division 3d Battalion 3d Marine Division 5th Marines 77th Division Air Force airfield American April arrived artillery ARVN ashore assault attack August Battalion battle beach began Brig British Camp Capt Chu Lai coast Colonel combat command Company Da Nang December Defense detachment evacuation February fighting fire Fleet Guadalcanal Guam Gulf guns Hagaru-ri headquarters helicopter hundred Infantry Iraqi island Jacob Zeilin January Japanese July June Khe Sanh killed Korea Landing Force Lejeune lieutenant March Marine Aircraft Wing Marine Amphibious Marine battalion Marine Brigade Marine Corps Marine Expeditionary Marine Force Marine Regiment miles Mogadishu morning moved Nang naval Navy night November October officers Okinawa operations Pacific Panama patrol President Quang rifle Saipan September ships Somalia squadron tanks Task Force thousand took troops U.S. Army U.S. Marines United Veracruz Viet Vietnamese wounded