American Spartans: The U.S. Marines: A Combat History from Iwo Jima to Iraq

How much do we really know about the US Marine Corps? Like many, I knew the basics in that the Corps spearheaded nearly every major battle in the Pacific during WW2. I also was familiar with their victory at Inchon and their yes, victorious retreat from the Chosin Reservoir in Korea. As to their combat history during VietNam, Khe Shan is their most well known battle. Who could not know about the Marines during Gulf War 1 and 2. The embedded media during Gulf War 2 help many know about their exploits in the rapid taking of Iraq. What most do not know and which Warren brings forth in this book is the deep character that exists within Marine Corps veterans, retirees, and those serving today. It is the character that is taught in their basic training of enlisted and officer personnel that sticks with each and every one who has earned the title of United States Marine. Warren also highlights the many innovations of the Marine Corps as it literally had to fight tooth and nail for its existence. That's right, in times leading up to WW2, after WW2 and up until the end of the Korean War there were those who sought to disband what is today American's mobile 911 response force. As to those innovations mostly in the area of warfighting; it was the Marine Corps that developed the amphibious warfare doctrine used from WW2 until today, it was the Marine Corps that first used heliocopters on the battlefield during Korea; and it was the forward thinking of Marine leaders that adapted their organization to changes in the geopolitical world so that America can project its might over 600 miles inland from the coast of any hostile nation. While at times a bit overly detailed, Warren has drawn on the best sources to compile a solid must read for those who consider themselves military history fans. At the end, one can not help but recognize the leadership buidling that goes on within the Corps and that application of leadership that has made the US Marine Corps an elite organization that we should be proud of.

Students of World War II will want to read a different view in American Spartans: The U.S. Marines: A Combat History From Iwo Jima To Iraq. It's the first modern battle history of the Marines in a generation and examines how they performed in key conflicts from World War II to modern times - and how they've changed. The evolution of their strategies and tactics have really undergone transformation over six decades, and American Spartans traces these changes using dozens of interviews, hundreds of print sources, and firsthand observation of modern Marine exercises.

Americna Spartans relates sixty years of the 230 year history of the Marine Corps from Iwo Jima to Iraq. After reading the first seventy pages it seemed that the book was an antithesis to the creed of MTSgt Percy Webb, a pioneer public relations type from the early 1900s who said, "I had the utmost faith in the service I was writing about and so I did not need to "gild the lily. Warren was writing a masterful tale of "cheerleading". But from that point on it became increasingly evident that the author does not "gild the lily". American Spartans is not written in the gray areas of history. It is written in black and white, reciting the bad along with the good. The Ribbon Creek Incident in 1956 is reported by telling what happened, how it happened and what resulted from its happening. The excesses in training experienced by recruits are also realted with no excuses offered. Casualities from friendly fire are included in the battle summaries. The dismal "State of the Corps" in the period of 1972-1975 is brutal, but accurate in stating that 50% of the recruits were non-highschool graduates, just under 50% of those who joined in this period "washed-out" prior to completing their first enlistment and 20% were mental group IVs (borderline intelligence). Keep in mind that this 20% was in part forced on the Corps by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara's 100,000. The Corps was in danger of losing it's reputation as an elite force. The sociological attitudes of the junior leaders within the Corps at that time contributed to this sad state of affairs. Warren also brings to the fore a number of SNAFUs, such as Mayaguez, of the Corps. This mess and others were generally brought about by combining the Marines with their sister services causing errors in coordination and control. Splitting of the air and ground elements of the Corps lead to many of these errors and unnecessaary casualities resulted. The leadership of the Marines became cognizant of this state and brought the Corps back from the ashes of the Phoenix Bird to it's rightful position of being the nation's "force-in-readiness". As the history proceeds from World War II to Korea, the author shows an increasing knowledge of what occurred between the lines. The early years are reported factually but without great depth. As the distance in years is shortened the author includes more and more insight for the reader. This insight adds excitement and thrist for more of what makes history live and breath. The in-depth detail of the post World War "China Marines" creates a beginning of the thrist for more in this history of the Marine Corps and it then continues to the last page. James Warren shows that the Marine Corps is unique over it's sister services by instilling in its leaders a "can-do" attitude expressed by Elbert Hubbard in "A Letter to Garcia" written in 1899. The senior (at whatever level) issues the order to the junior but does not tell the junior how to compete the mission. The s

A concise history of the USMC told in a very readable context, from Iwo Jima (the Marine Corps finest hour) to the present day. How the Marine Corps operates, is funded, the infighting among the services, its Commandants over the decades, and the glorious battles this elite world renowned force has participated in. Excellent documentation and footnotes abound for further reading.