USNAviator
12-01-10, 09:27 PM
Been UA for a bit
First point is for all Docs. Just finished re-reading "Flags of Our Fathers." In it Bradley states that assignment to FMS was not totally voluntary and that Pharmacist Mates essentially had to go through Marine Boot. Was this your experience? Did you have to attend Boot Camp?
Second point deals with the starting point of the infamous march into Ribbon Creek in 1956. I'm reading "Court Marshall at PI" and it surprised me to learn that DI School in the 50's was only 5 weeks long. Is this correct? I know I'm going back some time ago but 5 weeks seems awfully short to me
Final point is the size of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions. Bradley states that 75,000 Marines composed all three divisions. That breaks down into 25,000 men/division. This greatly outnumbers a typical infantry division of 15,000 men. Is Iwo Bob available to shed some light on these numbers? On Iwo the Japanese force consisted of 22,000 well dug in defenders
Sorry for the meanderings but some of these "facts" brought some questions to mind
First point is for all Docs. Just finished re-reading "Flags of Our Fathers." In it Bradley states that assignment to FMS was not totally voluntary and that Pharmacist Mates essentially had to go through Marine Boot. Was this your experience? Did you have to attend Boot Camp?
Second point deals with the starting point of the infamous march into Ribbon Creek in 1956. I'm reading "Court Marshall at PI" and it surprised me to learn that DI School in the 50's was only 5 weeks long. Is this correct? I know I'm going back some time ago but 5 weeks seems awfully short to me
Final point is the size of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions. Bradley states that 75,000 Marines composed all three divisions. That breaks down into 25,000 men/division. This greatly outnumbers a typical infantry division of 15,000 men. Is Iwo Bob available to shed some light on these numbers? On Iwo the Japanese force consisted of 22,000 well dug in defenders
Sorry for the meanderings but some of these "facts" brought some questions to mind