Category: Infantry

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Cpl. Nicolas Hernandez, 481738, U.S.M.C.

Cpl. Nicolas Hernandez at Camp Pendleton in 1944
Many years ago, I met World War II Marine Tom Williams, who was originally from Los Angeles. He relocated to Oregon – where I live – in the 1990s. In about 2000-ish, I hosted an exhibit of wartime Marine Corps memorabilia and Tom was one of the visitors. Over the course of time, we developed …

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Podcast – To be a Marine in World War II

New Britain, January 1944. After nineteen days on the line and the successful attack on Hill 660, Pfc George C. Miller (Jersey City, N. J.) trudges wearily to the rear. He served with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, First Marine Division. USMC Photo
World War II feels like a thousand years ago to many people, but in historical terms, it wasn't really that long ago. In this episode of the Fix Bayonets podcast, I look back in time to examine the world that wartime Marines lived in. To help better illustrate the story, I share a few passages …

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Life on the front lines in war

As anyone who has served in war can tell you, life is tough at the sharp end of the spear. Also, you spend a good deal of time dealing with friction. Getting simple things done can be a real pain in the ass. Take the most simple tasks, multiply them by four, and you get an idea.

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Podcast – Desert Shield II – Deploying the armored force

Desert Shield Battle Streamer
This is my second podcast taking a look back at Desert Shield, which began in August 1990. I share some of my memories as a veteran of the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division, the legendary Big Red One.

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Operation Essex – Antenna Valley, An Hoa, 1967

"Operation Essex – Antenna Valley, An Hoa, 1967" by Capt. Leonard Dermott, USMCR, Marine Corps Combat Art Collection
Operation Essex – Antenna Valley, An Hoa, 1967 Capt. Leonard Dermott, USMCR, Marine Corps Combat Art Collection. A few weeks ago, I bought a set of art prints that the Marine Corps published in 1968. There are sixteen works in the set, every one powerful and evocative in its own way. But this particular print …

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No more Task Force Smiths – a reappraisal

Task Force Smith was an ill-fated unit built around the nucleus of 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry in the summer of 1950. As the North Korean Army rampaged into South Korea, the U.S. Army struggled mightily to mount a response. The first units pushed into the breach against this armored juggernaut were occupation forces that deployed …

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