Born to a prominent Philadelphia family in 1779; Stephen Decatur at age twenty-five became the youngest man ever to serve as a captain in the U.S. Navy. His intrepid heroism; leadership; and devotion to duty made him a perfect symbol of the aspirations of the growing nation. Leading men to victory in Tripoli; the War of 1812; and the Algerian war of 1815; and coining the phrase "Our country; right or wrong;" Decatur created an enduring legend of bravery; celebrated in poetry; song; paintings; and the naming of dozens of towns―from Georgia to Alabama to Illinois. After the War of 1812; Decatur moved to Washington to help direct naval policy. His close friendships with James Madison; John Quincy Adams; and other political leaders soon made him a rising star in national politics. He and his wife Susan made their elegant home on Lafayette Square near the White House a center of Washington society. The capital and the entire nation were shocked in 1820 when Decatur died at the age of forty-one in a duel with a rival navy captain. In this carefully researched and well-written biography; historian Robert Allison tells the story of Decatur's eventful life at a time when the young republic was developing its own identity―when the American people were deciding what kind of nation they would become. Although he died prematurely; Decatur played a significant role in the shaping of that national identity.
#230810 in Books US Naval Institute Press 1996-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.00 x 6.84 x 9.19l; .0 #File Name: 1557503087266 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Great ReadBy ERIC M JOHNSONI got it because it's on the Marines reading list. Once I started to read it; however; I became fascinated with the more 'omniscient' view; and the details and concepts looked at from the 'big picture'. Whether you're a military history buff; or just intending to attack or defend a beach; you'll enjoy this book!4 of 7 people found the following review helpful. ALSO FOR A PREVIOUS REVIEWER!By Captain SternnWhy is it that everyone else who has read this book gives it an outstanding 5 stars...yet theres one obnoxious little punk who just can't resist using this review feature to voice his 2 cents worth of blatant hatred and prejudice against the Marine Corps? Thats you Sparks. As a veteran of both the Army and the United States Marine Corps; I have justifiable professional observations of both services. I left army basic-training feeling quite unfulfilled. Two years later; I joined the Marines; where everyone leaves basic-training as a qualified AMPHIBIOUS infantryman. The experience was vastly different! It takes more than a patch on your sleeve to be "tough". Wearing a beret doesn't make you "elite". It takes competance; skills; and training. It takes the unbending will to win; in the face of harshest adversity.I do believe "certain reviewers" are envious of the HIGHER QUALITY that can easily be observed in the AMPHIBIOUS FORCES. The most significant operation of the European theater in World War II; was D-Day at Normandy...an AMPHIBIOUS OPERATION! The entire Pacific campaign of World War II was AMPHIBIOUS! Aside from all that; if you have not served in the Marines; you are not qualified to an opinion.As for Colonel Gatchel's book; this is an outstanding document of the most difficult and dangerous of all military operations. The overwhelming success of the majority of such assaults from the sea is well-documented in history; those that failed have been proven to be the result of improper planning; or unexpected changes in weather; more often than not. For the prospective student of amphibious operations; this is your text!SEMPER FIDELIS!3 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Some sincere questions for dynmicpara; earlier reviewer.By Dex Randall HowardFirst; be warned; I've not read this book. An earlier reviewer; "dynmicpara;" listed several "amphibious" failures. I wish to offer some comments on them. First; I'm understanding an amphibious operation as forces being moved from sea by boat; amphibious vehicle; or helocopter; crossing the beach; establishing a beachhead; then moving inland to accomplish the end mission. Using helocopters may allow skipping the beachhead. That said; here are my questions:1. Koh Tang Island; 1975. I believe this was the attempt to rescue the Mayaguez's crew from Cambodian military. Did the Cambodians offer an area defense of the island? If not; was the operation more akin to a raid? Were boats used? If not and only helocopters; then how did the failure of the mission relate to the helocopters' base? Whether from land or sea; was not the problems more related to intelligence and micro-management from Washington?2. Lebanon 1982-1984. The was not an invasion. Lebanon was politically divided. The "official" powers requested or accepted an American military presence. The Marines landed; settled-in; and became targets. How well would they have done if the mission had been capture the city? We don't know; because it was not the mission. This was not failure of an amphibious invasion; but failure of a mission. Does prescence work?3. Desert One; 1980. I'm taking this to be the attempted rescue of our hostages then held in Iran. This was a raid and not an invasion. The helocopters staged from carriers; but they might have done so from land (Kuwait; Turkey; Jordan; Israel; Saudi Arabia; or even Iraq ('friends' then)). The failure was not linked to where the helocopters departed. The cargo planes certainly did not stage from a carrier.4. Desert Storm. I understood the amphibious forces that steamed off Kuwait were always meant to be a feint. Some Marines may have wanted to cross the beach. Higher-up's may have considered the risk of losses to high to do so. I have not heard the decision was made to do so; but then "aborted." I'd be interested in learning more if such is true.5. Crete; 1941. Put the first last because my knowledge is scanty. I understood the Germans assaulted British held Crete by air. They were successful; however; at such losses that they never again attempted large-scale air assaults (para or glider). Did the Germans attempt an amphibious landing?Again; I've not read the book; so I've not rated it. The program will likely use 5 stars as a default.Take Care
