sorry, dogfaces. there is a difference

[John Sukey]

All I know is that if it were up to the Army to rid the Pacific islands of Japanese they would likely still be fighting. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.

Got news for you , the Marines didn't have the Pacific all to themselves.

[Bill D]

If I remember correctly, the first person killed on Iwo Jima was a Navy Seabee from Springfield, Colorado. Had to go in and be sure the jarheads could make it OK. Also, following iwo, there was some serious discussion about doing away with the marines due to their horrific losses. And as been said here, the Army made more amphibious Pacific landings than the marines. Of course, Atlantic and Mediterranian landings were noticably short of marines.

[SteveC]

Aw gee whiz fellas, you're gonna make me remind you all again how this goes: The Air Force does all the flyin', the Navy does all the sailin', the Army does all the fightin', AND THE MARINES TAKE ALL THE CREDIT!!!

[Marine A5 Sniper]

And as been said here, the Army made more amphibious Pacific landings than the marines. Of course, Atlantic and Mediterranian landings were noticably short of marines.

I seriously doubt that claim. What amfib landing did the Army make that the Marines didn't land first?

Discussions about absorbing the Marines into another branch of service wasn't due to their losses in the Pacific, it was economically driven.

jt

[Marine A5 Sniper]

Aw gee whiz fellas, you're gonna make me remind you all again how this goes: The Air Force does all the flyin', the Navy does all the sailin', the Army does all the fightin', AND THE MARINES TAKE ALL THE CREDIT!!!

And WELL DESERVED!

jt

[Bill D]

I seriously doubt that claim. What amfib landing did the Army make that the Marines didn't land first?

Discussions about absorbing the Marines into another branch of service wasn't due to their losses in the Pacific, it was economically driven.

jt

Just for starters, jt, go to the following websight and look down under the paragraph entitled "Types of Amphibious Landings".

http://www.g2mil.com/amphib-1.htm

I know you marines like to doubt claims that someone else just might have had something to do with (insert your favorite armed conflict here).

I started my illustrious military career with three years in the United States Navy. I regularly saw fresh faced brand new Marines, pumped full of BS about how tough marines are and how they were virtually invincable, go off to town on liberty. They would inverably go to a local gin joint and pick a fight with some BM3 with five or six hash marks. After it all got sorted out, the marines would end up back at sick bay to get patched up. The smart ones didn't try that again. Also, as a Navy PO2, I sometimes stood brig guard at NAF Monterey. The NAF Monterey brig normally had about six marines in attendance (incarceration) at any given time. They would go AWOL from Camp Pendleton and come to Montery to turn themselves in. If the Marines was that much damned fun, why this continuing cycle?

[Marine A5 Sniper]

Just for starters, jt, go to the following websight and look down under the paragraph entitled "Types of Amphibious Landings".

Re-read your statement. You specifically stated "the Army made more amphibious Pacific landings than the Marines", which is absolutely incorrect. Please check your facts.

No one ever said the Marine Corps was fun, as it was a tough ride. Your observation that Marines land in the brig occasionally is correct. And yes, sometimes we picked on the wrong guy. I have done that myself, and I will freely admit that some of those old Swabbies can fight like wildcats. No question about that. I am equally certain the other branches of service had some really tough guys also. I am here breathing thanks to Naval support and a bunch of fearless pilots (Navy and Marine) who saved our butts more than once. Naval Corpsmen saved many of my buddies, and walked with us through hell, step for step. I am not knocking any other branch of service, as my dad and my grandfather were in the Army (WWI & WWII). They paid their dues, too. It was US against Them, and no branch of service was immune from death. Hell, the Merchant Marines paid a price in WWII that I wouldn't wish on anyone (highest percentage of fatalities in WWII), and then got screwed by Congress after the war, and no one hardly ever mentions their sacrifice. I proudly salute them, also.

I am quite content in that I am now too old for that stupid crap; but if need be, I would go again.

jt

[TomSudz]

Each service is, rightfully, proud and each considers itself to be the best. Let's face it, they're all damned good at what they do. Back when I was at Ft. Benning, the Marines did a study on the differences and similarities of Parris Island and Ft. Benning. The results? They discovered that both were generally similar, but Parris Island was more physically demanding while Benning was more mentally challenging. At the time, Infantry OSUT played more mind games, while Marine recruits did more physical "punishment". The fact of it all is that when the services aren't busy talking smack about one another, they are the best military on the planet and I almost feel sorry for anybody that has to face them. Our Air Force and Navy to a fantastic job of moving fighting forces to any spot on the globe and supporting those forces by turning large tracts of land into smoking rubble. Our Army's Rapid Deployment Forces can be anywhere on the globe withing hours, putting airborne and air assault forces in the enemy's rear to create havoc. Light Infantry and Armored formations can move rapidly in "blitzkreig" style attacks that would have even von Manstien envious. Our Marines can launch amphibious and heli-borne assaults like no others on the planet, quickly gaining a foothold and moving inland allowing heavier forces to be offloaded and brought to bear on the enemy. Even enemies that have outnumbered us though twice about getting involved in a conflict with us. I'm proud of all of our military services, even if they can't all be the Army!

[Doug Douglass]

Well Marines, who took you to all the beaches in the Pacific? Who is QM2 Douglas Munro who lost his life and was awarded the MOH for placing his LCP between rescue boats and the attacking japanese while firing his Lewis Gun to cover a marine company pinned down trying to get off a beach on Guadalcanal? What service had more casualties in WWII as a percent of those that served? Our boot camp wasent a blood and guts ordeal but it was tough and taught us how to work as a team and to act as an individual when necessary. Semper Paratus

[Guamsst]

Oh lord, even when you don't say anything bad about the Coast Guard they want to jump in and defend themselves....LOL