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. This third edition brings the popular and accessible history fully up to date. Because the previous edition left off at 1975, new chapters have been added to cover the tumultuous events of the last quarter-century, including Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf, Bangladesh, Somalia, and Haiti. Other chapters have been revised in light of new scholarship. |
Common terms and phrases
1st Battalion 1st Marine Division 2d Division 3d Battalion 3d Marine Division 5th Marines 77th Division airfield American amphibious assault April arrived artillery ARVN ashore attack August Battalion battle beach began Brig British Camp Capt Chu Lai coast Colonel combat command Da Nang December Defense detachment east evacuation February fighting fire Fleet Group Guadalcanal Guam Gulf guns headquarters Infantry Iraqi island Jacob Zeilin January Japanese July June Khe Sanh killed Korea Krulak Kuwait Landing Force Lejeune lieutenant March Marine Aircraft Wing Marine Amphibious Marine Brigade Marine Corps Marine Force MEU(SOC miles mission Mogadishu moved Nang naval Navy night November October officers Okinawa operations Pacific Panama patrol platoon President Quang Quantico rifle sailed Saipan September ships Somalia tanks Task Force thousand took troops U.S. Army U.S. embassy U.S. Marines Viet Vietnamese wounded