Who Would You Choose?

[cjwright90]

you guy's and gals DO know who he was don't ya?

Sure do. That was who Robert Conrad played on Black Sheep Squadron.

[Kurt Stover]

The Private that was killed doing his duty.

[HardJedi]

Originally posted by cjwright90


Sure do. That was who Robert Conrad played on Black Sheep Squadron.

LORD! yeah, there is THAT part of it. BEFORE forming the Black Sheep, he was also a member of the Flying Tigers, and fought against the Japanese BEFORE americas ofiicial involvement in WWII

[eddief]

I would drink with Smedley Butler who said that "war is a racket".

[WillManning]

"Clairvoyance in the Corps?"
Major Earl H. "Pete" Ellis
The following is an exerpt for "Blood Warriors" by Michael Lee Lanning
Chapter 13 "US Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance: History"

pages 210-213

"Major Earl H. "Pete" Ellis-who had gained his commission in 1900 and, after service in the Philippines, Japan, and the Mariana Islands, earned the Navy Cross, the service's second highest award for valor, on the Western Front during World War I- tried to prepare the navy for the future.

Despite health problems, which included kidney disease and lingering psychological disorders from his combat experiences- both compounded by alcohol abuse- Ellis sought new adventures and challenges after the armistice of 1918. On Sept 4, 1920, he wrote to the commandant of the corps, "In order that the Marine Corps may have the necessary information on which to base its plans for furture operations in South America and in the Pacific Ocean, I have to request that I be ordered to those areas for the purpose of making the necessary reconnaissance."

The commandant forwarded Ellis's letter to the director of naval intelligence, who approved the request. There is no evidence that Ellis investigated South America, but his accomplishments in the Pacific easily ranked among the most significant in the history of reconnaissance and intelligence.

Before departing for the Pacific, Ellis prepared and submitted a 30,000 word paper titled "Advance Base Operations in Micronesia" based on his observations of the region prir to the war. The department of the Navy approved Ellis's recommendations and redisignated the study Operations Plan 712 on January 28, 1921.

Ellis's reprot is one of the most amazing and insightful studies in American military history. Less than two years after the Great War, Ellis predicted that the US would be drawn into the Second World War a little more than 2 decades later. He wrote, "Japan is a world power, and her army and navy will doubtless be up to date as to training and material. Considering our consistent policy of nonaggression, she will probably initiate the war."

Ellis continued with a detailed analysis of Japan's military capabilities and a discussion of the sea, air, land, climate, and mative populations of the Pacific region. He concluded the paper with a strategy that the US could use to retake key islands so as to establish forward bases for an eventual invasion of the Japanese homeland. He included requirments for airplanes capable of delivering torpedoes against watercraft and the development of large, automatic guns for shipboard defense.

During the following years the navy made slight modifications of Operations Plan 712 and renamed is War Plan Orange. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, many of the American efforts against Japan-including mobilization requirements, timetables, and the island-hopping strategy- closely followed Ellis's outline of events.

Upon completion of his reprot Ellis sailed throughout the Pacificto validate his findings. Few of his observations, however, made their way back to the Department of the Navy. On May 21, 1923, the Japanese governor of the South Sea islands reported to the American authorities in Yokosuka, Japan, that Ellis was dead. When the Japanese provided no official cause of his demise, some fellow marines theorized that the Japanese had murdered him because he had discovered some aspect of their war plans. Others speculated that he had become so despondent because of his war experiences that he commited suicide, or that he died from his medical ailments. A somewhat dubious account from a German merchant, Mr. O. Herrman, also made the rounds. Herrman, who briefly traveled with Ellis, stated that the major had become seriously ill after consuming a meal of canned eels and beer.

Japanese involvement became more viable when the naval attache at Yokosuka dispatched Chief Pharmacist Lawrence Zembsch to recover Ellis's remains. When Zembsch returned to Japan form the south Sea islands on Aug 14, 1923, he was, accoring to the attache, "...incoherent, his walk was unsteady and he was in a highly nervous condition. He would burst into tears, apparently without reason, talked of taking his own life, etc."

Zembsch also cringed in fear when approached by any Japanese-even those who had been close friends before his mission. It is likely that the Japanese officials in the South Sea islands drugged and tortured Zembsch. Naval officials deffered further debriefing until Zembsch could regain his health. That never occurred; both Zembsch and his wife died in a fire following an earthquake on Sep 1.

The cause of Ellis's death remains as mysterious as his visions and recommendations for the preparation and execution of the war against Japan remain extraordinary. Most Americans, however, languished in the belief that WWI was truely "the war to end all wars", supporting defense budget cuts and military manpower reductions. Those who remained in uniform did their best to prepare for future conflicts. Planners within the Marine Corps developed doctrines for amphibious warfare, emphasizing the need for advanced reconnaissance operations."

End of excerpt

[WillManning]

Gen. Merritt "Red Mike" Edson

[Phantom Blooper]

Major Boyington, Gregory USMC
Medal of Honor

MAJOR GREGORY BOYINGTON

Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Squadron 214. Place and date: Central Solomons area, from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944. Entered service at: Washington. Born: 4 December 1912, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. Other Navy award: Navy Cross.

Citation: For extraordinary heroism and valiant devotion to duty as commanding officer of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Central Solomons area from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944. Consistently outnumbered throughout successive hazardous flights over heavily defended hostile territory, Maj. Boyington struck at the enemy with daring and courageous persistence, leading his squadron into combat with devastating results to Japanese shipping, shore installations, and aerial forces. Resolute in his efforts to inflict crippling damage on the enemy, Maj. Boyington led a formation of 24 fighters over Kahili on 17 October and, persistently circling the airdrome where 60 hostile aircraft were grounded, boldly challenged the Japanese to send up planes. Under his brilliant command, our fighters shot down 20 enemy craft in the ensuing action without the loss of a single ship. A superb airman and determined fighter against overwhelming odds, Maj. Boyington personally destroyed 26 of the many Japanese planes shot down by his squadron and, by his forceful leadership, developed the combat readiness in his command which was a distinctive factor in the Allied aerial achievements in this vitally strategic area.

[HardJedi]

YAY! PAPPY! LOL

[snipowsky]

Semper Fidelis Major Boyington wherever you are!

[CPLRapoza]

Lee Harvey Oswald. I want to know what really happened.

[themuffinman]

Chesty Puller