thedrifter
08-08-08, 05:58 AM
WWI Marines pave way for combined arms
8/7/2008 By 2nd Lt. Michele Perez , 2nd Marine Logistics Group
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 7, 2008) —U.S. Marines paid a high price during the Battle of Belleau Wood to earn the name Devil Dog; enduring 26 days of intense fighting that claimed more than 1,000 lives and left close to 4,000 wounded.
A nick name was not all those Marines earned though, their sacrifices during the battle helped introduce the combined arms concept Marines continue to employ on today’s battlefields.
Retired Col. Joseph H. Alexander, now an author and military historian, talked to the officers and staff noncommissioned officers of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group here Aug. 5 during a professional military education class on the lasting impact Marines had on the outcome of World War I.
Inspired to become a Marine from an uncle who served as a gunnery sergeant, Alexander joined the Corps exclaiming it was an “overwhelming honor to have made the cut.” He went on to spend 28 years as an amphibious assault officer, including two combat tours in Vietnam.
Since retiring, Alexander has authored several books, to include “Utmost Savagery: Three Days of Tarawa,” which earned him the Naval Institute’s 1997 Author of the Year award. He has also been the chief historian for 25 documentaries appearing on A&E Television Network and the History Channel.
Alexander said that much of the Marine’s effectiveness during WWI came down to distance, stating that it was through these battles that they gained their reputation as outstanding marksmen. He said that in fact, they astounded the Germans and French observers when they were getting head shots at 300 to 500 yards away, said Alexander.
Unfortunately, being an expert rifleman had its limitations. During the Battle of Belleau Wood the Germans had strategically emplaced their machine guns and were shooting people down left and right as the Marines came up to their position, said Alexander.
“We didn’t know how to use artillery, we didn’t know how to use close air support … we got slaughtered,” Alexander said. “We had to learn how to smartly coordinate supporting arms.”
After a few battles Marines realized that trying to aim and shoot while running through the woods wasn’t going to earn them victory. As a result, they began to effectively employ available assets, like artillery and air support.
“It wasn’t Marine artillery, it was Army, we just had to call it in,” Alexander said. “It wasn’t Marine aviation flying close air support, it was French, we just had to mark it and set it up.”
The concepts learned and applied then continue to be used in our country’s current warfare arena. Marines are a self-sustainable source with their own artillery and aircraft assets today, but the fundamentals used back then continue to apply.
Although it has been stated many times before, stories from men like Alexander help to reinforce the fact that we should all become familiar with our history, said GySgt. Donnie L. Wilson, motor transport chief for 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd MLG.
“It was like an open window where we could look through his eyes and see the places he’s been,” Wilson said. “It should intrigue everyone to study their history, their past,” said Wilson.
Col. Thomas N. Collins, 2nd MLG chief of staff, has organized several PME’s for his Marines believing they offer a different venue of learning where heroic leaders come in and walk us through their time. He said Marines in the future can use their lessons learned if found in similar situations.
Ellie
8/7/2008 By 2nd Lt. Michele Perez , 2nd Marine Logistics Group
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 7, 2008) —U.S. Marines paid a high price during the Battle of Belleau Wood to earn the name Devil Dog; enduring 26 days of intense fighting that claimed more than 1,000 lives and left close to 4,000 wounded.
A nick name was not all those Marines earned though, their sacrifices during the battle helped introduce the combined arms concept Marines continue to employ on today’s battlefields.
Retired Col. Joseph H. Alexander, now an author and military historian, talked to the officers and staff noncommissioned officers of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group here Aug. 5 during a professional military education class on the lasting impact Marines had on the outcome of World War I.
Inspired to become a Marine from an uncle who served as a gunnery sergeant, Alexander joined the Corps exclaiming it was an “overwhelming honor to have made the cut.” He went on to spend 28 years as an amphibious assault officer, including two combat tours in Vietnam.
Since retiring, Alexander has authored several books, to include “Utmost Savagery: Three Days of Tarawa,” which earned him the Naval Institute’s 1997 Author of the Year award. He has also been the chief historian for 25 documentaries appearing on A&E Television Network and the History Channel.
Alexander said that much of the Marine’s effectiveness during WWI came down to distance, stating that it was through these battles that they gained their reputation as outstanding marksmen. He said that in fact, they astounded the Germans and French observers when they were getting head shots at 300 to 500 yards away, said Alexander.
Unfortunately, being an expert rifleman had its limitations. During the Battle of Belleau Wood the Germans had strategically emplaced their machine guns and were shooting people down left and right as the Marines came up to their position, said Alexander.
“We didn’t know how to use artillery, we didn’t know how to use close air support … we got slaughtered,” Alexander said. “We had to learn how to smartly coordinate supporting arms.”
After a few battles Marines realized that trying to aim and shoot while running through the woods wasn’t going to earn them victory. As a result, they began to effectively employ available assets, like artillery and air support.
“It wasn’t Marine artillery, it was Army, we just had to call it in,” Alexander said. “It wasn’t Marine aviation flying close air support, it was French, we just had to mark it and set it up.”
The concepts learned and applied then continue to be used in our country’s current warfare arena. Marines are a self-sustainable source with their own artillery and aircraft assets today, but the fundamentals used back then continue to apply.
Although it has been stated many times before, stories from men like Alexander help to reinforce the fact that we should all become familiar with our history, said GySgt. Donnie L. Wilson, motor transport chief for 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd MLG.
“It was like an open window where we could look through his eyes and see the places he’s been,” Wilson said. “It should intrigue everyone to study their history, their past,” said Wilson.
Col. Thomas N. Collins, 2nd MLG chief of staff, has organized several PME’s for his Marines believing they offer a different venue of learning where heroic leaders come in and walk us through their time. He said Marines in the future can use their lessons learned if found in similar situations.
Ellie