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Leathernecks: An Illustrated History of the United States Marine Corps

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If you google "Books - Marine Corps", they provide "about 286,000 listings in 0.19 seconds." So does the world need yet one more book describing Marines heroics since 1775? The answer is a resounding YES !! if the book is as good as this one.

When one walks around the Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington, D.C. he or she is treated to a history of the Marine Corps when reading the inscribed battles... the French & Indian Wars...the Boxer Rebellion...Belleau Wood...Guadalcanal...Fallujah. Authors Merrill Bartlett and Jack Sweetman have collaborated to give us the same tour around the Memorial, but with all 233 years of Marine lore added as background to those storied battles.

The difference between this book and the many others is both the depth of detail and its readability. Finding the balance between an academic treatise and an ooh-rah flag-waver, the authors present not only the Corps battle history, but the equally important story of the men who built it. Traditions are not created overnight, but are earned over generations; a fact of which the authors remind the reader with 280+ old photos, maps, and illustrations, many published for the first time.

While the casual reader likely knows of the Marine Corps 10 November 1775 founding, it's Bartlett and Sweetman's "Leathernecks" that provides the background information that the 10 Nov. act of Congress chartering the Marines "...that two battalions of Marines be raised..." was in response to a petition by the residents of Passamaquoddy, Nova Scotia who wanted to join the newly independent United States - and these same Marines were to be used to capture the British Naval base at Halifax.

While Marine Corps lore in recent years has been built on such land-locked fights at Chosin, Khe Sanh, or An-Nasiriyah, prominent naval historian Jack Sweetman has teamed with Marine historian Skip Bartlett in a way that emphasizes the sea roots of America's pre-eminent sea service. Describing the first landing (and victory) of the Continental Marines back in March 1776, when an eight ship convoy sailed to seize Nassau, The Bahamas. The Marines captured "fifty-eight cannon, fifteen mortars, more than sixteen thousand shot and shell...," as well as establishing a tradition for those hard-chargers following: the Bahamas governor complained that the Marines "helped themselves to his liquor."

Drawing on a collection of rare photographs and illustrations from the depths of Marine and private archives, authors Bartlett and Sweetman personalize the early days of the Marine Corps that makes one understand the institution today. For example, in addition to describing the April 1914 battle in Veracruz, Mexico, they have a picture of LtCol Wendell Neville, Col John Lejeune, Col Littleton Waller, Maj Smedley Butler, and Maj Randolph Berkley; all China, Philippine, and Cuba hands, sitting together on a Mexican veranda: Butler-two Medals of Honor, Lejeune and Neville -commandants, Waller -twice lost the commandant's position due to politics...what Marine today would not want to discuss counter-insurgency with these men? If it is the institutional ethos that drives the operational, it is fair to say that this was the generation - and these were the Marines - who were responsible for the birth of both.

The authors make considerable effort to present the personalities behind the battles, many of which were fought in the halls of Congress. Shortly after Gen. Alexander Vandergrift (aided by the familiar names of BrigGen Merritt Edson, LtCol Victor "Brute" Krulak, and Col Merrill Twining) beat back President Truman's and the Army's 1946 plan to phase out the Marine Corps, Gen Vandergrift tasked LtGen Roy Geiger and future commandant Gen Lemuel Shepherd to analyze amphibious warfare in the atomic age. Their report initiated the movement of the Marine Corps into "Vertical Envelopment" - helicopter assaults - which was the beginning of a doctrine that the Corps saw as the key to its future. Battles are easy to analyze, it is the men who fight the battle that make or break the story - or the battle - and authors Bartlett and Sweetman present both superbly.

"Leathernecks" ends with a discussion of the war on terror, with emphasis on the current fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. The battles and counter-insurgency operations are discussed candidly and accurately, no small feat in the middle of on-going operations.

There is an old adage to the effect of the world being divided into two groups: those who are Marines and those who wish they were Marines - and after reading "Leathernecks", both groups will understand why the adage is true; this is simply one of the finest illustrated histories of the Marine Corps published.

There have been histories of the U.S. Marine Corp before. But "Leathernecks: An Illustrated History Of The United States Marine Corps" is particularly outstanding because of its thoroughly 'reader friendly' narrative style and enhancements with historic black/white photographs, maps, and full color artwork illustrations. Deftly co-authored by Merrill L. Bartlett (a Marine officer for twenty years) and military historian Jack Sweetman, "Leathernecks" provides an especially informed and informative historical overview of the Marines from their origins, to their establishment as part of America's colonial fighting forces, through the 19th and 20th century American conflicts, down to the present day. Enhanced with an extensive bibliography for further studies on and about Marine Corp history, as well as a comprehensive index, "Leathernecks" is a highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library American Military History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Merrill Bartlett and Jack Sweetman have put together a wonderful coffee-table book on the History of the United States Marine Corps from its inception in 1775 through January 2008. The authors break the history of the Marine Corps into significant eras, with each chapter covering the strategic context of international relations at the time; major operations or campaigns of the era; Medal of Honor winners; who served as Commandant and that individual's significant contributions to the Marine corps; and also any major public law changes in that era. Each chapter is supported with full color artwork, ranging from reproductions of famous paintings, to photographs of Marines in action. Most chapters include 1-2 charts to help depict the tactical layout for significant battles.

The United States did not create the concept of marines, but drew upon centuries of experience to first formulate the Continental Marines. The first chapter of the book chronicles the history of how infantrymen were used aboard ships in ancient times. Bartlett and Sweetman describe the employment of marines during the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC, the first naval campaign in recorded history. The authors then follow the progression of foreign marine employment through the early 18th century.

Bartlett and Sweetman begin the Continental Marine history with the sortie of Captain Gilbert Saltonstall and his 30 Marines aboard the USS Trumbull. Drawing from personal correspondence and diaries, the authors recreate the first-person account of the Marines first combat in the American War of Independence. Off to a great start, Bartlett and Sweetman follow each of the Marine campaigns of the Revolution.

As with all wars, the United States cashed in a "Peace Dividend" following the Revolution and disbanded the Navy. The Barbary powers on the coast of North Africa forced the American hand by demanding excessive tributes, and the Navy Act of 1794 called for the acquisition of six frigates to counter this foreign threat. Bartlett and Sweetman do an outstanding job of highlighting the foreign policy challenges of these interwar years, where America fought a Quasi-War with France; fought Barbary pirates; and edged closer to reinitiating hostilities with England which culminated in the War of 1812. All during this time, the Marines served with distinction during campaigns in North Africa, Florida, and numerous islands in the Caribbean. Bartlett and Sweetman also do an outstanding job of highlighting icons of Marine Corps history, such as the presentation of the Mameluke sword to Captain Presley O'Bannon, which is still carried today by Marine Corps officers.

"Leathernecks" masterfully weaves progression of commandants, from the very first, Captain Samuel Nicholas, though General James Conway, the commandant in 2009. Bartlett and Sweetman put each of their tenures into context, and in most instances identify the other nominees for that prestigious post. In many instances, the authors identify significant contributions of the commandants, such as the wholesale replacement of infantry weaponry under General Shoup. Bartlett and Sweetman also identify some of the public image problems such as the public intoxication of Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Gale, who was relieved from duty and later died in obscurity in rural Kentucky. Luckily, there are very few of these blemishes in Marine Corps history.

The distinguished tradition of the Marines begins with these very humble beginnings. The book follows the evolution of Marine Corps employment from defending ships from boarding parties, through the over the beach amphibious assaults perfected during World War II. The authors do an outstanding job of providing the reader with an excellent summary for each of these eras of Marine Corps history.

There are a few minor errors, such as associating Air Force aircraft designators with the wrong name ("F-15C Fighting Falcon" instead of the F-16C) during the description of the rescue of Captain Scott O'Grady in Kosovo. You will not find a better book providing a summary of the Marines. This book is a must-have for any reader who enjoys reading about the Marines.