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The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told: Unforgettable Stories of Courage, Honor, and Sacrifice

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The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told is a collection of 23 stories about the United States Marine Corps, each telling a tale of bravery and courage. They covered the span of the entire history of the USMC, and touched upon every major war the USMC engaged in from Tripoli to Iraq. Of course, there are plenty of World War II stories, they are why this review is here.

Some people simplify the Marines as a group of mindless trained killing machines. "Retreat? Hell, we just got here!" Famous quotes such as this one only reinforce that myth. This book presents otherwise. Throughout training and service, Marines were brought up with the history of the USMC, each taking heart stories of predecessors, and each striving to do better. Thus, in addition to being warriors, they are also historians. The understanding that they will always lead the way into the toughest battles does not make them simple killers; instead, it makes them effective decision makers and leaders.

This leads into yet another misconception of the USMC, one that the Marines wish for war. The truth is that they resent violence as much as anyone, for they are, beneath their uniforms, just like anyone else. The difference is that when the Marines are presented war, they will do their duty unquestioningly, and they will do their best. In journalist Robert Sherrod's chapter, "Tarawa-The First Day", he observed Marines shaking from fear as they waited their turn to storm the Tarawa beach; but yet, when a landing vehicle approached their boat, with the vehicle boss yelling "Quick! Half you men get in here. They need help bad on the beach", the same men who were just shaking from fear moments ago scrambled without hesitation. This theme echoes in nearly all of the stories in this book, connecting the seemingly independent chapters. Each story presents an otherwise ordinary American in the face of a challenge, and each story's main character or characters rise to meet that challenge as a Marine.

While the presentation of the Marines psyche is "great", what really gives the book the "greatest" claim is the fact that nearly all the stories are first hand accounts. Russell Davis told of the colorless landscape of Peleliu from his memory, while Eugene Sledge shared his experiences of the war-torn but yet still scenic Okinawa. The stories are "greatest" because they are personal. "History remembers the wounded men as numbers", Sledge wrote as he explained how the casualty statistics do not simply disappear at the end of the war. He spoke of his buddy whose wounds pained him for life, eventually leading to a hip replacement, and of another who lost his leg so that he needed help just to go to the bathroom. The personal manner that the stories are presented in truly makes them the "greatest" stories ever told.

"Each person's life, if truthfully told, would make a great story", said Ernest Hemingway; sure the 23 stories in this book are not exactly life stories, but perhaps they can collectively be considered the life story of the model Marine of the United States Marine Corps. If there is one great biography of this Marine, perhaps The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told is it.

Any who would read live-action, heart-stopping military stories needs The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told, an outstanding re-enactment of some of the greatest Marine battles in history. From the battles of the War of 1812 and struggles during the Mexican-American war to more modern times, these stories of sacrifice and courage come from a range of Marine eyewitness accounts and make for an outstanding, action-packed presentation of experience perfect not only for military holdings, but for general-interest libraries.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This book is a "MUST READ" for Marine Corps enthusiasts. It covers USMC history from Presley O'Bannon and the "Shores of Tripoli" to the "Halls of Montezuma" and up to Kuwait and Iraq. They are GREAT stories, well told, and well documented. A hearty recommendation.

The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told

This book was a very enjoyable read. Given fair warning in Colonel J.H. Alexander's introduction, I knew I wasn't going to get to read all the good Corps stories, but the ones presented were definitely worthwhile.

The twenty-three stories presented here span the entire history of the Marine Corps. To break them down, there are seven pre-20th Century, one from WWI, nine from WWII, one Korean War, four from Vietnam, one Desert Storm, and one from Iraqi Freedom.

The stories from the first 125 or so years do a very good job of laying the groundwork for an understanding of Marine pride, ethos, and courage. While Marines had served with valor during the American Revolution, it was Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon's expedition "to the shores of Tripoli" that provide one of the early highlights of Marine Corps history. This expedition against superior forces, with U.S. Navy support not only helped immensely in the campaign against the Barbary Pirates, but served to provide Marine officers forevermore with their Mameluke swords, a treasured sidearm even today. Not the only Marine officer to provide gallant service, Lieutenant J.M. Gamble more than lived up to the original requirements for Marines, that "none shall be a Marine that he not be a qualified seaman first," when the young lieutenant took command of a captured vessel, when there were not enough naval officers to take the command.

Three more stories provide glimpses of Marines in combat during the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the American Civil War. Sergeant John H. Quick rounds out the century with his courage under not only enemy fire, but friendly fire at the same time, as he uses semaphore signals warships offshore to cease their naval gunfire support.

Many books have been written about U.S. Marines in the First World War, but the presentation here of Marines and their officers in Belleau Wood shows the chaos, horror, confusion of the combat here.

Since the Marine Corps was at its peak strength during World War II, so it follows that the bulk of the "good" stories would come from this war. About a quarter of the book is covered by the exploits of Marines in the Pacific Campaign. Guadalcanal is covered with stories of an aviator and the Grunt. Tarawa, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, bloody hells all, are featured. Two oft overlooked area of the Corps are also covered: Women and Navajo code talkers. While only a fraction of the well-known names of this conflict are presented here, these stories highlight very important points in our Corps' history. So important are these battles that when I visited Iwo Jima with E/2/2 twenty years ago, there was an unusual sense of quiet reverence in our troop berthing area.

A report by Ernie Pyle rounds out the WWII portion of the book with an interesting look at Marines. Pyle had spent most of the war with men of the U.S. Army in Africa and Europe. When he moved to the Pacific and spent time with the Marines, his expectations and the reality he met are interesting to read of. Although the Army and the Marines drew their recruits from the same basic manpower pools, and though there were similaries in their technical and tactical training, Pyle was well-placed to see that there were indeed differences between the two. His observations from his unique perspective are of value to all who would study the Corps.

A story from the Frozen Chosin provides a seque into the Corps in the Cold War era. This deadly fight illustrates two very important points in the attitude of Marines. When the Marines determined they were surrounded, the feeling was that they had the enemy right where they wanted them. On the other hand, the care and effort put into recovering their dead and wounded during the withdrawal from the Reservoir clearly shows how important it is to Marines to look after each other, either alive or dead. This concept is revisited in Hue City when more men die in the performance of what they consider their personal duty to their fellow Marines.

The battle in Hue City is one of four vignettes presented from the Vietnam era, as Marines struggle to move through that ancient city. The siege of Khe Sanh, another hallowed moment in Marine Corps history is also explored. Unlike WWII, where the American public `knew' so many Marines, there didn't seem to be as many men who the public was aware of during this war. Carlos Hathcock was one of them, a sniper extraordinaire, and some of the reasons for this are brought out as he stalks his quarry in this story.

It is indeed a shame that there are only two stories from the latter part of the 20th Century in this book, where the capture of Kuwait City and combat in Baghdad are presented. It is of course not Mr. Hamilton's fault. It is certainly not that today's Marines fight with any less courage or elan than their forefathers did. The Marines who fought against Saddam's forces to free Kuwait, or who fight even as I write this in Iraq (along side my youngest brother in the Army) and in the hills of Afghanistan instead suffer from the politicizing of their wars. The media no longer presents today's version of the old newsreels to a caring public that follows "their" Leathernecks and Dogfaces around the world. Today, political disdain and public apathy relegate these brave men and women to a level of unimportance that they do not deserve. Their exploits go unrecognized save but by a few. I find myself hoping that Mr. Hamilton continues what he has started here, and includes more of the modern stories, so that more people can learn about Marines, and possibly figure out what it is that makes us tick the way that we do.

Is it worth reading? Most assuredly! Should one have any interest in military history, or the Marine Corps in particular, then this book will be most enlightening.

T.L. Houlihan
SSGT, USMC (ret.)

This is Iain Martin's third anthology of our country's military in action. I've read Iain's Army, Navy, and now Marine Corps "Greatest Stories Ever Told," and have found each to be very rewarding in historic first-person narratives. This is a great book for anyone interested in military history, and the Marine Corps in particular. You'll want all three titles.

Donald K. Allen, DVM
author, "Tarawa - the Aftermath"

If you've got a Marine in the family, this is an ideal Father's Day, birthday, or Marine Corps birthday (November 10) gift. It is accessible, interesting and puts individual Marines at the heart of the story. Too often in schools today they teach that individuals don't make history but impersonal forces (economic trends, class, race, whatever)do; this book implicitly reminds us that individual choices do actually drive great historical events. Bravery and courage do matter and do change history. Also, too many school teachers say they "don't want to teach the wars," leaving generations in the dark about great turning points in our shared history. Does Belleau Wood or Henderson Field mean anything to you? If not, you need to read this book. It is a fast-paced, interesting read and will make you feel better once you've read it.

I bought this book for my Marine for Christmas and he loved it. It is full of wonderful stories that really capture the true essence of being a Marine--valor, courage, and camaraderie. He said it was a truly good read.

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Let me first say that I am proud to have served our nation as a U.S. Marine, and that upon finding the familiar lyrics of The Marines' Hymn following the title page, I thought this could be a great book. Then I began having concerns that it actually would be a great book; I began wondering how I'd be able to avoid sounding hopelessly biased while providing an honest review of The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told. After reading and savoring it, and with the "birthday" of the Corps (Nov 10) fast approaching, I decided I should share my thoughts--because it is a great book.

This anthology's subtitle claims it contains "unforgettable stories of courage, honor, and sacrifice," and Martin has certainly delivered. Marine Corps history is filled with countless moments that have defined the USMC as an elite fighting force, and the endurance, resiliency, valor, honor, and courage of the Corps bursts forth from this book's pages. The editor guides his readers on a tour of major and minor conflicts. We are made witnesses of unyielding Marine heroism from the Barbary Coast, to the Mexican War, and the American Civil War. We are offered a ringside seat as Marines battle through two World Wars. We are invited to accompany them to the frozen mountains of Korea, to the jungles of Vietnam, and to the sands of Iraq.

In this collection spanning some 230 years of USMC history, editor Iain C. Martin shares twenty-three accounts of the Corps as seen through the eyes of Marines, war correspondents, and historians. The book includes an introduction by retired USMC Colonel Joseph H. Alexander (senior historian on the exhibit design team for the National Museum of the Marine Corps) and features selections written by such notables as Stephen Crane, Ernie Pyle, and Medal of Honor recipient, Joe Foss.

This compilation is an ambitious attempt to capture Marine esprit de corps between the covers of a book. As one might imagine, Martin is no better suited to the task of defining that elusive Marine spirit than anyone prior, though not for a lack of effort. On page 174 of Martin's book, we learn that beloved WW2 correspondent, Ernie Pyle, once wrote, "Before I came into the field, several Marine officers asked me to try to sense just what the Marine spirit is, what is its source, and what keeps it alive." Yet, after spending time with the 7th Marines on Okinawa, even Pyle was forced to admit, "I never did find out what perpetuated it."

In his firsthand account, With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, Eugene B. Sledge offered these thoughts on what it means to be a Marine: "War is brutish, inglorious, and a terrible waste... The only redeeming factors were my comrades' incredible bravery and their devotion to each other. Marine Corps training taught us to kill efficiently and to try to survive. But it also taught us loyalty to each other -- and love. That espirit de corps sustained us." The ephemeral but ever-present essence of Marineness defies classification, categorization, and even reason. Any Marine will agree that esprit de corps cannot be precisely defined, but by gathering and presenting these brief glimpses of USMC history, Martin has nearly done so.

Much of the Marine Corps' colorful history is steeped in heroics, time-honored tradition, and unswerving devotion to duty---so much so that, at times, the stories of the Corps take on legendary proportions and the Marines in them seem larger than life. In the selections that comprise The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told, editor Iain C. Martin has gathered battlefield epics and personal insights from all periods of the USMC's history, presenting them with care, skill, and, I believe, pride. These are "unforgettable stories of courage, honor, and sacrifice," true stories that bridge the gap that so often separates history and legend.

Happy birthday, Marines, and Semper Fidelis!

Enjoyed reading about the history of unforgettable stories of courage, honor and sacrifices by Marines since the beginning of the Corps.

Seekers of military lore will get a few rewarding tales here, but on the whole, the reportage is common and sometimes banal recollections of battle. There is not a single map.

Also disconcerting is the very poor editing by the publishers--bordering on sloppy--resulting in many typos and obvious misspellings.

You'll finish this book, but it doesn't live up to the promise of its title.

John Eberhart, Houston