thedrifter
04-16-07, 03:17 PM
The Lore of the Corps: Deceptive enemies rife in Corps’ long history
By Charles A. Jones - Special to the Times
Posted : April 23, 2007
During wartime, Marines have often found their opponents using deceptive tactics — including the Japanese they fought against during World War II.
The stage was set with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941.
The Japanese failed to give notice of the attack before it commenced and to deliver a declaration of war. Although giving notice of attack initiating war may seem counterintuitive, the 1907 Hague Convention requires notification before beginning hostilities but does not specify the period between notification and attack.
The Japanese ambassador intended to deliver a note to U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull at 1 p.m. on Dec. 7, but decoding problems made him late; when he finally saw Hull, Hull already knew about the attack.
Another question arose: Was the note proper notice of attack? It merely stated that Japan was ending diplomatic attempts to resolve problems between the two countries.
As the war dragged on, according to interviews with World War II veterans, corpsmen were often victims of deception. Japanese service members would yell “corpsman” in English; those who responded were attacked. To defeat this trick, Marines used code words to summon corpsmen.
Japanese soldiers on Iwo Jima often used Marine uniforms and weapons, according to reports from 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines.
“Many [Japanese soldiers on Iwo Jima] were seen wearing Marine uniforms and using our weapons. Many cases of enemy wearing our helmet covers were reported,” a report stated.
During one night on Iwo, a company commander was worried his Marines had shot other Marines; when daylight came, he found dead Japanese fighters in Marine uniforms.
Brazen, hungry Japanese men even entered Marine chow lines on Iwo. Retired Brig. Gen. Wendell Duplantis, who served as commander of 3rd Battalion, 21st Marines, on Iwo and Guam, wrote, “War has its grim humor.” When rations were being issued “in the glowing [morning] light, four [enemy soldiers] had been discovered patiently waiting in line. � They did not get breakfast that morning or ever again.”
Japanese fighters also booby-trapped American and Japanese bodies, impeding recovery and burial.
E.B. Sledge, in his book “With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa,” wrote that deceptive Japanese tactics, added to the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, caused mutual, intense hatred — well beyond animosity found in ordinary combat — leading to savage, “no holds barred” fighting.
The days of large armies engaging in chivalrous combat and obeying the law of war are likely gone. But history repeats itself as the war on terrorism finds Marines fighting foes using unorthodox tactics.
Commanders today repeatedly say Marines must obey the law of war even if their opponents do not.
The writer is a lawyer and Marine Corps Reserve colonel in Norfolk, Va. He can be reached at cajones@arthlink.net.
Ellie
By Charles A. Jones - Special to the Times
Posted : April 23, 2007
During wartime, Marines have often found their opponents using deceptive tactics — including the Japanese they fought against during World War II.
The stage was set with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941.
The Japanese failed to give notice of the attack before it commenced and to deliver a declaration of war. Although giving notice of attack initiating war may seem counterintuitive, the 1907 Hague Convention requires notification before beginning hostilities but does not specify the period between notification and attack.
The Japanese ambassador intended to deliver a note to U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull at 1 p.m. on Dec. 7, but decoding problems made him late; when he finally saw Hull, Hull already knew about the attack.
Another question arose: Was the note proper notice of attack? It merely stated that Japan was ending diplomatic attempts to resolve problems between the two countries.
As the war dragged on, according to interviews with World War II veterans, corpsmen were often victims of deception. Japanese service members would yell “corpsman” in English; those who responded were attacked. To defeat this trick, Marines used code words to summon corpsmen.
Japanese soldiers on Iwo Jima often used Marine uniforms and weapons, according to reports from 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines.
“Many [Japanese soldiers on Iwo Jima] were seen wearing Marine uniforms and using our weapons. Many cases of enemy wearing our helmet covers were reported,” a report stated.
During one night on Iwo, a company commander was worried his Marines had shot other Marines; when daylight came, he found dead Japanese fighters in Marine uniforms.
Brazen, hungry Japanese men even entered Marine chow lines on Iwo. Retired Brig. Gen. Wendell Duplantis, who served as commander of 3rd Battalion, 21st Marines, on Iwo and Guam, wrote, “War has its grim humor.” When rations were being issued “in the glowing [morning] light, four [enemy soldiers] had been discovered patiently waiting in line. � They did not get breakfast that morning or ever again.”
Japanese fighters also booby-trapped American and Japanese bodies, impeding recovery and burial.
E.B. Sledge, in his book “With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa,” wrote that deceptive Japanese tactics, added to the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, caused mutual, intense hatred — well beyond animosity found in ordinary combat — leading to savage, “no holds barred” fighting.
The days of large armies engaging in chivalrous combat and obeying the law of war are likely gone. But history repeats itself as the war on terrorism finds Marines fighting foes using unorthodox tactics.
Commanders today repeatedly say Marines must obey the law of war even if their opponents do not.
The writer is a lawyer and Marine Corps Reserve colonel in Norfolk, Va. He can be reached at cajones@arthlink.net.
Ellie