Us Marine Corps In World War I 1917-18

A UNITED STATES ARMY MAJOR WAS VISITING THE WOUNDED IN A FRENCH HOSPITAL IN THE ENVIRONS OF PARIS IN 1918. WHEN THE DOCTORS PROUDLY ESCORTED HIM TO THE BEDSIDE OF A WOUNDED DOUGHBOY, HE ASKED THE YOUNG SOLDIER IF HE WAS INDEED AN AMERICAN. `NO SIR,` HE REPLIED, `I`M A MARINE.` THIS EXCHANGE IS EXEMPLARY OF THE PRIDE THAT A US MARINE TAKES IN HIS IDENTITY AS A MEMBER OF THE CORPS. IN 1918 THE MARINES HAD TO STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN THAT DISTINCTIVE IDENTITY WITHIN THE HUGE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN FRANCE; BUT THEY WERE TO EARN A FIGHTING REPUTATION SECOND TO NONE IN THEIR BATTLES AT BELLEAU WOOD, SOISSONS, ST MIHIEL, BLANC MONT AND THE MEUSE-ARGONNE. THE EMINENT US ARMY HISTORIAN S.L.A. MARSHALL WAS TO DESCRIBE THE MARINES AS `...A LITTLE RAFT OF SEA SOLDIERS IN AN OCEAN OF ARMY THAT WAS WITHOUT DOUBT THE MOST AGGRESSIVE BODY OF DIEHARDS ON THE WESTERN FRONT...` AFTER THEIR INITIAL ENCOUNTERS IN COMBAT THE GERMANS GAVE THE MARINES THE NICKNAME OF `DEVIL DOGS`. THIS BOOK IS NOT, HOWEVER, DIRECTLY CONCERNED WITH THE BATTLE HISTORY OF THE 4TH MARINE BRIGADE OR ITS PARENT 2ND DIVISION OF THE AEF. A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE ORGANISATION, UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT OF THE US MARINE CORPS IN EUROPE IN 1917-18.