Customer Reviews

Marine Corps Book Of Lists

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If you are in the market for a reference source for almost anything related to the U. S. Marine Corps, this book is for you. It covers the Corps from its founding up through the Gulf War. The scope of the book is vast, including everything from organization, battles, famous characters, slang, medal of honor winners etc. Some of the lists are subjective, such as the 10 most influential Marines of all time, but most of the information provided is factual in nature. Some famous myths are disputed in the book as well. I would have liked to have seen a list of former Marines who became executives in industry, but this was the one list not in the book. One of the more off-beat pieces of information is a brief list of prominent people who were Marines but aren't the first to come to mind when thinking of former Marines. Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Greenjeans clearly fit into this category. In sum, this book is more useful as a reference source than as a book to read for pleasure.

I have had this book for years. It has never, ever gotten old. When I am bored, wired, stressed, I pick this little baby up and just flip through it. There are lists for all occasions, and it is funny without trying to be. Anybody who has ever been in the Corps, or loved the Corps from afar or way up close should own this book. You will enver memorize it all, and even for a guy like me who never seems to get around to re-reading a book I never tire of it and will cherish it for years. Seriousley, it sits beside my bed and is one of the "grab" items in case of fire.

Semper Fi Mac,

Ted

This is an interesting book filled with tons of information about the corps that could keep you occupied for hours. For marines or marine hopefuls, this complilation can provide some interesting history or bizarre information about the greatest military force in the world, that will both fascinate and entertain.

A Marine Corps quick-referance for all!

For a short book its jam-packed with all manner of useful information that has inspired me to head out to the library or book-store on occassions too numerous to list. As a reference book, it contains all manner of pertinent facts & figures of both the modern and historical United States Marine Corps. At any given time, a casual perusal of this tome has turned into two hours, especially on a rainy day.

You will not find detailed and lengthy historical or documentary accounts in here. If that were the case, this book would be a multi-volume encyclopedia of several thousand pages of major and minor, or even rather obscure Marine Corps lore. Consider it as a guide to further research.

A sample of whats inside (14 chapters):
-Data on the modern U.S.M.C. (units, personnel, organization, etc. ...as of 1996)
-Wars, battles, landings, and missions in Marine Corps history.
-Emminent personalities amongst the Marines.
-Comparison to foriegn marine units.
-Medal of Honor recipients and other decorated Marines.

The sub-headings in the 14 chapters are quite vast, a treasure-trove of interesting facts! Here are some things that stand out:

P. 127: -Five Notable Marine Raiders and Parachutists
-Japanese destroyers sunk by the Marine defenders of Wake Island
-Two Marines who rescued the enemy (these guys were Japanese-language experts who communicated with the enemy on Saipan or Okinawa, to encourage them to surrender).

Chapter 9: U.S.M.C. Commandants to 1996

P. 147-148 -Some tales of Marines being Marines:
-Jan 1944: A naval weather-station in Mongolia, staffed by Marines, Navy, and Coast-Guard personnel, and about 600 Mongol horsemen. The Marines led this motley crew on several raids against Japanese units and facilities!
-Aug 1945: A "naval-battle" in which a mixed force of Marines, Navy, and Chinese engaged the Japanese in old-fashioned boarding and close-quarters fighting, ...with all sides sailing in wooden junks!

P. 152: Eight hoary old Marine Corps legends that are not true:
...I'll add a 9th "legend" that should be in here (you'd be amazed how many people REALLY believe this):

"Walt Disney was a Marine, and was dishonorably discharged in WW1"

...NO he wasn't! Disney was NEVER a Marine!
He NEVER even served in ANY branch of the military!
...He DID lie about his age to serve in the Red Cross as a CIVILIAN ambulance-driver.
He got to France just in time for the Armistice...
...Go look it up!

P. 160: Three Major 20th. Century Military Techniques Developed by the United States Marine Corps:
1. Amphibious Warfare
2. Close air-support
3. Vertical-envelopment
...Thats THREE out of NINE!

Sir Winston Churchill: A great advocate and admirer of the U.S.M.C.!

P. 172: Two dozen Marines who ought to be better known:
Lets multiply this list even more!

P. 178: Notable American soldiers and sailors who were boosters of the Marine Corps:
-Admiral Chester Nimitz! "Uncommon valor was a common virtue..."

P. 179: A dozen prominent Americans who were not fond of the Marine Corps:
-These are mostly a list of snide politicians and army generals who hated
the Marines (MacArthur and Truman, etc.)
-It pains me greatly that Theodore Roosevelt (of all people) is on this
list (though he didn't "hate" the Marine Corps, he just wanted them
incorporated into the army...

...If this book is revised and updated, I would like to see a list of those noble Marines (such as General "Red Mike" Edson) who so ably defended the Marine Corps right to exist, during the infamous "unification hearings". Its because of them that the U.S.M.C. STILL PREVAILS and ENDURES!

SEMPER FIDELIS!

This book is good if you like Marine Corps trivia. Written several years ago, it is dated in some things, but is a fun referernce book. We bought it for our son who is a new Marine and he is enjoying quizzing his friends and learning new details. I wish there was an updated version, but this is great anyway.

This is an amazing book of statistics! Some poor guy locked himself in a small, windowless room with records dating up to before the founding of the Marine Corps -for who knows how long- and compiled this behemoth. It contains countless statistics, lists, and enough bizarre, useless information to keep you entertained for hours. Of course, most of this information is completely useless, but still fascinating. I would recommend it for anyone with entirely too much time on their hands.