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Carlson's Raid: The Daring Marine Assault on Makin Paperback – July 1, 2003

by George W. Smith (Author)

14 customer reviews

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Led by Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson, the 2nd Marine Raider commandos were the celebrated "Gung Ho Battalion." In August 1942, as a diversion to the invasion of Guad-alcanal, the 219 Raiders traveled 2,000 miles by submarine to Makin Atoll. In one of the most daring attacks of World War II, they caused substantial damage to the Japanese-before making a nightmarishly hazardous withdrawal.

To an America badly in need of heroes, Carlson's Raid was the answer to a prayer. But the raid's long-term consequences were bloodier than anyone could have imagined. And, ultimately, the controversial Carlson's high profile would be his undoing.

This is the full story of that daring mission, its unforeseen consequences, and the decision made when the fighting was toughest-kept secret for fifty years-that would have brought a far different conclusion to the famous Makin Raid.

Carlson's Raid: The Daring Marine Assault on Makin

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About the Author

George W. Smith recently retired after 25 years with the Hartford Courant. He is the author of The Siege at Hue.

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade; Complete Numbers Starting with 1, 1st Ed edition (July 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425190196
ISBN-13: 978-0425190197
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.8 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 14 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,693,688 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #762 in Books > History > Military > Regiments
- #23393 in Books > History > Military > World War II

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Flawed hero

ByJohn Readon March 15, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The raid on the Gilbert Islands' Makin atoll by Evans Carlson's 2nd Raider Battalion was a victory at a time when the U.S. desperately needed land victories. It came at a time when the expansion of the Japanese Empire was at a peak. The U.S. Navy had beaten the Imperial Navy badly at Midway, but the Japanese soldier was seen as almost supernaturally skilled in jungle fighting after invasions in the Philippines, Indochina, Malaya, etc. The issue was still greatly in doubt at Guadalcanal, where the 1st Marines were barely hanging on.

Carlson was regarded with envy and suspicion by the USMC hierarchy. He was seen as President Roosevelt's pet and given undue credit for his exploits with the Chinese Communist Route Army in previous years. In fact, he was thought by some to have Commie leanings. Carlson's battalion was issued the latest and best equipment when the Marines on Guadalcanal were using WW I-era rifles and had been suffering from extreme resupply problems. F.D.R.'s son James was Carlson's Executive Officer.

Although the raid was eventually successful, it did not go smoothly at all. Carlson proved to be less adept at maneuvering his men than expected, and had great difficulty extracting the battalion at the end of the process. At one point, he considered surrendering and actually sent a note to the enemy to that effect. The note was found by the Japanese military, and provided Tokyo Rose with devastating material even though Carlson had annihilated the Japanese garrison.

A bit later, Carlson had a chance to redeem himself in the Long Patrol on Guadalcanal, which was much more suited to his mindset and experience in fighting guerrilla-style behind enemy lines. His Raiders were able to outflank the Japanese and give substantial relief to the Marine perimeter at Henderson Field. However, Carlson's subsequent glory infuriated Merritt Edson, leader of the 1st Raider Battalion, who had fought furious battles already on Guadalcanal in defense of the Henderson perimeter. Carlson was "kicked upstairs", his 2nd Ranger Battalion was disbanded, and his teachings about fighting an asymmetric war were lost.

In the end, the Makin raid proved to be counterproductive. It alerted the Japanese that they were vulnerable in the Gilberts, and they heavily fortified their installations, which made the next year's landings at Tarawa much more difficult than they might have been. However, in 1943, the Makin exploit was made into a propaganda-style movie, "Gung-Ho", starring Randolph Scott as Carlson, that glossed over the negative aspects of the raid. At least, Carlson got to serve as a technical adviser for the movie.

The book was a careful and fascinating description of the desperation, disorder, and heroism of the first year of WW II for the United States.

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Enjoyed this book

ByJakeon November 27, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Excellent book, well written and very detailed.

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Well Written Account of a Forgotten yet Exciting Action in the Pacific War

ByRodney J. Szaszon July 26, 2006

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Smith is a pretty good writer for this style of book, essentially a regimental history. That genre, though used as source material is particularly excrable in writing style. But Smith pulls of a masterly work which could be claim of larger and more campaign-centred histories.

The essentials of Carlson's biography set up the mission requirements and the advent of this particularly class-less based fighting unit in WWII. Carlson has attracted a lot of controversy in life and death with his commando concept for the marines. In other countries such a figure as Carlson -- brash, socialist, schooled in guerrilla warfare by basically travelling with Mao's troops in pre-WWII China -- would not attract such attention. But the US with its particularly ideological slant on the world, anti-collectivist attitude, and mere fact that the US Marine Corps is perhaps one of the most conservative of institutions, it was inevitable that a man who believed in mythic leadership -- the notion that leaders lead by example -- would get under the skins of conservatives, turf defenders and those advocates of grander strategies.

Smith did not really cover too much of Carlson's ideology except to stated that he was no communist, but something worse -- "a socialist with a genuine fear of God." Such a man with a mission was dangerous in established institutions and went very far for the same reason a Orde Wingate -- he was a soldier that fights.

The book should be standard reading for any special operations person and tells the value of not only preparation, but how even the best laid plans can, and often will, go astray. Many people found fault in Carlson. I found his ability to improvise to be quirky and inspiring. I also found the fact that the raiders were not expecting snipers in trees also a glaring fault in their training.

I do not think there is much to be gained in arguing over the military value of the raid. It was paltry. Not even a blip on the screen of combat that presaged and followed. But it was a test run of a daring concept.

The value of the raider concept for combat in WWII is more controversial. There are those that argue you get greater bang for your buck by integrating these fighting men into traditional combat units. Certainly this was proved with the British-Commonwealth Commando raiding concept. It was also proved in Burma where clearly Orde Wingate's Chindits would have been better employed as a traditional British line divisions.

I like the book and rate it highly. I think it highly ironic that in 1943 the raider concept was ultimately crushed by the Marine "forces that be" and their units integrated into regular Marine Divisions. This contrasts with the obscene plethora of troops in the US Armed Forces who regard themselves as "Special Forces" -- to such a degree that the term has beome largely meaningless.