Since I am a retired Army Surgeon, I obviously prefer the Army.
For the person who said "Marine Corps, It's got more tradition and more history. Plus, they kick way more ass than the Army", I have these words, some of which have been posted on other internet forums.
The US Army is 5 months older than the Marine Corps. Before the Continental Marines ever came into existence, Continental Army troops fought the Battles of Lexington and Concord, had established the siege of Boston, had captured Fort Ticonderoga and its contained military stores, and had invaded Canada.
The Continental Marine Corps went out of existence in 1783. The US Marine Corps came into existence in 1798. There is a 15 year period in this country's history in which no Marine Corps ever existed to kick anyone's ass. The Army never went out of existence.
I recently watched the opening of "Battle History of the US Marines" on History International, something authored by a Marine Lieutenant Colonel. It was stated that a Battalion of Continental Marines crossed the Delaware with George Washington and fought in the Battle of Trenton.
Trenton was, in my opinion, the most significant victory in this country's history. The Continental Marines DID NOT fight at Trenton. That Marine Battalion was assigned to Cadwalader's Brigade of Philadelphia Militia. Cadwalader's Brigade was supposed to dross the Delaware, take up positions south of Assunpink Creek, and block the Hessian retreat. Because of conditions on the Delaware, Cadwalader's Brigade never got across the Delaware.
This is for Robert Coram who has written a recent biography of General Victor Krulak. In that book Mr. Coram makes a statement about the Army jumping on Marine Corps lily pads and claiming them for the Army.
The Marine Corps Hymn opens with the words, "From the Halls of Montezuma". This refers to Winfield Scott's capture of Mexico City in the Mexican War. Many Marines, Marine admirers claim the Marines spearheaded that campaign.
Winfield Scott developed the plan for landing troops in Mexico, capturing Vera Cruz, and then marching on Mexico City. A force of 12,000 soldiers landed on March 9, 1847, the first large scale amphibious operation in US Military History, and established the siege of Vera Cruz. Vera Cruz capitulated on March 29, 1847. Winfield Scott then marched into Mexico with approximately 9,000 Soldiers. On April 18, 1847, Scott's Soldiers routed a fortified, numerically superior Mexican force at the Battle of Cerro Gordo. Scott then proceeded to Puebla.
At Puebla, Scott had to release thousands of troops, volunteers whose enlistments had expired. Scott waited at Puebla for reinforcements. Reinforcements included one Battaliopn of Marines numbering fewer than 400 officers and men. The Marine Battalion was assigned to Quitman's 4th Division.
Scott advanced on Mexico City with a force of between 12,000 and 13,000 men. Scott's Soldiers fought three battles before Mexico City, Contreras on August 19-20 1847, Churubusco on April 20, 1847 and El Molino del Rey on September 6, 1847, a particularly bitter battle in which Scott's soldiers defeated a numerically superior Mexican force. While Soldiers fought these battles, Quitman's Division, including the Marines, guarded Supply wagons.
Scott brought Quitman's Division forward for the assault on Chapultepec. Pillows Division, supported by units of Worth's Division, was to make the main assault. Quitman's Division was to make a supporting attack. In the assault on Chapultepec, Quitman's Division, including the Marines, was stopped short of the fortress. The Marine Battalion remained stopped outside of Chapultepec for the duration of the assault. Soldiers from Quitman's Division, from Pillow's Division and from Worth's Division were the infantry that scaled the walls, fought the garrison, and took the fortress.
After the fall of Chapultepec, Quitman pushed his Division, including the Marines down the Belen causeway and captured the Belen gate. Worth's Division captured the San Cosme gate. One company of Marines accompanied Worth.
After those gates fell, Worth and Quitman advanced into the city. Quitman's Division took the formal surrender of the city(which had been negotiated by Army Lieutenant P.G.T. Beauregard). Army General Worth took down the Mexican flag at the National Palace. A Marine then hoisted the American Flag.
Trenton and "The Halls of Montezuma" are examples of the Marine Corps embellishing its history by jumping on Army lily pads and claiming them for its own. I call it particularly obnoxious that Marines will claim that the Marine Corps spearheaded the campaign for Mexico City. Regardless of any opinion on the Mexican War, that was one of the most remarkable campaigns in military history, and it was an Army show, from start to finish. Marine Corps participation was incidental and insignificant to the outcome.
Now for some fighting words. Marines have called the Marine Corps legendary. Claiming credit for fighting in battles in which a service played little to no role is not the stuff of legend. I would call it more like the stuff of stolen valor.
For the person who said "Marine Corps, It's got more tradition and more history. Plus, they kick way more ass than the Army", I have these words, some of which have been posted on other internet forums.
The US Army is 5 months older than the Marine Corps. Before the Continental Marines ever came into existence, Continental Army troops fought the Battles of Lexington and Concord, had established the siege of Boston, had captured Fort Ticonderoga and its contained military stores, and had invaded Canada.
The Continental Marine Corps went out of existence in 1783. The US Marine Corps came into existence in 1798. There is a 15 year period in this country's history in which no Marine Corps ever existed to kick anyone's ass. The Army never went out of existence.
I recently watched the opening of "Battle History of the US Marines" on History International, something authored by a Marine Lieutenant Colonel. It was stated that a Battalion of Continental Marines crossed the Delaware with George Washington and fought in the Battle of Trenton.
Trenton was, in my opinion, the most significant victory in this country's history. The Continental Marines DID NOT fight at Trenton. That Marine Battalion was assigned to Cadwalader's Brigade of Philadelphia Militia. Cadwalader's Brigade was supposed to dross the Delaware, take up positions south of Assunpink Creek, and block the Hessian retreat. Because of conditions on the Delaware, Cadwalader's Brigade never got across the Delaware.
This is for Robert Coram who has written a recent biography of General Victor Krulak. In that book Mr. Coram makes a statement about the Army jumping on Marine Corps lily pads and claiming them for the Army.
The Marine Corps Hymn opens with the words, "From the Halls of Montezuma". This refers to Winfield Scott's capture of Mexico City in the Mexican War. Many Marines, Marine admirers claim the Marines spearheaded that campaign.
Winfield Scott developed the plan for landing troops in Mexico, capturing Vera Cruz, and then marching on Mexico City. A force of 12,000 soldiers landed on March 9, 1847, the first large scale amphibious operation in US Military History, and established the siege of Vera Cruz. Vera Cruz capitulated on March 29, 1847. Winfield Scott then marched into Mexico with approximately 9,000 Soldiers. On April 18, 1847, Scott's Soldiers routed a fortified, numerically superior Mexican force at the Battle of Cerro Gordo. Scott then proceeded to Puebla.
At Puebla, Scott had to release thousands of troops, volunteers whose enlistments had expired. Scott waited at Puebla for reinforcements. Reinforcements included one Battaliopn of Marines numbering fewer than 400 officers and men. The Marine Battalion was assigned to Quitman's 4th Division.
Scott advanced on Mexico City with a force of between 12,000 and 13,000 men. Scott's Soldiers fought three battles before Mexico City, Contreras on August 19-20 1847, Churubusco on April 20, 1847 and El Molino del Rey on September 6, 1847, a particularly bitter battle in which Scott's soldiers defeated a numerically superior Mexican force. While Soldiers fought these battles, Quitman's Division, including the Marines, guarded Supply wagons.
Scott brought Quitman's Division forward for the assault on Chapultepec. Pillows Division, supported by units of Worth's Division, was to make the main assault. Quitman's Division was to make a supporting attack. In the assault on Chapultepec, Quitman's Division, including the Marines, was stopped short of the fortress. The Marine Battalion remained stopped outside of Chapultepec for the duration of the assault. Soldiers from Quitman's Division, from Pillow's Division and from Worth's Division were the infantry that scaled the walls, fought the garrison, and took the fortress.
After the fall of Chapultepec, Quitman pushed his Division, including the Marines down the Belen causeway and captured the Belen gate. Worth's Division captured the San Cosme gate. One company of Marines accompanied Worth.
After those gates fell, Worth and Quitman advanced into the city. Quitman's Division took the formal surrender of the city(which had been negotiated by Army Lieutenant P.G.T. Beauregard). Army General Worth took down the Mexican flag at the National Palace. A Marine then hoisted the American Flag.
Trenton and "The Halls of Montezuma" are examples of the Marine Corps embellishing its history by jumping on Army lily pads and claiming them for its own. I call it particularly obnoxious that Marines will claim that the Marine Corps spearheaded the campaign for Mexico City. Regardless of any opinion on the Mexican War, that was one of the most remarkable campaigns in military history, and it was an Army show, from start to finish. Marine Corps participation was incidental and insignificant to the outcome.
Now for some fighting words. Marines have called the Marine Corps legendary. Claiming credit for fighting in battles in which a service played little to no role is not the stuff of legend. I would call it more like the stuff of stolen valor.
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