Earl H. Ellis, USMC (Photo from Wikipedia)Putting the “Marine” in Marine Corps -- Permissible Arms
It’s taken me months–I keep getting distracted by other books–but I’m finally almost done with Derek Leebaert’s deeply academic book To Dare and To Conquer, a book of ruminations on the influence of special operations in history’s wars. It’s a compelling book, if quite dense, and part of why it’s taken me so long to read it is that I keep stopping to look things up. I guess that’s the best kind of book, right?
I’ve gotten finally to World War II, and read this:
In their 140 years before World War I, the marines had never fought in such size, nor, as in that war, had their brigades been a segment of a large US Army division. Success jeopardized existence; what was their distinct purpose if they were performing US Army functions? Yet if there was now to be a war for the Pacific, if the navy had to break down modern hardened ground defenses, the corps had to be more than just the navy’s landing force, Caribbean policeman, or adjunct to the Army.
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My Comment: Permissible Arms post acknowledges one of the most brilliant men to ever don a U.S. military uniform .... Major E.H. Ellis, USMC.
The document that made Major Ellis the legend that he is can be read here. Just scroll down the page and choose the chapter that you may want to read.