STUDENT HANDOUT (JUL 2004)

OUTLINE

1. SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

a. During 1897, relations with Spain deteriorated. Our government's problems was caused by the poor treatment of Cuban citizens. Spurred on by political and economic interests, the United States sent in the battleship MAINE.

b. On the night of 15 February 1898, the USS MAINE was anchored in Havana Harbor, when an explosion below the decks sent her to the bottom. A call to arms came, "Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain," once again Marines were to go into battle, but this time better prepared than ever before. After war was declared on Spain, a Marine battalion sailed from New York to Key West Florida, where they began preparations for battle. By this time the U. S. Navy set up a blockade in Santiago Harbor to prevent the Spanish from bringing in additional troops and equipment.

c. While the Marines in Florida practiced their amphibious landings in preparations for battle, halfway around the world in the Philippines, Admiral Dewey prepared a surprise for the Spanish Fleet in Manila Harbor. Taking the Spanish Fleet by surprise, Dewey's fleet completely annihilated the Spanish flotilla. Marines from the American fleet landed on the Spanish territory and captured the Naval Station at Cavite. By taking the fort and routing out the Spanish defenders, the Marines established a secure base of operations for Dewey's Pacific Fleet.

d. A short time later, the Marines landed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to secure and advanced naval base. In operations to further secure Guantanamo Bay, Marines under Captain F. Elliot attacked the Spanish water supply at Cuzco Wells. As the Marines moved towards the town, it became evident to the unit commander that they were in danger, not only from the enemy fire but from the supporting naval gunfire as well.

e. Without hesitation, Sergeant John Quick stood up in plain sight of the enemy and began waving an improvised flag in a cease fire signal to the ship. With enemy bullets and American naval shells whistling around him, Quick calmly remained exposed and continued to signal until firing stopped. Sergeant Quick's actions won him the Medal of Honor and enabled the Marines to seize Cuzco Wells, thus controlling the advanced naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

2. THE BOXER REBELLION

a. At the turn of the century a society known as the "SOCIETY OF HARMONIOUS FIST" (BOXERS) was formed in China. They were dedicated to the elimination of all Westerners in China and proceeded to attack Americans, Europeans, and their delegations.

b. As the delegations were attacked by 50,000 Boxers, the Marines were assigned the mission of defending one wall of the western compound. A relief force reached the besieged compound fifty-four days later to find the Marines still defending the stronghold.

c. For actions of heroism during the Boxer Rebellion, several Marines received the Medal of Honor. One of whom was Private Dan Daly who single handedly held off wave after wave of Boxers attacking his post. For this action Private Dan Daly won his first Medal of Honor, he would go on to become one of the greatest heroes in Marine Corps history.

3. ARMED INTERVENTION

a. Banana Wars

(1) Marines were used several times after China in Central America and the Caribbean. The Marines served as an essential weapon of American foreign policy. Our involvement in the "Banana Republics", so called since their major export product was bananas, became known as the "Banana Wars"

(2) The Banana Wars were significant because the Marines gained valuable combat leadership and jung war fighting experience for the world wars. This established the Marine Corps as America's Force-in-Readiness by protecting American interests, live property, and by establishing and maintaining local political stability. The U. S. Marines would continue their action in these countries for over three decades. Even while we were fighting the Germans on European soil, we would serve as the enforcer of our country's policies in Central America.

(3) In 1903, Panama was the primary concern. The Colombian government held control over the area of Panama, while the natives who lived in the area pressed for independence for several years. When the United States had difficulty concluding a treaty with Columbia to build the Panama Canal, we quickly recognized the Panamanian government, and concluded a treaty to build the canal with the Panamanians. Marines under Major. J. A. Lejeune landed and the situation was well in hand. The presence of the Marines was enough to keep the Columbian government from reacting. After the canal was completed, the Marines were left in Panama to guard the canal zone.

b. Vera Cruz

(1) In 1914, Mexico was the target for the Marines. Marines were once again back in Vera Cruz, just as they had been in 1847. This time the action was limited. Several battalions of Marines landed at Vera Cruz when relations between Mexico and U. S. deteriorated. One of the battalions was commanded by Major Smedley Butler.

(2) The men were not from his battalion and Butler was not sure of their behavior under fire. To inspire them, Butler walked down the center of the streets of Vera Cruz, ignoring bullets that plowed into the dirt at his feet and used a stick to point out snipers to the men in his detachment. For his fearlessness under fire, Butler was the first Marine officer to be awarded the Medal of Honor, which had just recently been authorized for officers. The whole force, under Colonel J. A. Lejeune took the city after many long hours of house to house fighting. As the fighting died down, negotiations between the United States and Mexico began.

(3) America Declares Neutrality. War in Europe was looming on the horizon. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarjevo began a chain of events that plummeted the world into a war that would last for years and cost millions of lives. The United States clung to its isolationist policy and we were to remain neutral for a short period of time.

c. Haiti

(1) Also in 1914, more unrest was starting in Haiti. The possibility of European intervention brought out the United States Marines. Two Haitian presidents had been murdered and the government in Haiti collapsed. To restore order, Marines under Colonel L. W. T. Waller landed and plans were drawn for pacification of the country and re-establishment of a government. A president was elected and the Marines moved out to restore order.

(2) A group of rebels and bandits named "Cacos" had been responsible for many of Haiti's problems. They were named after a bird of prey, symbolic of how the bandits preyed on the Haitian people. The Marines were soon brought in to establish order and protect American interests. Sweeps were conducted of main cities, and the bandits were either disarmed or sent to jail.

(3) Striking back, a large force of Cacos trapped a Marine detachment in the city of Gonaives. Major Smedley Butler took the offensive, broke through the Caco defense and rescued the trapped Marines.

(4) Later, while enroute to attack a Caco fortress, Marines under Major Butler were betrayed by their guide and ambushed.

(5) As relentless attacks continued through the night, the Marines realized they needed more firepower. Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly slipped out of the Marines perimeter and through the enemy lines to retrieve a machine-gun that had been lost in the river during the first few minutes of fighting. Daly returned with the machine-gun and later won his second Medal of Honor. At daybreak, the Marines attacked. They chased the bandits from their fortress and burned it to the ground.

(6) The last bandit stronghold was a mountain fortress in the jungle, name Fort Reviere. Major Butler led his twenty-four man unit across an open area toward a drain pipe he knew led into the middle of the Caco stronghold. As the detail reached the drain pipe, they found it guarded inside by a Caco sentry. Sergeant Ross Iams and Private Gross rushed down the drain pipe, followed closely by Butler and the rest of the Marines. Moving quickly through heavy fire, Iams shot the sentry, and with Butler and Private Gross, attacked seventy bandits with pistols and knives. Soon the rest of the detachment emerged from the pipe and fierce hand-to-hand combat ensued.

(7) When the fighting ended, fifty Cacos lay dead and the fortress was in the hands of the Marines. Iams and Gross received the Medal of Honor and Major Butler was awarded his second Medal of Honor.

4. DEVELOPMENTS OF THE MARINE CORPS

a. The Marine Corps had grown quite a bit. We had implemented the field radio, motor transport, training exercise and marksmanship, but the most important development was aviation.

b. The birth of Marine Aviation began May 22, 1912 with Second Lieutenant Alfred A. Cunningham. He was the first Marine to earn naval aviation wings and the fifth naval aviator in history. Lieutenant Cunningham worked to establish Marines as aviators as well as infantrymen. He is considered the father of Marine Corps Aviation. This development has had profound influence on the shape and character of our Corps. The Marine Corps did not own any planes until September 1918.

c. In April 1917, the United States of America declared war on Germany, from political pressure after the sinking of the Lusitania. The Leathernecks would prove themselves to be more than a match of the battle hardened Germans. Patriotism across the country was high at the beginning of World War I. Recruiting posters went up, soliciting young Marines to join in the fight. A famous Marine slogan, "First to fight", made it's first appearance on Marine recruiting posters at the beginning of the war. The slogan, "First to fight", points out the fact that Marines have traditionally been in the forefront of every American was since the founding of the Corps.

d. The Marine Corps was going through dramatic changes; one of many changes was the enlistment of the first female into the ranks of our Corps. The Commandant enlisted women in the Marine Corps Reserve starting on 12 August 1918. The program was named "The Marines of Reserve (F)." Orpha Mae Johnson enlisted in the Marine Corps on 13 August 1918. Over 300 women would serve in the Marine Corps during World War I. The program was disbanded in the year of 1919 because of post-war cuts. As a result, all women were discharged.

5. THE MARINES ENTER WORLD WAR I

a. Marines in France. The Marine Corps was to undergo a drastic transformation in WWI. From a small force of anti-guerrilla fighters to a large conventional force capable of sustained combat. Showing its versatility, the Marine Corps made that changed without losing its traditional pride and fighting spirit. The Marines needed to expand simply because the Armies they would be fighting were large and experienced. We would be fighting the Central Powers made up primarily of Germany, Austria, and Hungary. Our Allies would be the British and French. Other countries would be involved but we will concentrate on these Super Powers.

(1) To outfit enough troops to cross the Atlantic Ocean with expeditionary forces in WWI, the Marine Corps had to expand its numbers dramatically. The Marines would field two brigades to fight in Europe. The Germans started using chlorine, mustard and phosgene gas on the French troops.

(2) After landing in France, the fourth Brigade took to the trenches in the spring of 198, moving into an area vacated by a French division. The Marines settled in a very quiet sector and spent 54 days learning what trench warfare was all about. By spring of 1918 the war had come to a standstill. Both sides had dug huge trench lines, some running for miles with or four sets of parallel trenches. Vast stretches of no-man's land lay between American and German lines. As the Marines soon learned, life in the trenches was boring and hazardous. Trench warfare was a hideous, nightmarish experience. Due to the horrid sanitary conditions, disease flourished. Huge rats roamed the trench lines and in no-man's land they feed on the dead.

(3) Daily artillery barrages and surprise gas attacks were not the Marines idea of fighting a war. After 54 days of this trench warfare, the Marine were pulled out and ordered to attack. They were more than ready to move out when the call came.

(4) Brigadier General Harbord, an Army General, took command of the Fourth Marine Brigade in May of 1918. Although a soldier, General Harbord was to prove a fine, capable leader and a friend of the Corps. As the Marine Brigade prepared to move, the Germans launched a mass offensive in the Aisne Region. For a while it looked like Paris was in great jeopardy of being captured by the Germans.

b. Belleau Wood. As the Marines moved to the front, they prepared to crush the German offensive at Belleau Wood that threatened Paris, but retreating French soldiers encouraged them to fall back, telling them that the advancement was impossible. In classical Marine fashion, Captain Lloyd B. Williams stated, "Retreat hell, we just got here!". As Marines took up positions along the Paris-Metz road, the Germans were fortifying positions in a wooded area known as "Bois de Belleau".

(1) By 6 June the German assault had been slowed and the Marines were poised for a counter attack. The Marines would have to push 1,200 seasoned German Imperial Infantry troops from a square mile of woods, infested with machine gun nests and fortified bunkers. In order to accomplish the mission, the Marines had to take a small hill to their direct front and a town, Bouresches, on the edge of Belleau Wood. On the morning of 6 June, the first battalion launched forward in a fierce assault, and by noon the Marines had taken the hill.

(2) As soon as the hill was secured, three more battalions set out across the wheat field that lay between the edge of Belleau Wood and the town of Bouresches. Bursts of heavy machine gun fire cut many Marines down. Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly, who had already received two Medals of Honor, was the hero of the day. As Daly lead one charge after another, across the wheat field he was heard to say, "Come on you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?" By evening the Marines had entered the woods, taken the first German defensive line and pushed the Germans out of Bouresches.

(3) The town could not have been held by the Marines except for the action of Sergeant Major John Quick, who drove and ammo truck through intense German fire to re-supply the victorious Marines. For his action, Quick won the Army Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross which he added to his personal collection of decorations that already included a Medal of Honor. For five days, the battalions pushed forward until 12 June, when the last German defensive line was broken.

(4) The woods, except for a small corner , was in the hands of the Marines. On 13 June, the Germans counterattacked, only to be repelled, as Marine sharpshooters dropped the German attackers at 400 yeards. Intensive marksmanship training paid off for the Corps. In massive assaults, the Germans kept coming behind a wall of mustard gas. The Germans were only to meet death and failure this day as the Marines refused to relinquish any ground. The Marines were given one week to rest, and then returned to eject the last few Germans from the woods on 26 June.

c. Origin of the Term "Devil Dog". The German high command classified the Marines as "Shock Troops," a classification reserved only for the finest military organizations. German soldiers came to fear the Marines, calling them fierce Teufelhunde which is German for "Devil Dog", a names which sticks to Marines to this day. Belleau Wood was in keeping with the finest of Marine Corps Traditions. (MCCS .02.04c)

(1) After Belleau Wood, the Fourth Marine Brigade suffered enormous casualties while saving Paris from the German armies. The citizens of Paris rejoiced rejoiced over the victory and treated the Marines as heroes. The French Commander ordered Belleau Woods renamed "The Woods of the Marine Brigade."

(2) The French government awarded the Fourth Marine Brigade France's highest award, the Croix de Guerre. More important than all the praise and laurels given the Marines for their efforts was the fact that the Marines had met and thoroughly defeated the troops Germany had to offer.

d. Soissons

(1) The Second Division, having been pulled out of the front lines after Belleau Wood to replenish their ranks, jumped into battle against the German offensive on the morning of 18 July 1918. On the first day, the Marines charged a mile straight into the German counter offensive. The Marines fought on, breaking the German momentum. When the Marines left the front lines they had halted the last major German offensive of the war. The Fourth Marine Brigade, composed of the fifth and sixth Marine Regiments, won its second Croix de Guerre for its actions Soissons. A long rest was due to the Marine Brigade at this time.

e. Blanc Mont

(1) When the French attack on the German position in front of Blanc Mont reached a standstill, an appeal was made to the Marine Corps. Major General Lejeune, also known as the 13th Commandant of the Marine COrps, was the first Marine officer ever to command an Army division in combat, in France during WWI 1918. He volunteered to attack the Germans, provided the Second Division be used as a whole unit, not piecemeal and detached out as it had previously been employed. (MCCS .02.02c)

(2) Coming to a battlefield that had borne hard fighting for several months, the Marines drew no comfort from their first observation of the front. The Second Division assaulted Blanc Mont along a three mile front on 3 October and entered four days of bitter fighting and heavy losses. The Third and Fourth Brigades attacked with a mile of open front between them. The Fourth Brigade went over the top at 5:50 AM on the 5th of October. The sixth regiment was in the lead and the fifth waited in reserve. The sixth regiment advanced and with companies on line, it was again rifles, bayonets, and grenades against artillery and machine guns.

f. The French Fourragere

(1) The leading battalion died punching through the German lines and outposts, but two others were astride Blanc Mont two hours after the attack began.

(2) For the Blanc Mont Battle, the Fifth and Sixth Marine Regiments received their third unit Croix de Guerre. Three Croix de Guerres' entitle the unit to wear the French Fourragere, a green and red braided rope, to be worn around the left shoulder.

g, Units Allowed to Wear the French Fourragere

(1) Currently the only Marine units allowed to wear the French Fourragere are the Fifth and Sixth Marine Regiments. The Fifth Marines are located at Camp Pendleton, California and the Sixth Marines are located at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

(2) Brought once more to full strength by replacements, the Fourth Brigade moved from its rest area to the front lines again. In terms of martial glory, the Brigade had nothing left to prove. (MCCS .02.03c)

(3) During the last days of the war, the Marines continued to attack, driving German defenders from the heights of Blanc Mont to the heavily defended Argon Forest. The last night of the war, 10 November 1918, Marines were preparing to attack across the Mousse and established a bridgehead southeast of Sedan. at 0400, on 11 November, the Marines cross the Mousse and attacked. Later that morning, the armistice was signed; the war was over.

6. MAIL GUARDS

a. in 1921, robberies and fraud beset the U. S. Mail. President Harding was forced to call out the Marines. By Presidential Order, Marines were dispatched to post offices, railroad stations, postal trucks and trains.

b. Marines were ordered to shoot to kill. For four months the Marines guarded the mail and not one piece of mail was lost. Again in 1926, Marines were sent to guard the mail and, as in in 1921, Marines achieved the same results.

7. BETWEEN THE WARS

a. Nicaragua, a small country in central America, had continuously been in turmoil for several years. In 1927 it entered U.S. history for the first time. As violence spread, Marines of the Second Brigade were sent in to perform as they had in Haiti and the Dominican Republic several years earlier. The ground unit of the brigade was the Fifth Regiment of WWI fame.

b. Nicaragua gave the Marines something of tremendous value; jungle fighting experience. The small unit tactics and lessons learned in Nicaragua would prove useful in the years to come.

c. Chief among these would be an appreciation of automatic weapons in infantry combat, the need for effective communications in poor terrain, proper supply planning and troop training indoctrination, along with patrolling and ambush tactics. For the first time the serious study of the amphibious assault was undertaken. The result of this study would be the Manual for Landing Operations.

d. During this same period the concept of close air support was implemented for the first time. From its first inception under Captain A. A. Cunningham, Marine aviation in WWI was used in support of naval missions.

e. Although aircraft had been used in support of infantry to a limited extent, the Marines in Nicaragua developed a firm foundation for close air support. As Marines were caught in ambushes, Marines pilots learned to dive and strafe enemy positions to relieve pressure, drop messages and supplies, and evacuate wounded.

f. During one attack on January 1, 1928, Lieutenant C. F. Schilt, flying an 02U-1 Corsair biplane, made ten landings and takeoffs on the main street of Quilalis bringing in supplies and taking out wounded under heavy enemy fire. When he landed, his plane had to be stopped by a squad of Marines because it had no brakes. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. Although the use of Marine Air support would be expanded in future years, it received a great deal of practical experimentation in the jungles of Nicaragua.

g. Several individuals who would rise to prominence in later years served here. Chief among these would be Lewis B. Puller and "Red Mike" Edson. The Marines spent much of their time pacifying the countryside and protecting the peasants.

8. AMPHIBIOUS DEVELOPMENT

a. During the 1920's the Advance Base Concept was being studied as the future role of the Marine Corps. To lend credence to the Advanced Base Concept and to remove the word "expeditionary" used to describe Marine forces in the field, General Russell established the Fleet Marine Force.

b. Lieutenant Colonel Ellis, a progressive thinker, was preparing ideas that were 20 years ahead of his time. Ellis predicted a war with Japan; one in which we would have to project our forces across the Pacific. Over the next several years, amphibious assaults were conducted with varying degrees of success.

c. In 1927 the "Joint Action Army, Navy Publication" came out. These orders set down the amphibious responsibilities that would be later outlined in the National Security Act of 1947. "To provide and maintain forces for land operations in support of the fleet for the initial seizure or defense of advanced naval bases."

d. For the next few years, several important developments would take place, contributing to the successful completion of our mission during World War II and our designation as an amphibious force.

(1) The charter for the Fleet Marine Force was published as General Order 241 setting down the guidelines for command and administrative relationships between the U. S. Naval Fleet and the newly formed Fleet Marine Force.

(2) Publication of the Marine Manual for Landing Operations" established the first guidelines for conducting amphibious operations.

(3) Development of the Higgins boat, as the first really successful landing craft for combat, allowed Marines to conduct amphibious operations easier with greater success. As the years leading up to World War II remained quiet, amphibious training continued. This training contributed immensely to the success of Marines in World War II.

9. MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY TRADITIONS

a. Every year on November 10, we celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday be recognizing the following traditions:

(1) Troop formation to include parades when practical and the reading of General John Lejeune's birthday message.

(2) Social observance to include the traditional cake cutting ceremony.

(3) Recognition of the oldest and youngest Marine present. (MCCS .02.07a)

REFERNCE

1. Marine Corps Drill and Ceremonies Manual (MCO P5060.20_)

2. Marine Corps Values: A User's Guide for Discussion Leaders (MCRP 6-11B w/Ch1)