When the Korean War broke out in 1950; the Marine Corps was ordered to deploy an air-ground brigade in less than ten days; even though no such brigade existed at the time. Assembled from the woefully understrength 1st Marine Division and 1st Marine Air Wing units; the Brigade shipped out only six days after activation; sailed directly to Korea; was in combat within ninety-six hours of landing and; despite these enormous handicaps and numerically superior enemy forces; won every one of its engagements and helped secure the Pusan Perimeter.Despite its remarkable achievements; the Brigade's history has largely been lost amid accounts of the sweeping operations that followed. Its real history has been replaced by myths that attribute its success to tough training; great conditioning; unit cohesion; and combat-experienced officers. None of which were true. T. X. Hammes now reveals the real story of the Brigade's success; prominently citing the Corps' crucial ability to maintain its ethos; culture; and combat effectiveness during the period between World War II and Korea; when its very existence was being challenged.By studying the Corps from 1945 to 1950; Hammes shows that it was indeed the culture of the Corps—a culture based on remembering its storied history and learning to face modern challenges—that was responsible for the Brigade's success. The Corps remembered the human factors that made it so successful in past wars; notably the ethos of never leaving another marine behind. At the same time; the Corps demonstrated commendable flexibility in adapting its doctrine and operations to evolutions in modern warfare. In particular; the Corps overcame the air-ground schism that marked the end of World War II to excel at close air support. Despite massive budget and manpower cuts; the Corps continued to experiment and learn even at it clung to its historical lodestones. This approach was validated during the Brigade's trial by fire.More than a mere battle history; Forgotten Warriors gets to the heart of marine culture to show fighting forces have to both remember and learn. As today's armed forces face similar challenges; this book confirms that culture as much as technology prepares America's fighting men and women to answer their country's call.
#310776 in Books 2004-10-18Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.16 x .95 x 5.90l; 1.00 #File Name: 0700614591312 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great for the classroom!By AKMIndians in Unexpected Places is series of essays about Native people doing “unexpected†things. Such "unexpected" things might be an image of Geronimo riding in a car. These images of Native people immersed (and comfortable) in modernity (autos; sports; film; music) cause a disconnect to some viewers. There are cultural expectations of how Native people should be (e.g.; primitive; rural; stoic; bartering) versus actual Indian experiences (e.g.; Native college football players). The book reveals these “secret histories†of Indian life in the late 1800s to early 1900s through many Native players (Red Shirt; Luther Standing Bear; Red Eagle; Standing Horse; Geronimo; James Young Deer and Princess Red Wing; Vine Deloria Sr.; Charles Bender; Tsianina Redfeather).Deloria shows that Native people have been "shapers of images" and have "act[ed] with intent and intelligence in unexpected places."0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Indians in Unexpected Places will guide you to new groundBy unlvmanTruly excellent book on how our culture views indigenous people. As a former graduate student and now writer and literary/cultural critic; I have done a lot of work with Native American literature. This book will fill in gaps for people who have for too long been guided by stereotypes. Highly recommended.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Several of my classmates loved it; howeverBy S RaleighPurchased for a college class; but I had a hard time getting into this one. A bit dense. Several of my classmates loved it; however. I just couldn't get into it.
