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GySgt (Ret) Spencer
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Raider%20Silver%20Star.png

 

 

A critical skills operator with 3rd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Raider Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command received the Silver Star award aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 6, 2018.  The Raider received the award for acts of valor, saving dozens of hostages following a terrorist attack in Mali in 2015.

 

The Silver Star is presented to service members who display conspicuous gallantry in action while serving the U.S. mission in operational environments and is the third highest award that can be given to a member of the U.S. armed forces.

 

The Raider was serving as a senior leader of a small special operations team when they received notification of a coordinated terrorist attack on a nearby multi-story hotel.  The terrorists had over 170 hostages under their control.  Up to a dozen American citizens were thought to be located inside. The Raider gathered his team, donned his equipment and set off for the hotel complex while devising a plan en route.

 

“There was very little time to respond,” said the CSO. “We fell back on what we had prepared for. There were points in which the situation became more intense, ambiguous and scary. At times, the situation we faced was confusing and difficult. However, our purpose was clear. That clarity and unity of purpose allowed us to navigate the ambiguity and manage our emotions to accomplish the mission at hand.”

The U.S. personnel braved small-arms fire, grenade explosions and acrid, choking smoke to save more than 150 lives. A burst of enemy gunfire caught one team member, dropping him with undetermined wounds. The team laid down a heavy base of fire as they pulled him back to safety.

 

“It was one of those defining points in life where you realize you are exactly where you belong,” said the CSO. “I knew beyond all doubt what needed to be done and I was completely dedicated to completing the mission. I never thought about failure, I only saw a problem that we could solve if we just worked through it. Every American we found and pulled out of the hotel only increased my desire to keep going. Every time the smoke cleared a little more, I felt both exposed and enabled. When we made contact with the enemy, all of those years of preparation instantly flooded back and I knew what to do.”

 

During the ceremony, General Tony Thomas, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, presented the Marine with the award.

 

In addition to the Silver Star, the Marine received recognition from U.S. Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Diplomatic Security Michael Evanoff.

 

“The Marine’s swift actions in Bamako prove that you can always count on the Marines,” said Evanoff. “For more than 70 years, the Diplomatic Security Service has worked side-by-side with the Marines, because no matter the danger or threat, we know the Marines are going to get in there and take care of business.”

 

Upon receiving his award, the Raider addressed the audience of Department of Defense personnel and families.

 

“My profession gives me the opportunity to serve my country in ambiguous environments where there are multiple right and wrong answers,” said the CSO. “We work and live in a world that has no clearly defined path to success and MARSOC has given me a venue to make an impact on our world. I thrive on the trust placed in me by our command to do the right thing when it is hard and be the man who can make it happen on the ground. That trust gives me an opportunity to be the very best I can be.”

GySgt (Ret) Spencer
Critical Skills Operator
Retired

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Creech,

 

Actually, I don't know much about R. Lee Ermey that isn't common knowledge.  He enlisted in the Marines when he was 17 yrs old in 1961, and was medically discharged due to injuries sustained while on active duty.  He was a Staff Sergeant.  The Marine Corps gave him an Honorary Promotion to Gunny later in life because he actively supported Marines and The Corps in numerous public and private events, and of course on the big screen.  He never ceased to love his Corps.

 

His first name was Ronald.

GySgt (Ret) Spencer
Critical Skills Operator
Retired

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Due to the recent passing of R. Lee Ermey, USMC, I am reminded of the number of famous people who were Marines during their lives.

 

Another famous actor who was a Marine was Lee Marvin, who starred in numerous movies, including, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Dirty Dozen, Delta Force, and, Hell in the Pacific.  He was also in numerous television shows.  He turned down many roles in movies that later became big hits.  He died in 1987 from a heart attack in Scottsdale, AZ. 

 

Marvin joined the Marines at the beginning of World War II and participated in three assault landings.  He was wounded during the battle of Saipan (1944) when he was shot in the buttocks.  The wound severed his sciatic nerve so he was medically discharged.  There are two stories about Marvin's Marine history which are not true.  It was said he was a sniper and was wounded on Iwo Jima.   Marvin was not at Iwo Jima, and I do not believe he was a sniper.  There were very few actual designated "snipers", but many excellent rifle marksmen who could snipe (shoot long range) at the enemy.  I believe Marvin was a rifleman.

 

Before dying Marvin specified his wishes for his burial, and as you can see, he wanted to be remembered for what he was most proud of.  He is buried in Arlington National Cemetary right next to Joe Louis, the famous world champion boxer who also joined the Corps during World War II.

 

 

Lee%20Marvin%20USMC.jpg

 

PS  Marvin played his character from The Dirty Dozen, Major Reisman, to be like a good friend and Marine from his Marine Corps days.

 

GySgt (Ret) Spencer
Critical Skills Operator
Retired

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  • 2 weeks later...

“From the Halls of Montezuma, to the Shores of Tripoli.”

 

THE MARINES HYMN, is one of the most famous, if not the most famous military song in the world.  It is the oldest “Official” song of any of the US military branches.  You will also notice, all the other military branches have songs, while the Marines have a “Hymn”, and the song is not named for it's Corps, but rather for the men of the Corps to whom it belongs; Marines.

 

US Marines cherish their history, and why not?  It is full of glory, dash and pride.  They are reminded of their history by the words of their Hymn, their uniforms and traditions.  Every Marine knows it is their sacred duty to uphold the standards of honor and courage purchased at so high a cost by the Marines who came before them.

 

So, what does the “Halls of Montezuma” refer to from the opening line of the Hymn?  Here is the story!

 

 

The United States and Mexico disputed ownership of Texas, which evolved into the Mexican American War.  In March 1847, an army of 13,000 soldiers under the command of General Winfield Scott, landed at Vera Cruz Mexico.  Commodore Perry, commander of the US Navy fleet, provided a force of Marines to the Army.  During the fighting at Vera Cruz, the US Marines so impressed General Scott with their "outstanding valor and performance" that he called on the Navy to send him more Marines.  The Secretary of the Navy obliged and in June, a battalion of US Marines shipped out from Fort Hamilton, NY.  They were brigaded with an Army regiment in the Fourth Division under the command of Brigadier General John Quitman.

 

In August, Gen Scott started moving his forces toward Mexico City, but he left the Marines behind in reserve.  The Marines were disappointed (and probably angry) as they prided themselves on their “First to Fight” reputation.  They weren’t left behind long as Scott called up the Marines on September 9th, when the Army met furious resistance from the Mexicans on the approaches to the Citadel of Chapultepec.

 

The route to Mexico City was blocked by the Citadel of Chapultepec.  Chapultepec was situated on a 200 foot tall hill surrounded on three sides by almost vertical slopes, two and a half miles from Mexico City.  Chapultepec was the Military College of Mexico, and was constructed to be a fortress.

 

On September 12th, Scott began an artillery bombardment of the fortress which lasted nearly all day.  Under cover of the bombardment, Gen Quitman made a reconnaissance of the fortress with US Marines, led by Major Levi Twiggs.  As they returned from the reconnaissance, they were attacked by a larger force of Mexican soldiers from the surrounding woods.  The Marine rifle fire checked the Mexican’s persistent attack until they were dispersed by several rounds of cannon fire.

 

During the night, two assault parties of 500 Marines and Army soldiers were formed to spearhead the attack.  A pioneer force of 70 Marines led by Marine Captain Reynolds was equipped with ladders, crowbars, and pick-axes  At dawn the artillery fire resumed shelling.  The Mexican’s reportedly replied with unusual spirit and effect, inflicting serious damage on the attackers.  Under cover of shelling, the assault forces worked their way up the steep slopes on the back side of the fortress.  The group of Marines split off from the two assault parties to a more difficult approach, but they were the first to breach the twelve foot walls of the Cidadel with their ladders.  Their successful breach signaled a general attack.  As you might expect, a Marine raised an American flag on the wall.

 

The fighting was furious and often hand to hand and with bayonets.  Many killed and wounded in the initial breach including Marine Major Twiggs who died.  The Marines led the charge through the buildings, and palace, clearing the citadel until it was in American control.

 

Some sources claim 90% of the Marine officers and noncommissioned officers were killed in the fighting at Chapultepec.  This is probably not correct, but it is true the Marine officers and noncommissioned officers took extremely high casualties with many killed.  After the war, Marine commissioned and noncommissioned officers added a scarlet strip to their dress blues trousers, now referred as “Blood Stripes”, to commemorate the Marine blood shed at Chapultepec.

 

This is not the end of the story!

 

After securing Chapultepec the next objective was Mexico City itself.  Without any direction, a body of Marines accompanied by some Army soldiers, including reportedly an Army Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant, attacked one of the two main gates to the city, and later participated in an assault on the second gate securing both.  The next day as the Army was preparing an assault into the city, they discovered General Santa Anna had pulled out.  The Army entered the city with the Marines in the van.  The Marines raced to the Grand Plaza and took control of the Mexican National Palace, also known as the “Halls of Montezuma”.  The Marines were guarding the palace when General Scott marched into the city with the rest of the army.

 

The total number of Marines was very small compared to the large number of US Army soldiers in Mexico, but they were always in the front and were always in the main assault forces in each assault plan.  This accounts for the disproportionately high casualties the Marines took.

 

About the Marines, General Winfield Scott wrote,

 

    “I placed the Marines where the hardest work was to be accomplished, and I never once found my confidence in them misplaced.”

 

 

The following painting depicts US Marines leaving the Chapultepec fortress following the battle, led by a Marine officer.  You will notice the officer only has one shoe.  The Marines were always in the van of each attack and took many casualties during the fighting.

 

Montezuma%20Battle_1.jpg

 

 

 

The Blood Strip is commemorated in tattoos, placques and other ways even today.

Blood%20Stripe%20Tat%202.jpg

 

Blood%20Stripe%20Placque.jpg

GySgt (Ret) Spencer
Critical Skills Operator
Retired

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Thank you Gunny.

 

Your kind words made the effort to write this worthwhile.

 

To keep the story short, I had to leave out many other interesting tidbits of information, such as the Commandant of the Marine Corps' son, a Marine 2ndLt, led the charge to the first gate, and one of the officers who followed the Marines over the wall was young Army Lieutenant, a J.E.B. Stuart.  Many other officers who later came to fame during the Civil War saw their first real combat during this campaign.  (Lee, Grant, Johnston, Longstreet, etc.)

GySgt (Ret) Spencer
Critical Skills Operator
Retired

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Spencer, I have have been eagerly awaiting your post about this. What an excellent read and great way to portray all such history. Thank you so much for this! I even learned a few things that I had not yet heard. 

 

To piggy back on Crowley, I also find it amazing that with the civil war many of the men in combat against each other were related. Father vs. Son, bother vs. brother, etc. We look at our times today and how messed up/difficult it is. I couldn't fathom having to take up arms against my immediate kin. Really puts things into perspective. 

1LT "Sparky" Creech
Rotary Wing Aviator, Reserves
160th SOAR (A)

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One of the the most amazing things I find about the Civil War is that most of the experienced officers who fought against each other had previously fought together during the Mexican-American War. 

 

 

Spencer, I have have been eagerly awaiting your post about this. What an excellent read and great way to portray all such history. Thank you so much for this! I even learned a few things that I had not yet heard. 

 

To piggy back on Crowley, I also find it amazing that with the civil war many of the men in combat against each other were related. Father vs. Son, bother vs. brother, etc. We look at our times today and how messed up/difficult it is. I couldn't fathom having to take up arms against my immediate kin. Really puts things into perspective. 

 

MY family had 3 brothers in the war, 2 were confederate and one Union.  Crazy to even think of it.

GySgt Coake
SOF All-Source Intel Specialist (SOCS-I), Reserves
4th MRSB

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  • 2 weeks later...

SSgt%20Busy.jpg

 

Couldn't decide if this should go in my History Thread or here.  It's kinda funny and kinda historical!  You decide.

 

 

PS:  That is obviously Camp Pendleton in the background.  Any real Marine would know that.

GySgt (Ret) Spencer
Critical Skills Operator
Retired

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  • 4 weeks later...

Wow.  Not surprised you know the basics of this battle.  You are probably the only one who does.

 

I'm looking for history stories I could share with everyone.  I've read hundreds of stories of Marine history I'd love to share, but sometimes, it's hard to tell a great story in a very short format.

GySgt (Ret) Spencer
Critical Skills Operator
Retired

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I know the basics of the battle, I just had to look up the specific numbers. Due to this defeat, the British were able to burn D.C.

Wait... I thought it was Canada that burned the White House..... LMAO! Sorry, backing off the politics now. 

 

I would love to hear more about the battle. 

1LT "Sparky" Creech
Rotary Wing Aviator, Reserves
160th SOAR (A)

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(Since North Korea is in the news lately, I thought I'd ask this question)

 

 

When did the US Marines first fight in North Korea?

 

If you answered in 1950 during the Korean War, you would be wrong!

 

Here is the story.

 

The “Hermit Kingdom” had been under domination by China for many centuries, however the people were widely believed in the West to be far superior to the Chinese in mental and physical resources.  They were a barbaric and fierce people.  In 1866, the American ship, General Sherman carrying foreign notions for trade to Korea, grounded off the Korean coast.  Her entire crew was massacred.  A French Schooner went to Korea to trade and the natives were said to have cut them up and pickled them.  Around this time a French doctor was captured, skinned and crucified on a beach while the Frenchmen on board a ship off shore watched helplessly before being driven off.  A French punitive expedition was sent a short time later revealed a strong anti-foreign sentiment and brutal treatment of foreigners.

 

Korea was located along important trade routes in the far east.  In 1870 the US dispatched the American Minister to China, Frederick Ferdinand Low, to Korea to secure a treaty for the protection of shipwrecked mariners, and if possible to obtain commercial advantages.  Low sailed from Nagasaki Japan in May 1871 aboard the USS Colorado, the flagship of Rear Admiral John Rodgers, then the Commanding Officer of the Asiatic Squadron, along with two other US Naval ships.  Anticipating the possibility of a hostile reception, they wisely took along a battalion of US Marines.  (If they didn’t, I wouldn’t be telling this story!)

 

They arrived at the end of May, 1871.  Minister Low deputized his Acting Secretary, Edward Drew, to go ashore and interview Korean officials.  The Koreans weren’t especially cooperative although he tried to assure them of the peaceful purpose of the visit.  He told them the Naval ships off the coast were only taking soundings of their waters and making surveys of the shores to which the Koreans made no apparent objection.

 

The US Ships, Colorado, Alaska, and Benecia moved along the coast until they reached the lower end of the Kangwha Island where a line of forts connected by a wall and facing the river, began.  At that time a single shot from the forts initiated heavy fire from masked batteries and other forts along the face of the hill.  The US Naval ships responded and soon silenced the Korean guns.  The initial reaction was to go back and teach the Koreans a lesson.  Admiral Rodgers and Minister Low decided to give the Korean government a reasonable time (ten days) to apologize.  No apology came.  Admiral Rodgers ordered the forts destroyed and held “long enough to demonstrate our ability to punish such offenses at pleasure.”

 

651 Marines, supplemented with sailors, and howitzers were put ashore to complete the objective.  The point chosen seemed a good spot, but it turned out the shore area was most unfavorable due to a broad belt of soft mud and deep gullies.  The Marines would encounter difficult terrain throughout the operation.  Lt Commander Cassel reported, “by superhuman exertions on the part of my men…” in describing the difficulties moving into positions.   The line of forts were assaulted one at a time.  On June 11th, the Marines assaulted the last and main fort, Kwagsonshin, called the Citadel.  They had to charge downslope, then up the opposite hill to the fort.

 

In the final assault, 243 Koreans were killed.  Three American’s were killed.  Five batteries and 481 pieces of field artillery were destroyed in the operation.  The Marines had to do much of the fighting hand to hand due to faulty rifle and pistol cartridges.

 

As would be the case time and time again throughout our history, US Marines, landed on a foreign hostile shore, in some part of the world most of them never heard of, engaged a numerically superior force on their own territory, and successfully completed their mission.

 

Marines%20Korea%201871.jpg

 

Painting depicts US Marines landing in Korea (10 miles from Inchon) in June 1871, struggling with their equipment in heavy mud flats.

GySgt (Ret) Spencer
Critical Skills Operator
Retired

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  • 1 month later...

As we recently celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Belleauwood, which started in June 1918, I thought it would be appropriate to post a few messages related to the famous 4th Marine Brigade!

 

 

As the only Marine Brigade in Action in France in WWII, this short story is obviously about those Marines.

 

 

"A wounded officer from among the gallant French lancers had just been carried into a Yankee field hospital to have his dressing changed. He was full of compliments and curiosity about the dashing contingent that fought at his regiment's left.

 

“A lot of them are mounted troops by this time,' he explained, 'for when our men would be shot from their horses, these youngsters would give one running jump and gallop ahead as cavalry. I believe they are soldiers from Montezuma. At least, when they advanced this morning, they were all singing "From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli.”

GySgt (Ret) Spencer
Critical Skills Operator
Retired

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Continuing with the BATTLE OF BELLEAU WOOD theme, another short story.

 

 

 

The following is a story about a parade the Marines were in during WWI.  In case you did not know, the 4th Marine Brigade was assigned to the U.S. Army’s 2nd Division, which would become the most decorated U.S. division in the Great War (because of the Marine Brigade).

 

 

In 1918, following the fighting at Chateau Thierry & Belleau Wood, the French Parliament by unanimous vote determined to celebrate July 4th, the anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence, as a French national holiday. The event was to include a massive parade through Paris with one provisional battalion from each American division participating. The 2nd Division was represented by a battalion composed of one provisional company from each regiment, to be made up of twenty men from each actual company.

 

Lt. Clifton Cates ~ who only the previous day had been dug in in Belleau Wood under shellfire with his company ~ was among those chosen, along with thirty‑two of his Marines, to travel  post‑haste to Paris to march in the parade. In a letter to his mother he described the experience:

 

 

The morning of the 4th, we got up early and cleaned up and tried to look half way decent, but we still looked like a bunch of bums. At eight we left our camp and marched to where the parade formed. Mother, you cannot imagine the cheer that would go up as the French people would recognize the Marine flag ~ it was one continual shout ~ Vive la Marines ! ~ la Marines ! ~ etc. They literally covered us with roses ~ I would carry each bouquet a piece and then drop it ~ then another girl would load me down with more flowers. It was truly wonderful and it made us Marines feel very good, as they give us all the credit (for stopping the German drive on Paris). Even every little kid, to and from Paris, would yell, "Vive la Marines!" We have certainly made a name in France .... Most of all Paris witnessed the parade, and it was one grand sight and adventure for us ~ one that I will never forget.

 

 

~~ Quoted from the unpublished letters of Gen. Clifton B. Cates USMC [Ret], printed in Robert Asprey's At Belleau Wood.

 

Belleau%20Wood%202.jpg

 

One of many artist paintings of this battle.  Please note the epaulettes on the German shoulders accurately depict two of the real German Divisions who fought the Marines at Belleau Wood.  It is hard to see here, but easy in the original painting.

GySgt (Ret) Spencer
Critical Skills Operator
Retired

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